Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Act Summary

• Establishes the Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Program administered by the State Regents for Higher Education in consultation with the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to recruit students into teacher education programs starting in the 2016-2017 school year.

• Requires eligible students to have sophomore standing with a minimum 3.5 GPA, pass a general education exam, complete 30 hours within 12 months, finish junior and senior years within 24 months, maintain a 3.5 GPA, obtain an Oklahoma teaching certificate, and teach at an Oklahoma public school for 5 consecutive years.

• Provides completion bonuses of $4,000 for science, math, or special education degrees and $2,500 for all other degrees upon graduation and school employment.

• Offers annual salary stipends of $4,000 for science, math, or special education teachers (with 60% classroom time in degree area) and $2,500 for other degree holders, plus tuition reimbursement of 20% of nonguaranteed resident tuition and fees distributed over up to 5 years of teaching.

• Creates the Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Revolving Fund and directs the State Regents and Commission to conduct tri-annual reviews of critical need teaching areas and adjust eligible degree programs accordingly; becomes effective July 1, 2015.