Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-186

education programs.

A. Criteria for the approval and accreditation of teacher

education programs in Oklahoma institutions of higher education

shall include, but not be limited to, substantial evidence that

persons who enter teacher education programs demonstrate:

1. Competency in the oral and written use of the English

language;

2. A minimum grade point average as established by the

Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability; and

3. The ability to meet criteria established pursuant to the

Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act at the completion of the teacher

education program and provide evidence of having worked with

children or youth in a variety of situations.

Criteria shall also include a greater emphasis upon field work

in accredited schools by prospective teachers under the supervision

of higher education faculty.

B. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability

shall work with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and

the various institutions of higher education in developing

guidelines for a paid teacher internship program which may be

offered at each institution for prospective teachers. The purpose

of each program shall be to provide mentorship and support for

prospective teachers. Students enrolled in a teacher education

program shall be eligible to participate in the program.

C. It is hereby declared to be the intent of the Legislature

that the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability work

with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the various

institutions of higher education in establishing a procedure whereby

full-time teacher education faculty continue their professional

development during their tenure at an institution of higher

education to ensure that the future teachers of this state are

taught by professional educators fully trained in their area of

expertise. Each approved or accredited program of teacher education

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 418

shall have a system for documenting and reporting the annual

professional development activities of all teacher education faculty

members. Faculty professional development reports shall be reviewed

by the Commission along with professional development activities as

a normal part of the accreditation process.

It is further declared to be the intent of the Legislature that

such professional development plans provide alternative means of

education including, but not limited to:

1. Professional development programs;

2. Higher education courses;

3. Exchange programs with public school classroom teachers,

administrators, and other school personnel; and

4. Programs whereby all full-time teacher education faculty

members directly involved in the teacher education process including

all administrators of the teacher education program, are required to

serve in a state accredited public school for at least ten (10)

clock hours per school year in responsibilities related to their

respective teacher education teaching fields.

All public school systems shall participate in the programs

provided for in this subsection when needed.

D. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability

shall adopt rules requiring specific improvements to strengthen the

screening of student applicants and field activity and placement as

set out in subsection A of this section. Such rules shall be

reviewed and amended or readopted by the Commission at least once

every five (5) years.

E. To assist the Commission in setting specific requirements as

set out in subsections A and D of this section, the Commission shall

annually prepare a statistical report showing the percentage of

students from each of the Oklahoma institutions of higher education

who have successfully completed or who have failed the competency

examination for certification. The annual report shall show the

percentages for each institution of higher education and each
s

set out in subsections A and D of this section, the Commission shall

annually prepare a statistical report showing the percentage of

students from each of the Oklahoma institutions of higher education

who have successfully completed or who have failed the competency

examination for certification. The annual report shall show the

percentages for each institution of higher education and each

assessment area separately by student degree status and shall be

distributed annually to each member of the Commission for

Educational Quality and Accountability, the Oklahoma State Regents

for Higher Education, the governing board of each institution which

has an approved or state accredited teacher education program, the

State Board of Education, the State Board of Career and Technology

Education and the Legislature.

F. By November 1, 2017, the Commission shall adopt rules

requiring coursework or training in the use of digital and other

instructional technologies as a requisite for program accreditation.