1. A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, at the time a school district elector files a notification and declaration of candidacy for the office of district board of education membership, such elector shall agree and pledge in writing that, within fifteen (15) months of election or appointment as a member of the district board of education, such member will complete at least twelve (12) hours of instruction on education issues, including school finance, Oklahoma education laws, and ethics, duties and responsibilities of district board of education members. This requirement may be satisfied by attending a two-day workshop to be held within the state by the State Department of Education or by attending workshops, seminars or classes which address the above-mentioned subject matter, and which are sponsored by any organization approved by the State Board of Education, including but not limited to institutions of higher education. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules by which an organization or particular courses offered by an organization may be approved for purposes of fulfilling the instructional requirements set out in this section.
2. B. When an incumbent of a district board of education files a notification and declaration of candidacy for reelection to the district board of education, the member shall not be required to comply with the provisions of subsection A of this section but shall be required to agree and pledge in writing that upon reelection the member will complete six (6) hours of instruction within fifteen (15) months following his or her election emphasizing changes in school law, particularly changes in the areas set forth in subsection A of this section.
3. C. The State Department of Education shall, immediately after the annual elections of various district board of education members, determine the members of the district boards of education pledged to attend the workshop established by subsections A and B of this section, and shall notify such members of the time and place such workshop is to be conducted. Upon completion of the workshop, the certificate of completion shall be included in the public records of the school board's minutes. Each school board member, except for an incumbent member, shall be required within fifteen (15) months following or preceding his or her election to complete the workshop established by subsection A of this section or to attend twelve (12) hours of other state workshops conducted as instruction on the subjects of school finance, the Oklahoma School Code and related laws, and the ethics, duties and responsibilities of district board of education members. If a member has not satisfied the above instructional requirements within fifteen (15) months of his or her election, the local board of education shall declare the seat of such member vacant and fill the vacancy according to law. All government departments, agencies and institutions of this state are directed to lend such assistance as may be required by the State Department of Education for the proper conduct and administration of the workshops. The State Department of Education shall maintain a permanent record of each district board of education member who successfully completes a workshop and shall issue a certificate of completion to such member.
4. D. The State Department of Education and, upon approval of the State Board of Education, any organization or association representing district boards of education in this state are authorized to charge persons pledged to attend the workshop a registration fee sufficient to defray the estimated costs of presenting the workshop or Thirty-five Dollars ($35.00) per registrant, whichever is the lesser amount, and to collect such fees at the time of registration.
5. E. Any member of a district board of education or any individual elected, certified as the elected member by the county election board, but not sworn in and seated as a member of a district board of education at the time of a workshop presented by the State Board of Education or an organization or association representing district boards of education within the state who attends and successfully completes such workshop as required by subsection A or B of this section shall be reimbursed by the school district in accordance with the district’s travel reimbursement policy.

Laws 1971, HB 1155, c. 281, § 5-110, emerg. eff. July 2, 1971; Amended by Laws 1980, SB 550, c. 231, § 1, eff. October 1, 1980; Amended by Laws 1984, SB 512, c. 132, § 1; Amended by Laws 1986, HB 1854, c. 99, § 1, eff. November 1, 1986; Amended by Laws 1989, 1st Extr. Sess., HB 1017, c. 2, § 26, emerg. eff. April 25, 1990; Amended by Laws 1990, HB 1883, c. 257, § 2 (repealed by Laws 1991, HB 1091, c. 180, § 2, emerg. eff. May 13, 1991, and Laws 1991, HB 1762, c. 335, § 36, emerg. eff. June 15, 1991); Amended by Laws 1990, HB 1946, c. 293, § 7, eff. September 1, 1990; Amended by Laws 1991, HB 1091, c. 180, § 1, emerg. eff. May 13, 1991; Amended by Laws 1992, HB 2063, c. 254, § 2, emerg. eff. May 22, 1992; Amended by Laws 1994, HB 2148, c. 360, § 6, emerg. eff. July 1, 1994; Amended by Laws 2005, SB 668, c. 472, § 4, emerg. eff. July 1, 2005 (superseded document available).