Okla. Admin. Code § 210:20-9-110

Current through Vol. 42, No. 7, December 16, 2024

Section 210:20-9-110 - Alternative placement teaching certificates

(a)Issuance of provisional alternative teaching certificates. The State Department of Education shall issue a three (3) year, nonrenewable provisional alternative placement teaching certificate to an individual who completes the application for an alternative placement teaching certificate and submits all documentation necessary to verify that the applicant meets all of the following criteria:

(1)Post-secondary education. The applicant for alternative placement certification holds:

(A) 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; or

(B) A terminal degree in any field from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting agency recognized by the United States Department of Education, verified as a terminal degree by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; or

(C) At least a baccalaureate degree from an institution whose accreditation is recognized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and has completed at least two (2) years of qualified work experience. For purposes of this section, qualified work experience must be documentable through standard employment verification procedures, and relevant to a certification area or area of specialization as determined by the State Board of Education, the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability, the Department of Career and Technology Education, and/or the State Regents for Higher Education.

(2)Competency in a certification area. In addition to having completed qualifying post-secondary education, the applicant demonstrates competency in an area of specialization for an elementary-secondary certificate, a secondary certificate, or a vocational-technical certificate. Competency in a certification area may be demonstrated through the following:

(A) Completion of an academic major, or at least thirty (30) credit hours of post-secondary coursework, in a field that corresponds to a certification area.

(B) Completion of an academic minor, or at least fifteen (15) credit hours of post- secondary coursework, in a field that corresponds to a certification area, plus at least one (1) year of qualified work experience or relevant volunteer experience in the same field. Volunteer experience must be verified through documentation and/or references.

(C) At least three (3) years of qualified work experience or relevant volunteer experience in a field that corresponds to an area of certification, or a combination of relevant work and volunteer experience totaling at least three (3) years, plus a written recommendation from an employer or volunteer coordinator.

(D) Successful completion of a relevant professional exam (e.g. accountancy, nursing).

(E) Publication of a relevant article in a peer-reviewed academic journal or trade journal.

(F) Other documentable means of demonstrating competency, subject to the approval of the State Department of Education.

(3)Intent to earn standard certification. The applicant declares the intention to earn standard certification by means of an alternative placement program that meets the requirements of 70 O.S. § 6-122.3 in not more than three (3) years. An applicant shall be deemed to have declared their intent to earn standard certification through submitting a completed application for alternative certification.

(4)Teacher competency examinations. The applicant has passed all of the following teacher competency examinations:

(A) The Oklahoma General Education Test (OGET); and

(B) The Oklahoma Subject Area Test (OSAT) in each area of specialization for which certification is sought, unless the applicant is eligible for an exception to the OSAT requirement under 70 O.S § 6-122.3(e). Pursuant to statute, in consultation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, the State Board of Education may grant an exception to the requirement to complete the OSAT exam for initial certification in a subject area for which the applicant holds a substantially related advanced degree from an accredited institution. This exception is not available for subject areas which require an advanced degree for certification, such as school administrator, school counselor, library media specialist, and reading specialist certificates.

(5)Intent to serve as a public school teacher. The applicant declares their intention to serve as a teacher at an Oklahoma public school. An applicant shall be deemed to have declared their intent to seek employment at an accredited Oklahoma public school district through submitting a completed application for alternative certification.

(b)Requirements for enrollment in an alternative certification program. As a prerequisite to enrollment in an alternative placement program set forth in 70 O.S. § 6-122.3, applicants shall meet all of the following requirements:

(1) The applicant has 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 Educational Quality and Accountability to offer teacher education programs; and has never been enrolled in and subsequently failed courses necessary to successfully meet the minimum requirements of the program;

(2) The applicant has 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; and

(3) The applicant is participating in the teacher residency program set forth in 70 O.S. § 6-195.

(c)Requirements for professional education instruction. Participants in alternative placement programs as addressed in subsection (b) must complete between six (6) and eighteen (18) credit hours of professional education instruction, or between ninety (90) and two hundred seventy (270) clock hours of school district-approved professional development, with the minimum hours of instruction required dependent on the applicant's prior level of education and/or experience. Professional education requirements must be completed within three (3) years after entering the Alternative Placement program. For all participants, except school counselors , professional education instruction must include at least one college credit course addressing pedagogical principles and at least one college credit course addressing classroom management. For school counselors, professional education instruction must include at least two college credit courses addressing the components of a comprehensive school counseling program, including but not limited to, data-informed decision making, closing achievement and opportunity gaps, school counseling ethical standards, and improving student achievement, attendance and discipline. For each year of documented experience in the relevant certification area, a participant's total required professional education may be reduced by three (3) credit hours or forty-five (45) clock hours, provided all participants must complete at least six (6) credit hours or ninety (90) clock hours of professional education instruction. Minimum required instructional hours shall be determined as follows:

(1) For alternative placement program participants who hold a terminal degree, six (6) credit hours or ninety (90) clock hours of professional education instruction are required.

(2) For alternative placement program participants who hold a non-terminal degree beyond a baccalaureate degree, twelve (12) credit hours or one hundred eighty (180) clock hours of professional education instruction are required.

(3) For alternative placement program participants who hold a baccalaureate degree, eighteen (18) credit hours or two hundred seventy (270) clock hours of professional education instruction are required.

(d)Issuance of standard teaching certificates. The State Department of Education shall issue a standard teaching certificate to an individual who successfully completes all of the requirements set forth in (a), (b), and (c) of this Section within three (3) years of the date of issuance of the applicant's provisional alternative teaching certificate and meets all of the following requirements:

(1) The applicant has passed the Oklahoma Professional Teaching Exam (OPTE) for either elementary/middle level or secondary level; and

(2) The applicant has completed all professional education requirements of the alternative placement program set forth in 70 O.S. § 6-122.3 and the administrative rules and/or adopted policies of the State Board of Education.

(e)No student teaching experience required. Student teaching and/or pre-student teaching field experience shall not be required of alternative program applicants as a condition of receiving a provisional or standard certificate pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

(f)Criminal history record check. Prior to employing an alternatively certified teacher, the district board of education shall request a criminal history record check of the individual under the provisions of 70 O.S. § 5-142.

(g)State Board of Education exceptions. In accordance with the requirements of 70 O.S. § 6-122.3, the State Board of Education may grant a waiver or exception to any of the requirements of this Section and may grant a certificate upon demonstration of specific competency in the subject area of specialization by the applicant. An applicant for alternative certification who does not have at least two (2) years of relevant work experience, but demonstrates competency in the subject area in which certification is sought, may request an exception to the work experience requirement of 70 O.S. § 6-122.3.

Okla. Admin. Code § 210:20-9-110

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 31, Issue 24, September 2, 2014, eff. 9/12/2014

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 34, Issue 24, September 1, 2017, eff. 9/11/2017

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 38, Issue 23, August 16, 2021, eff. 8/26/2021

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 39, Issue 24, September 1, 2022, eff. 9/11/2022