1. A. The district boards of education of this state shall establish professional development programs for the certified and licensed teachers and administrators of the district. Programs shall be adopted by each board based upon recommendations of a professional development committee appointed by the board of education for the district. The State Board of Education shall disseminate to each district professional development committee a copy of the in-service professional development competencies included in the Report on Educator Preparation and Professional Development issued in December 1994 by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation for review and consideration and, if approved by the professional development committee, to be included in part or in whole in the professional development plan of the school district. The professional development centers funded through the State Board of Education shall provide technical assistance to any school district which desires to incorporate any such competencies into its professional development plan.
2. B. Each professional development committee shall include classroom teachers, administrators and parents, guardians or custodians of children in the school district and shall consult with a higher education faculty. A majority of the members of the professional development committee shall be composed of classroom teachers. The teacher members shall be selected by a designated administrator of the school district from a list of names submitted by the teachers in the school district. The members selected shall be subject to the approval of a majority vote of the teachers in the district. At a minimum, once every four (4) years the committee shall include at least one school counselor in its membership.

3. C. The professional development programs adopted may include, but not be limited to:

   1. 1. In-service training programs;
   2. 2. Higher education courses; and

   3. 3. Professional development programs approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation.

      Programs shall emphasize development of competencies in the core curriculum areas. Each program shall include components on classroom management and student discipline strategies, outreach to parents, guardians or custodians of students, and racial and ethnic education, which all personnel defined as teachers in Section 1-116 of this title shall be required to complete on a periodic basis. The State Board of Education shall provide guidelines to assist school districts in developing and implementing racial and ethnic education components into professional development programs. Each adopted program shall allow school counselors to receive at least one-third (1/3) of the hours or credit required each year through programs or courses specifically designed for school counselors. Programs shall be submitted for approval to the Board. No school district shall receive state funds for professional development until the program adopted by the board of education has been approved by the Board.

4. D. Teachers and administrators who have completed professional development courses in their field of instruction or in courses related to obtaining additional professional qualifications and who complete such courses and receive a grade which is equivalent to at least a 3.0 on a 4.0 grading scale may be reimbursed by the school district for one-half (1/2) of the general enrollment fees incurred at any institution within The Oklahoma State System for Higher Education. If the teacher or administrator incurs costs pursuant to this section at a private institution of higher education, the person may be reimbursed by the school district for an amount equal to one-half (1/2) of the general enrollment fees incurred at an institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of comparable type.
5. E. If funds are made available specifically for such purpose, teachers who have completed professional development programs approved by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall receive a stipend based on the amount of funds allocated. No school district shall receive state funds for teacher stipends until such time as proof of the teacher's attendance and completion of the program has been determined by the State Department of Education.
6. F. Each licensed or certified teacher in this state shall be required by the district board of education to meet the professional development requirements established by the board, or established through the negotiation process. Provided, the professional development requirements established by each board of education shall require every teacher to annually complete a minimum number of the total number of points required to maintain employment. Failure of any teacher to meet district board of education professional development requirements may be grounds for nonrenewal of such teacher's contract by the board. Such failure may also be grounds for nonconsideration of salary increments affecting the teacher.
7. G. The professional development plan shall be submitted to the State Board of Education as provided in Section 3-104.2 et seq. of this title.

Laws 1995, HB 1549, c. 322, § 15, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995; Amended by Laws 1996, HB 2823, c. 350, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 1996 (superseding § 7 of SB 1100 of the 2nd Session of the 45th Oklahoma Legislature, which was vetoed by the Governor); Amended by Laws 1997, HB 1467, c. 342, § 1, emerg. eff. June 9, 1997 (repealed by Laws 1998, HB 3348, c. 5, § 29, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998) (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1997, HB 2017, c. 349, § 5, emerg. eff. July 1, 1997 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 1998, HB 3348, c. 5, § 23, emerg. eff. March 4, 1998 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2000, HB 2000, c. 289, § 2, emerg. eff. July 1, 2000 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2003, HB 1151, c. 295, § 2, emerg. eff. July 1, 2003 (superseded document available); Amended by Laws 2005, HB 1457, c. 127, § 1, emerg. eff. July 1, 2005 (superseded document available).