Okla. Admin. Code § 210:20-18-1

Current through Vol. 42, No. 8, January 2, 2025

Section 210:20-18-1 - Advanced, lead, and master teaching certificates

(a)Purpose. Pursuant to House Bill 4388 (2022), three advanced classes of teacher certification, an advanced teaching certificate, a lead teaching certificate, and a master teaching certificate, are available to applicants who meet the statutory criteria and make application to the State Board of Education.

(b)Effect of advanced, lead, or master certification status on school districts. Because a teacher certified as an advanced teacher, a lead teacher, or a master teacher is subject to contract requirements under 70 O.S. § 6-190 in addition to those that apply to a teacher with standard certification, a school district shall consider the school district obligations to teachers who hold an advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate when recommending a teacher for advanced certification, and when entering an employment contract with such a teacher. If a person who holds an advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate changes school districts during the validity period of the certificate, the terms of the contracts required under 70 O.S. § 6-190 shall be subject to approval by the new employing school district.

(1)School board recommendation for advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate. In order for a teacher to be eligible for an advanced, lead, or master teacher certificate, the board of education of the teacher's employing school district must submit a recommendation to the State Board of Education indicating that the local board has determined the applying teacher's eligibility under the statutory criteria and is in favor of the teacher's advanced certification. The school district that recommends a teacher for an advanced, lead, or master teacher certification will be responsible for meeting the contract requirements associated with the advanced certification beginning with the school semester following submission of the application.

(2)Contract requirements for advanced, lead, and master teachers. In addition to the contract requirements applicable to all certified teachers employed by Oklahoma public school districts, the following additional terms apply to the advanced certification classes:

(A)Advanced teachers. The contract of an advanced teacher shall provide for an additional five (5) days to be used to strengthen instructional leadership, as well as a salary supplement of at least three thousand dollars ($3,000) or the district's daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary the teacher is entitled to under 70 O.S. § 18-114.14. If the relevant school or school district satisfies the criteria of 70 O.S. § 6-190(I)(2), the contract of an advanced teacher shall also provide for a one-time award of $1,500.

(B)Lead teachers The contract of a lead teacher shall provide for an additional ten (10) days to be used to strengthen instructional leadership, as well as a salary supplement of at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) or the district's daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary the teacher is entitled to under 70 O.S. § 18-114.14. If the relevant school or school district satisfies the criteria of 70 O.S. § 6-190(I)(2), the contract of a lead teacher shall also provide for a one-time award of $2,500.

(C)Master teachers. The contract of a master teacher shall provide for an additional fifteen (15) days to be used to strengthen leadership, as well as a salary supplement of at least ten thousand dollars ($10,000) or the district's daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary the teacher is entitled to under 70 O.S. § 18-114.14. If the relevant school or school district satisfies the criteria of 70 O.S. § 6-190(I)(2), the contract of an advanced teacher shall also provide for a one-time award of $5,000.

(c)Criteria for advanced, lead, or master teaching certificates. The State Board of Education shall issue an advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate to any person who upon application:

(1) Has been recommended by their employing school district for an advanced, lead, or master teacher certificate;

(2) Meets the eligibility criteria for the certificate provided for in 70 O.S. § 6-190.

(d)Fees and renewal schedule for lead and master teaching certificates. The application fee for an advanced teaching certificate, a lead teaching certificate, or a master teaching certificate shall be the same as the fee for a standard teaching certificate as established in Oklahoma Administrative Code210:20-9-9. The validity period of an advanced teaching certificate, lead teaching certificate, or a master teaching certificate shall be the same as the validity period of a standard teaching certificate as established in Oklahoma Administrative Code210:9-9-94. Renewal procedures and timelines for an advanced teaching certificate, lead teaching certificate, or a master teaching certificate shall be the same as those established for a standard teaching certificate in Oklahoma Administrative Code210:20-9-96.

(e)Standard certification available to advanced, lead, or master teachers who no longer meet requirements. An individual who holds an advanced teaching certificate, lead teaching certificate, or a master teaching certificate may obtain a standard teaching certificate if they no longer meet the requirements for the advanced certification, or no longer wish to hold the advanced certification. Upon receipt of a written request for standard certification from an individual who holds an advanced, lead or master teaching certificate, the State Department of Education shall issue a standard teaching certificate with a validity period that ends on the same date as the advanced, lead, or master teaching certificate currently held by the individual. Upon issuance of the standard teaching certificate, the advanced teaching certificate, lead teaching certificate, or master teaching certificate previously held by the individual shall be deemed void. An advanced teacher, lead teacher, or master teacher who returns to standard teaching certification is responsible for notifying the school district(s) where they are currently employed, as well as any district with which a contract has been entered for the following school year, of their change in certification class.

Okla. Admin. Code § 210:20-18-1

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 36, Issue 21, July 15, 2019, eff. 7/25/2019

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 24, September 1, 2023, eff. 9/11/2023