Multiple Amendments Enacted

1. A. As used in this section:

   1. 1. “Provider” means an eligible entity that seeks or has obtained approval of an alternative teacher preparation program consistent with this section; and
   2. 2. “Program” means content provided by a provider that leads toward licensure in a specific content area.
2. B. The State Board of Education shall identify providers to implement new and innovative pathways toward teacher certification. Providers seeking to participate in the innovative pathways program shall submit applications to the State Board of Education.

3. C. A provider chosen by the State Board of Education to participate in the innovative pathways program shall offer a program that:

   1. 1. Provides evidence and history of fiscal solvency, capacity, operation, and program effectiveness;
   2. 2. Provides evidence of necessary infrastructure to provide accurate, timely, and secure data for the purpose of admission, teacher candidate monitoring, testing, and certification recommendations;
   3. 3. Has policies and procedures in place ensuring the security of teacher candidate records under applicable laws and regulations;
   4. 4. Has the instructional capacity within an existing novice teacher support program, the ability to obtain the instructional capacity, or has established a partnership with an accredited higher education institution to provide adequate instruction in accordance with this subsection;
   5. 5. Offers an instructional phase that provides intensive preparation before the teacher candidates assume classroom responsibilities;
   6. 6. Offers a research-based and results-oriented approach focused on best teaching practices to increase student achievement and growth measured against state academic standards;
   7. 7. Provides assessment, supervision, and evaluation of teacher candidates to determine their specific needs throughout the program and to support efforts to successfully complete the program;
   8. 8. Provides intensive and ongoing professional development opportunities that accelerate a teacher candidate’s professional growth, support student learning, and provide a workplace orientation, professional staff development, and mentoring;
   9. 9. Offers peer review focused on standards of professional practice and continuous professional growth; and
   10. 10. Provides a process to review a teacher candidate’s final competency of required certification content standards that leads to a potential candidate being recommended for teacher certification in accordance with subsection F of this section.
4. D. The State Board of Education shall ensure that providers approved to participate in the innovative pathways program allow teacher candidates to demonstrate pedagogy and content standard proficiency in school-based programs and through other nontraditional means. Nontraditional means may include, but not be limited to, previous work experience, teacher experience, educator evaluations, industry-recognized certifications, and other essentially equivalent demonstrations.
5. E. If the State Board of Education determines that a provider fails to meet or is deficient in any of the requirements of this section, it may suspend or revoke the approval of the provider after providing notification of the deficiencies and an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies.
6. F. A teacher candidate that completes a program offered by an approved provider shall be eligible for certification, provided he or she meets the certification requirements set forth in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of specialization for which certification is sought and is recommended for certification by the approved provider.
7. G. The State Board of Education shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who meets the requirements set forth in this section and who has on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The person applying for the certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history record checks.
8. H. A provider shall submit a report to the State Department of Education after one (1) year of operation showing the percentage of teacher candidates who have completed the program and who have successfully completed or who have failed the competency examinations for certification and the provider’s efforts to help candidates successfully pass the examinations. A provider shall annually submit a report to the State Department of Education outlining the success of the program.

9. I. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.

   Version 2 (Amended by Laws 2026, HB 3076, c. 251, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2026)

10. A. As used in this section:

    1. 1. "Provider" means an eligible school district, regional education service agency, institution of higher education, or other private or not-for-profit entity which is, or will be within three (3) years of being approved by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation or the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation that seeks or has obtained approval of an alternative teacher preparation program consistent with this section; and
    2. 2. "Program" means an alternative teacher preparation program with content provided by a provider that leads toward teacher certification or licensure in a specific content area.

11. B.

    1. 1. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall implement new and innovative pathways toward teacher certification through alternative teacher preparation programs. The Commission shall initiate a request for information from potential providers and shall provide eligible providers with information concerning the application process. Providers seeking to participate shall submit applications to the Commission. The Commission shall approve or deny an application within sixty (60) days of submission. If the Commission denies an application, the Commission shall provide notice with the reasons for the denial and permit the provider an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies.
    2. 2. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall develop, promote, and coordinate a public awareness program to be utilized in making potential teachers aware of approved providers and their programs. The State Board of Education shall post on its Internet website a list of approved providers, program requirements, and the cost of each program.

12. C. A provider approved by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall offer a program that:

    1. 1. Provides evidence and history of fiscal solvency, capacity, operation, and program effectiveness;
    2. 2. Provides evidence of necessary infrastructure to provide accurate, timely, and secure data for the purpose of admission, teacher candidate monitoring, testing, and certification recommendations;
    3. 3. Has policies and procedures in place ensuring the security of teacher candidate records under applicable laws and regulations;
    4. 4. Has the instructional capacity within an existing novice teacher support program, the ability to obtain the instructional capacity, or has established a partnership with an accredited institution of higher education to provide adequate instruction in accordance with this subsection;
    5. 5. Offers an instructional phase that provides intensive preparation before the teacher candidates assume classroom responsibilities;
    6. 6. Offers a research-based and results-oriented approach focused on best teaching practices to increase student achievement and growth measured against state academic standards;
    7. 7. Provides assessment, supervision, and evaluation of teacher candidates to determine their specific needs throughout the program and to support efforts to successfully complete the program;
    8. 8. Provides intensive and ongoing professional development opportunities that accelerate a teacher candidate's professional growth, support student learning, and provide a workplace orientation, professional staff development, and mentoring;
    9. 9. Offers peer review focused on standards of professional practice and continuous professional growth; and
    10. 10. Provides a process to review a teacher candidate's final competency of required certification content standards that leads to a potential candidate being recommended for teacher certification in accordance with subsection F of this section.
13. D. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall ensure that providers allow teacher candidates to demonstrate pedagogy and content standard proficiency in school-based programs and through other nontraditional means. Nontraditional means may include, but not be limited to, previous work experience, teacher experience, educator evaluations, industry-recognized certifications, and other essentially equivalent demonstrations.
14. E. If the Commission determines that a provider fails to meet or is deficient in any of the requirements of this section including failing to become accredited by the Council for the Accreditation of Educator Preparation or the Association for Advancing Quality in Educator Preparation within three (3) years of the date of approval by the Commission, the Commission may suspend or revoke the approval of the provider after providing notification of the deficiencies and an opportunity to remedy the deficiencies within a specified period of time as determined by the Commission.
15. F. A teacher candidate that completes a program offered by an approved provider shall be eligible for certification, provided he or she meets the certification requirements set forth in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of specialization for which certification is sought and is recommended for certification by the approved provider.
16. G. The State Board of Education shall issue a certificate to teach to any person who meets the requirements set forth in this section and who has on file with the Board a current Oklahoma criminal history record check from the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation as well as a national criminal history record check as defined in Section 150.9 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The person applying for the certificate shall be responsible for the cost of the criminal history record checks.
17. H. A provider shall submit a report to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability after one (1) year of operation showing the percentage of teacher candidates who have completed the program and who have successfully completed or who have failed the competency examinations for certification and the provider's efforts to help candidates successfully pass the examinations. A provider shall annually submit a report to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability outlining the success of the program.
18. I. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this section.

Version 1 (Amended by Laws 2026, SB 1432, c. 87, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2026)

Laws 2019, SB 217, c. 351, § 1; Amended by Laws 2023, HB 2679, c. 349, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2023 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2026, SB 1432, c. 87, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2026 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2026, HB 3076, c. 251, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2026.