Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-122.3

Alternative placement programs - Adjunct teachers.

A. The State Board of Education shall grant an alternative

placement teaching certificate to a person who makes application to

the Board and meets the following criteria:

1. a. 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, or

b. has successfully completed a terminal degree, such as

a doctorate of philosophy, a doctorate in education,

professional doctorates, a master of fine arts degree

or a master of library science degree, from an

institution accredited by a national or regional

accrediting agency which is recognized by the

Secretary of the United States Department of

Education. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education shall be consulted to verify other terminal

degrees, or

c. holds at least a baccalaureate degree from an

institution whose accreditation is recognized by the

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and has

qualified work experience in a field that corresponds

to an area of certification as determined by the State

Board of Education, and

d. in addition to the requirements of subparagraphs a, b

and c of this paragraph, has demonstrated competency

or completed a major in a field that corresponds to an

area of specialization for an Elementary-Secondary

Certificate or a Secondary Certificate as determined

by the State Board of Education or a vocational-

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 386

technical certificate as recommended by the Oklahoma

Department of Career and Technology Education;

2. 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 and the number of clock or semester hours required for the

professional education component for each person making application

for an alternative placement teaching certificate based on the

criteria of paragraph 1 of this subsection.

The State Board of Education shall establish a core minimum of

six (6) semester hours or ninety (90) clock hours and a maximum of

eighteen (18) semester hours or two hundred seventy (270) 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;

3. Has passed the subject area portion of the competency

examination required in Section 6-187 of this title in the area of

specialization for which certification is sought; and

4. 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 an inductee 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
ation 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;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 387

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; and

3. Participate in an induction program as required in Section

6-195 of this title and have the same duties and responsibilities as

other inductees.

D. The State Board of Education may grant an exception to the

requirements for certification and, upon demonstration by an

individual of specific competency in the subject area of

specialization, may grant a certificate to the individual. The

State Board may establish other requirements necessary to grant

exceptions.

E. The State Board of Education, in consultation with the

Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, may grant an

exception to the requirement to complete a subject area examination

for initial certification in a field which does not require an

advanced degree pursuant to this section if the candidate has an

advanced degree in a subject that is substantially comparable to the

content assessed on a subject area examination. The degree shall be

from an institution accredited by a national or regional accrediting

agency which is recognized by the Secretary of the U.S. Department

of Education. The Commission shall provide the Board with the

necessary information to determine comparability.

F. Student teaching and a prestudent teaching field experience

shall not be required of alternative placement program participants

for standard certification.

G. 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. A person employed as an

adjunct teacher pursuant to this subsection who does not hold a

valid certificate to teach shall not be considered a teacher as

defined by Section 1-116 of this title.

H. 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.

I. 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

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 388

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
rther

qualification; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 388

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.

J. The criteria specified in subsection I of this section can

be met through a cooperative arrangement entered into by two or more

institutions of higher education.