Senate Bill 212 Summary

• Establishes a two-year pilot program called TeachForwardOK administered by the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to create new pathways into the teaching profession and increase the teacher workforce in Oklahoma.

• Commission must issue a request for proposals within 30 days to select technical assistance providers to evaluate teacher education programs at Oklahoma State System of Higher Education institutions.

• Approved teacher education programs receive grants to contract with technical assistance providers who evaluate teacher candidate recruitment, program effectiveness, workforce alignment, and innovative recruitment strategies.

• Selected program must submit response plans within 90 days prioritizing innovative approaches including pathways for high school students, paraprofessionals, and bachelor's degree holders to become teachers, plus intensive on-the-job training and flexible scheduling.

• Commission awards $500,000 to one approved applicant program to implement their proposed initiatives and must submit final findings and recommendations by December 31, 2027 to the Governor and Legislature.