A new Oklahoma law will expand alternative pathways for people seeking to become certified teachers.
House Bill 3076, authored by Oklahoma Representative Mark Lepak and Oklahoma Senator Ally Seifried, allows teacher certification through alternative preparation programs offered by public schools, regional service agencies, and approved private or nonprofit organizations.
Lepak said the measure is designed to help schools recruit qualified educators while creating more flexible and affordable pathways into the teaching profession.
“We know Oklahoma needs strong teachers in every classroom, and this bill helps open more doors for qualified individuals who want to answer that call,” Lepak said.
Under the law, the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability will oversee approval of alternative teacher preparation programs. The commission must approve or deny applications within 60 days and allow denied applicants an opportunity to correct deficiencies.
Seifried said the legislation will strengthen Oklahoma’s teacher pipeline while maintaining accountability standards for teacher preparation programs.
“Great teachers can come from all different backgrounds and career paths,” Seifried said. “This new law creates more opportunities for qualified individuals to become passionate educators while setting them up for success in the classroom.”
The law requires approved private or nonprofit programs to obtain accreditation through national educator preparation organizations within three years or risk losing approval.
The measure also directs the commission to promote alternative certification programs to prospective educators. The State Board of Education will be required to maintain a public list of approved providers on its website.
The law takes effect July 1.
