HB1394 amends Oklahoma’s teacher certification law to create additional exemptions from the state competency examination requirement. Under current law, most teacher candidates must pass the relevant competency exam before certification, with existing exceptions for certain alternative placement candidates, some experienced teachers, foreign language immersion teachers taking the exam in a native language, candidates with comparable advanced degrees, emergency/provisional certificates, and certain deaf candidates. This bill adds a new exemption for teacher candidates who have successfully completed and graduated from a State Board-approved teacher training institution and have two years of effective evaluations in the same school district.
The bill also preserves and clarifies several existing certification pathways. It continues to allow certification across multiple areas when statutory requirements are met, maintains special rules for early childhood, elementary, special education, Troops to Teachers, and foreign language immersion settings, and keeps the State Board’s authority to issue emergency or provisional certificates. It also retains the special exception process for deaf candidates who use American Sign Language and meet specified verification, fluency, and mentorship requirements. The measure is set to take effect July 1, 2025, but it also contains an emergency clause, indicating an intent for immediate effectiveness upon passage and approval.
Impact
HB1394 would amend 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-187, which governs teacher competency examinations and certification eligibility in Oklahoma. Its main legal effect is to expand the class of teacher candidates who may be certified without first passing the competency exam, specifically those with approved teacher preparation, two years of effective evaluations in the same district, and other qualifying criteria. The bill would also leave intact the State Board of Education’s authority over certification rules, emergency and provisional certificates, and special exceptions for foreign language immersion and deaf candidates, while reinforcing the limited nature of some restricted certificates.
Sentiment
The available voting history suggests generally favorable support for the bill at the committee level, with the House Common Education Committee reporting a 10-2 do pass recommendation as amended by committee substitute. No transcript excerpts are available, so the broader discussion record is limited, but the committee action indicates the measure was viewed positively by a majority of members. The amendment and committee substitute also suggest the bill was refined during consideration rather than rejected outright.
Contention
The likely point of contention is whether teacher candidates should be allowed to bypass the competency examination based on classroom performance and district evaluations rather than standardized testing. Supporters appear to favor easing certification barriers for experienced or well-prepared candidates, while opponents may be concerned about lowering licensure standards or reducing the role of objective testing in ensuring teacher quality. Additional policy tension may exist around emergency and provisional certification, since the bill preserves pathways for districts facing shortages but also keeps those teachers outside the protections of the Teacher Due Process Act.
Teacher certification; directing the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to have certain authority over teacher certification until certain date. Effective date. Emergency.
Teachers; adjunct teachers; State Board of Career and Technology Education to promulgate certain rules; requiring State Department of Education to assist in implementing rules; effective date; emergency.
Teachers; directing the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability to establish a grant program to provide grants to certain individuals seeking alternative certification. Effective date. Emergency.