HB 1394 — Teacher certification; competency examination; exception; effective date; emergency.

HB1394STATE POLPCS1OF MelissaOKLAHOMA Provenzano-SW1st 2/10/2025Session 12:48:39of pmthe COMMITTEE60th AMENDMENTLegislature HOUSE(2025) OFPOLICY REPRESENTATIVESCOMMITTEE StateRECOMMENDATION ofFOR OklahomaHOUSE SPEAKER:BILL NO.

CHAIR:

I move to amend HB1394 Of the printed Bill Page Section Lines Of the Engrossed Bill By deleting the content of the entire measure, and by inserting in lieu thereof the following language:

AMEND TITLE TO CONFORM TO AMENDMENTS Amendment submitted by:

Melissa Provenzano Adopted:

_____________________________ ______________________________________ Reading Clerk STATE OF OKLAHOMA 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025) PROPOSED POLICY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTE FOR HOUSE BILL NO.

Provenzano 6 8 PROPOSED POLICY COMMITTEE SUBSTITUTERECOMMENDATION An Act relating to teacher certification;

allowing option for certain candidates to take exam;

Prior to July 1, 2014, a competency examination shall be adopted by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and beginning July 1, 2014, a competency examination shall be adopted by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability for the professional education and various subject areas and grade levels for Req.

1251612795 Page 1 Educational Quality and Accountability for the professional education and various subject areas and grade levels for purposes of ensuring academic achievement and competency of each teacher candidate or teacher in the subject area the person is seeking certification to teach which shall also include certification as an administrator, as prescribed by the State Board of Education.

Teachers who have successfully completed and graduated from an institutionOklahoma ofEducational higherQuality learningand approvedAccountability by(OEQA) theaccredited Statehigher Boardeducation of Education for teacher trainingpreparation andprogram have had two (2) years of effective evaluations in accordance with the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System at the same school district in accordance with Section 6-101.10 of this title shall not be required to take and pass the professional education exam to achieve a standard certification,certification. but such teachers may take the professional exam to earn standard certification before they have completed two (2) years of teaching.

Certification shall be limited to areas of approval in which the certified teacher has successfully completed the examination.

Subject to the provisions of subsection C of this section, testing for certification for subjects in which a teacher candidate or teacher is seeking a minor teaching assignment or an endorsement to teach shall be limited to the specific subject area test.

1251612795 Page 2 CertificationA shallteacher becandidate limitedor toteacher areasmay oftake approvalthe inprofessional whicheducation or subject area portions of the certifiedexamination teachersubject hasto successfullyany completedlimit imposed by the examination.Commission.

Subject to the provisions of subsection C of this section, testing for certification for subjects in which a teacher candidate or teacher is seeking a minor teaching assignment or an endorsement to teach shall be limited to the specific subject area test.

A teacher candidate or teacher may take the professional education or subject area portions of the examination subject to any limit imposed by the Commission.

Any teacher who is certified to teach early childhood education may be certified in elementary education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area Req.portion of the examination.

No.

12516 Page 3 portion of the examination.

Any teacher who becomes certified to teach through completionReq. of an accredited teacher preparation program or becomes alternatively certified to teach through the Troops to Teachers program may be certified in special education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination.

No.

12795 Page 3 completion of an accredited teacher preparation program or becomes alternatively certified to teach through the Troops to Teachers program may be certified in special education upon meeting the requirements provided in law and successful completion of the appropriate subject area portion of the examination.

If a teacher candidate or teacher is a non-native-English speaker, the Commission shall offer the subject area competency examination in the native language of the teacher candidate or Req.teacher only if the teacher candidate or teacher is employed or has been offered employment by a school district as a teacher in a foreign language immersion program offered by the school district.

If a non-native-English speaker who has received certification in a subject area after taking the subject area competency examination in the native language of the speaker seeks to add a certification area Req.

1251612795 Page 4 teacherin only if the teacherfuture candidateand orthat teacherperson is employedno orlonger hasemployed been offered employment by a school district as a teacher in a foreign language immersion programprogram, offeredthe byexamination for the schooladditional district.certification area shall be taken in English.

If a non-native-English speaker who has received certification in a subject area after taking the subject area competency examination in the native language of the speaker seeks to add a certification area in the future and that person is no longer employed as a teacher in a foreign language immersion program, the examination for the additional certification area shall be taken in English.

The advanced degree shall be from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the United States Department Req.of Education.

No.

12516 Page 5 of Education.

Provided, however, prior to the issuance of an emergency certificate, the district shall document substantial efforts to employ a teacher who holds a provisionalReq. or standard certificate.

No.

12795 Page 5 provisional or standard certificate.

the individual has not successfully completed the competency examinations required by this section, Req.c.

No.

12516 Page 6 c.

the employing school district board of education agrees to renew the individual's contract to teach for the ensuing fiscal year, and e.Req.

No.

12795 Page 6 e.

Req.1.

No.