ENGROSSED SENATE
BILL NO. 877	By:	Treat of the Senate

			and

		Dorman of the House

[ teachers - allowing State Board of Education to waive certain criteria for certain applicants - effective date - 		emergency ]

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2011, Section 6-122.3, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 76, O.S.L. 2012 (70 O.S. Supp. 2012, Section 6-122.3), is amended to read as follows:
Section 6-122.3.  A.  The State Board of Education shall grant an alternative placement teaching certificate to a person who makes application to the Board and meets all of the following criteria:
1.  Holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has attained a retention grade point average of not less than 2.50 on a 4.0 scale, except as otherwise provided in subsection J of this section;
2.  Has completed a major in a field that corresponds to an area of specialization for an Elementary-Secondary Certificate, a Secondary Certificate or a vocational-technical certificate;
3.  Declares the intention to earn standard certification by means of an alternative placement program in not more than three (3) years.  The State Board of Education shall determine the subject matter of the professional education component of an alternative placement program.  The number of clock or semester hours required for the professional education component of an alternative placement program needed to qualify for standard certification shall be as follows:
a.	baccalaureate degree, eighteen (18) semester hours or two hundred seventy (270) clock hours, or
b.	postbaccalaureate degree, twelve (12) semester hours or one hundred eighty (180) clock hours.
The State Board of Education shall establish a core minimum of six (6) semester hours or ninety (90) clock hours for the professional education component.
The requirements set forth in this subsection shall exclude all student teaching requirements pursuant to the provisions of subsection E of this section;
4.  Has passed the general education and subject area portions of the competency examination required in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of specialization for which certification is sought; and
5.  Either presents a document from an accredited public school district in this state offering employment in the area of specialization for which certification is sought on condition that the person enroll in an alternative placement program approved by the State Board of Education or declares the intention to seek employment as a teacher at an accredited public school district in this state.  The certificate granted pursuant to this subsection shall be considered a "valid certificate of qualification" for the purposes of Sections 6-107 and 6-108 of this title, and the holder of the certificate shall be considered a resident teacher for the purposes of Section 6-195 of this title.
B.  An alternative placement teaching certificate shall be renewed for not more than a maximum of three (3) years upon presentation of a document from an accredited public school district in this state offering renewed employment in the same area of specialization and a document from a teacher education institution verifying satisfactory progress in an appropriate alternative placement program.
C.  Persons enrolled in an alternative placement program shall:
1.  Have never been denied admittance to a teacher education program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools and by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation to offer teacher education programs, nor have enrolled in and subsequently failed courses necessary to successfully meet the minimum requirements of the program, except those persons who hold a certificate;
2.  Have on file with the director of teacher education at an Oklahoma institution of higher education a plan for meeting standard certification requirements within three (3) years;
3.  Participate in the Residency Program, established in Section 6-195 of this title and have the same duties and responsibilities as other resident teachers, except those persons who hold a certificate; and
4.  Except for persons participating in the federal Troops To Teachers Program, document at least two (2) years of work experience which is related to the subject area of specialization if the person has only a baccalaureate degree with no postbaccalaureate work in a related area.
D.  The State Board of Education may grant an exception to the requirements for licensure and certification and, upon demonstration by an individual of specific competency in the subject area of specialization, may grant a license or certificate to the individual.  The State Board may establish other requirements necessary to grant exceptions.
E.  Student teaching and a prestudent teaching field experience shall not be required of alternative placement program participants for standard certification.
F.  The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules authorizing adjunct teachers who shall be persons with distinguished qualifications in their field.  Adjunct teachers shall not be required to meet standard certification.  Adjunct teachers shall be limited to ninety (90) clock hours of classroom teaching per semester.
G.  Each teacher education institution shall provide the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation an annual report of information as specified by the Commission regarding participation in the alternative placement programs offered by the Institution.
H.  The Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall not accredit, renew the accreditation of, or otherwise approve any teacher education program of any institution of higher education in this state that has not implemented alternative placement programs in at least four areas of specialization, including mathematics, science and a foreign language.  Each institution shall allow individuals who meet the criteria of subsections A and C of this section to be:
1.  Admitted to an alternative placement program without further qualification; and
2.  Offered the opportunity to complete the requirements for standard certification set forth in subsection A of this section during the summer preceding and the summer following the first year of teaching with an alternative placement teaching certificate.   Any person seeking standard certification through an alternative placement program shall be permitted to take necessary courses during regular semesters if offered.
I.  The criteria specified in subsection H of this section can be met through a cooperative arrangement entered into by two or more institutions of higher education.
J.  The State Board of Education is hereby authorized to waive the retention grade point average requirement set forth in subsection A of this section for applicants who have had two (2) years of relevant private sector or military experience and are seeking to teach mathematics, science, special education or foreign language if the Board has determined that a shortage of mathematics, science, special education or foreign language teachers exists.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2013.
SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
Passed the Senate the 26th day of February, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the Senate

Passed the House of Representatives the ____ day of __________, 2013.

	
	Presiding Officer of the House
	of Representatives