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Contents:
Guidelines for utilizing the flexibility of SB 1119
The Oklahoma Legislature passed SB 1119 during the 2022 legislative session. This bill increases the number of hours an adjunct teacher may teach. Specifically, the bill repeals the 270-clock-hour limitation on the amount of time adjunct teachers (persons with distinguished qualifications in their field who do not hold a valid teaching certificate) may teach per semester.
View OSDE's Adjunct Teaching FAQs for more information and district requirements.
If you have questions, contact Janet Vinson at janet.vinson@sde.ok.gov or Ryan Pieper at ryan.pieper@sde.ok.gov.
To meet the requirements of 70 O.S. § 1210.508D, districts that receive more than $2,500 in RSA funding must spend at least 10% of that funding on professional development addressing instruction in the science of reading. A list of approved professional development programs can now be found on the Reading Sufficiency webpage, along with a guidance document to provide further information for districts.
A Request for Information (RFI) will be conducted this fall to allow vendors an additional opportunity to submit their programs for review. This list will be updated in January 2023.
If you have questions, contact Melissa Ahlgrim at melissa.ahlgrim@sde.ok.gov.
 View the OSDE Reporting Requirements Calendar for upcoming deadlines and reporting details.
District Capacity (Quarterly)
Each district is required to submit the number of students that each site within the district has the capacity to accept for the upcoming academic quarter. This data must be provided for each grade level at each site within the district.
Incoming Open Transfer Results (Quarterly)
Each district is required to review the summary of transfer results to verify accuracy.
Both reports are open in Single Sign-On and will close this Friday, July 15.
For instructions on how to complete both reports, review the Student Transfer System User Guide.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Accreditation at (405) 521-3335.
Driver education applications for prior-year reimbursement are due Sept. 1.
Please submit original applications with signed rosters to:
Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), State Aid Section
2500 N. Lincoln Boulevard
Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599
You may also email the materials to state.aid@sde.ok.gov.
If you are no longer using Green Cards, please type “certificate” in the column labeled “Enrollment Card ID#” on the student roster. Please make sure you include final grades and instructor signatures on each roster.
If you have questions, contact the Office of State Aid at state.aid@sde.ok.gov.
Oklahoma Excel is a free, year-long professional learning experience open to all PK-12 teachers. Participating teachers form small improvement teams and join a content-specific Networked Improvement Community (NIC) in either ELA, math, science or early childhood.
Members of the NIC engage in continuous improvement cycles in their classrooms to implement and refine high-leverage, evidence-based instructional strategies regardless of whether learning is face-to-face, blended or virtual.
Teachers and teacher leaders who participate will have access to:
- 45-60 hours of sustained, job-embedded, data-driven, classroom-focused professional learning
- Instructional coaching
- Networking opportunities with other educators from across the state
- Practice implementing evidence-based, high-leverage instructional strategies
- Ongoing opportunities to collect and analyze data related to instructional practices
- A chance to participate in a cutting-edge, nationally recognized endeavor
Access the application
If you have questions, contact Andrea Chrisman at andrea.chrisman@sde.ok.gov.
Applications are now being accepted for Moving UP Cohort 7, a professional learning opportunity designed for assistant principals of any career length and first-year principals.
Participants will acquire knowledge and skills to serve as effective, collaborative instructional leaders. Sessions will build participants’ capacity to lead and manage change through evidence-based practices, protocols and tools.
This leadership series includes six full-day, interactive, face-to-face sessions facilitated by local and national experts. Participants will also gain access to an online professional learning community, professional leadership tools and resources as well as group and individual coaching provided by veteran Oklahoma principals.
Moving UP is sponsored by the OSDE. There is no charge for participation; however, this cohort is limited to 40 members.
Access the application
If you have questions or would like more information, contact Jaycie Smith at jaycie.smith@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-0282, or Diedre Bradley at diedre.bradley@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-1746.
The Principal Leadership Academy is a professional learning opportunity available to early-career principals with fewer than five-years experience in a lead principal position. This cohort will support a network of principals in the areas of engaging in instructionally-focused interactions with teachers, building a productive school climate, facilitating collaboration and professional learning communities, and managing personnel and resources.
The Principal Leadership Academy includes six full-day, interactive, face-to-face sessions facilitated by local and national experts, access to an online professional learning community, professional leadership tools and resources, as well as group and individual coaching provided by veteran Oklahoma principals.
The Principal Leadership Academy is sponsored by the OSDE. There is no charge for participation; however, this cohort is limited to 50 members.
Access the application
If you have questions or would like more information, contact Jaycie Smith at jaycie.smith@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-0282, or Diedre Bradley at diedre.bradley@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-1746.
This free professional development for district leaders, leadership teams and instructional coaches will cover "Leading the Rebound," which aims to magnify effective teaching practices from before the pandemic while leveraging the lessons learned during pandemic teaching.
Through this professional learning workshop, participants will engage in an active and empowering learning experience that will help your school(s):
- Rebuild teacher agency and collective efficacy
- Ensure the highest quality teaching and learning
- Maintain and strengthen school culture and climate
Each participant will receive a free copy of "Leading the Rebound."
Leading the Rebound PD
July 26, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City
Register here
If you have questions, contact Robin Anderson at robin.anderson@sde.ok.gov.
This free professional development aims to help schools reignite engagement, accelerate learning and move forward with fresh optimism after the pandemic. Through this professional learning workshop, participants will engage in an active and empowering learning experience that will help your school(s):
- Address the collective traumas experienced during the pandemic and rebuild sense of agency and self
- Implement instructional and assessment practices that ensure our students reclaim lost knowledge, build skills, develop agency and accelerate learning gains
- Redefine classrooms, learning experiences and the ways schools operate
Each participant will receive a free copy of "Rebound."
Rebound - Building Back Better PD
July 27, 9 a.m.-3:30 p.m.
Francis Tuttle Technology Center, Oklahoma City
Register here
If you have questions, contact Robin Anderson at robin.anderson@sde.ok.gov.
Learn how to impact student learning and make learning visible using school data
Administrators and leadership teams are invited to attend the new Oklahoma Data Institute August 3-4 in Oklahoma City. This two-day institute will help you and your teams quickly and thoroughly analyze school data to make decisions about focused instruction and strategies that lead to improved results for all students.
This is a two-day, face-to-face, interactive professional learning event for school decision-makers, leaders and teams poised to accelerate learning and impact.
The Oklahoma Data Institute is offered at no charge to districts. Note: Attendance is limited to 100 people and will be filled in the order of registration.
Register here
If you have questions or would like more information, contact Jaycie Smith at jaycie.smith@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-0282, or Diedre Bradley at diedre.bradley@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-1746.
The Office of Federal Programs has compiled lists of LEAs eligible for the Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) grant program/Alternative Fund Use Authority (also known as REAP Flex) and the Rural and Low-Income Schools (RLIS) program for FY 2022-23.
Download the list of LEAs eligible for REAP Flex/SRSA here.
Download the list of LEAs eligible for RLIS.
If you have any questions or need assistance, contact the Office of Federal Programs at (405) 521-2846.
A number of new education laws took effect July 1. View bill summaries below.
HB3564 – (Rep. McBride and Sen. Pemberton) Creates the Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive Program, administered by the State Regents, providing up to $25,500 in scholarships and incentive payments to prospective teachers over the course of a four-year teacher preparation program and five subsequent years of classroom service. To be eligible for the program, a candidate is required to:
- Graduate from an Oklahoma high school;
- Declare a major in an Oklahoma teacher education program leading to standard certification;
- Meet higher education admission standards; and
- Agree to teach in an Oklahoma public school for at least five consecutive years upon graduation.
Students who make satisfactory academic progress towards completion of their degree are eligible for an annual $1,000 scholarship – $2,500 for senior year – totaling $5,500. Teachers completing the program and securing a job in an Oklahoma public school are eligible for annual employment incentive payments of $4,000 for five years totaling $20,000. Allows the State Regents to set aside funds for the full commitment made to an eligible student once an award is made. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB3888 – Establishes, beginning with the 2022-23 school year, contract terms for educators working at the Oklahoma School for the Deaf and the Oklahoma School for the Blind. Requires contracts to establish a maximum of 1,200 working hours per school year, and for teachers to be paid for using their planning time, lunch period, or any time spent covering for an absent teacher. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB4106 – Requires each public school district to maintain a protocol for responding to students in mental health crisis. The protocol must be created in partnership with at least one local mental health treatment provider and be reviewed every two years. Requires the protocol to include:
- A definition of mental health crisis;
- A process for identifying a crisis;
- An outline of non-punitive steps to safeguard student health and safety in response to a crisis;
- A list of local treatment providers and resources;
- A process for notifying parents or guardians; and
- A process for keeping student information private.
Requires a school to inform a parent if their child is identified as being at risk of a mental health crisis and offer treatment referral information. Any subsequent action on behalf of the school requires parental consent except in cases of immediate life-threatening behavior to the student or others. Requires a district to submit its protocol and related working agreements to the OSDE, which must share these reports with the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services (ODMHSAS) and each agency may request protocol revisions to ensure compliance with other laws, regulations, and evidenced-based practices. Requires OSDE and ODMHSAS to make a template protocol available to districts and provide technical assistance. Additionally, requires superintendents to provided written notification to parents regarding the required OPNA student survey and the right to opt their student out by responding in writing. Prior to the biennial administration of the OPNA survey, ODMHSAS is required to submit the survey for review to the Legislature. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB4388 – Directs Oklahoma Education Lottery Trust Fund net proceeds exceeding $65 million be deposited into the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to be used as a state match for school districts providing salary increases for teachers with advanced, lead, and master teaching certificates. Beginning with the 2022-23 school year, matching funds may be awarded on a first-come, first-served basis as follows:
- Advanced: minimum $3,000 salary increase with 5 workdays reserved for instructional leadership.
- Lead: minimum $5,000 salary increase with 10 workdays reserved for instructional leadership.
- Master: minimum $10,000 salary increase (capped at $40,000) with 15 workdays reserved for instructional leadership.
Allows teachers working in districts with at least 40% of students being economically disadvantaged or with total enrollment below 1,000 students to be eligible for a one-time stipend of $1,500, $2,500, or $5,000 depending on the level of certification. Requires school districts wishing to participate in the program to submit designation plans to the OSDE for evaluation and approval, with subsequent review and validation to be made biennially. Requires district designation plans to include, at minimum, teacher observation, out-of-classroom and student performance components. Advanced designations may be made twice per year, provided no more than 10% of a district’s teachers may be designated in a given school year. Exempts designated teachers from annual TLE evaluations and directs them to be placed in professional development cohorts for additional OSDE training opportunities. Requires the OSDE report annually on districts participating in the program, the number of designations awarded and the total amount of state matching funds distributed. Effective July 1, 2022.
HB4465 – Sets budget limits for FY 2023 funds directed to the State Board of Education by SB 1040. Funding increases include $2m for alternative education, $1.825m for Sooner Start, $1m for RSA, $1m for state assessment, $500k for AP and $500k for TRS employee credit. New line items include $1m for Imagine Reading, $500k for Child ID, $500k and for Great Expectations, $500k for student information security, $300k for standards implementation and $250k for ACT Work Keys. Effective July 1, 2022.
SB626 – Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, allows the parent or guardian of a student enrolling in his or her resident district to disclose prior to enrollment whether the student received inpatient or emergency outpatient mental health services from a mental health facility in the previous 24 months. If a disclosure is made, designated school personnel, which may include members an individualized education program (IEP) team, must meet with the parent and representatives of the mental health facility prior to enrollment to determine if the student needs any special accommodations, including but not limited to an IEP. Additionally, it requires mental health facilities to inform the parent of a minor being discharged after mental health treatment of the importance of disclosing these mental health needs to the minor’s resident school district. The facility should encourage this optional disclosure to include the minor’s discharge plan. The State Board of Education is required to promulgate rules to implement provisions relating to the district response to the voluntary disclosure. Effective July 1, 2022.
SB1040 – Makes general appropriations (GA) for Fiscal Year 2023 to the various agencies of the executive, legislative and judicial branches of state government. It appropriates $3,181,359,518 to the State Board of Education, a $16,973,334 (0.54 percent) increase from prior the year. Budget items include $2,437,246,699 for the financial support of public schools (level with FY22), $553,404,829 ($17.8m increase to the Flexible Benefit Allowance (FBA), $117,919,026 ($9m increase) for school activities, $19,145,366 ($4.1m increase) for OSDE’s administrative and support functions. It also includes $95,283,174 for the ad valorem reimbursement. Effective July 1, 2022.
SB1119 – Repeals the 270-clock-hour limitation on the amount of time adjunct teachers – persons with distinguished qualifications in their field, who do not hold a valid teaching certificate - may teach per semester. As a result, there is now no limit on the amount of hours an adjunct teacher may teach. The measure specifies that adjunct teachers are not to be included in the statutory definition of “teacher.” For purposes of the Teachers’ Retirement System, adjunct teachers are to be considered “nonclassified optional personnel.” Effective July 1, 2022.
SB1147 – Authorizes the State Board of Education to develop rules to determine if courses on aviation are eligible for non-elective academic credit toward meeting graduation requirements. Effective July 1, 2022.
SB1238 – Allows a transfer student to be eligible to enroll in a full-time virtual education program offered by the receiving school district. These transfers remain subject to the 1-year waiting period for eligibility to compete in school sports following the transfer. Requires school districts offering a full-time virtual education program to adopt a board policy to determine the program’s transfer capacity in each grade level, in the same manner as existing capacity setting/reporting policy according to SB783 (2021). Effective July 1, 2022.
SB1631 – Requires the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA) to establish a two-year pilot program for mentor teacher training with the objective of training one mentor teacher from each school district in the state with coaching tools to guide, support, and assist new teachers in the areas of classroom management, curriculum, differentiation of instruction, and pedagogy. Mentors are required to have taught for at least five years. Subject to the availability of funds, mentor teachers who complete the training pilot program will receive a $3000 stipend. Requires OEQA to administer entrance and exit surveys for participating mentees and deliver a report to the Legislature by July 1, 2026, detailing survey results and recommendations on continuing or expanding the program. Lastly, it directs OEQA to promulgate rules to implement the program. The program is estimated to cost $1.5 million per year for stipends, plus administration costs. Effective July 1, 2022.
SB1671 – Requires Holocaust education, as prescribed in the Oklahoma Academic Standards, to be taught to all students in grades 6-12, beginning in the 2022-2023 school year. The content must be taught in a manner that generates an understanding of the causes, course, and effects of the Holocaust, develops dialogue with students on the ramifications of bullying, bigotry, stereotyping, and discrimination, and encourages tolerance of diversity and reverence for human dignity for all citizens in a pluralistic society. The measure directs the State Department of Education, in consultation with experts in Holocaust education, to develop grade-appropriate resources related to Holocaust education and make them available to schools for student instruction, in addition to developing high-quality professional learning opportunities for Holocaust education teachers. Lastly, the bill allows Holocaust education to be integrated into one or more existing courses and defines the term “Holocaust”. Effective July 1, 2022.
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