Read the full stored bill text
Req. No. 3464 Page 1
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
SENATE BILL 1789 By: Deevers
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to teachers; stating legislative
findings; creating the Local Teacher Licensure Act;
providing short title; providing purpose; authorizing
school district boards of education to evaluate and
recommend teacher licensure or certification
applications; providing process requirements for the
State Board of Education; providing for certain
failure to act within certain time period to result
in certain approval if certain conditions are met;
providing term of certain licenses or certificates;
subjecting licenses or certificates to certain
renewal; directing the State Board of Education to
retain certain oversight; directing the State
Department of Education to maintain certain records;
directing school district boards of education to
establish certain minimum procedures; prohibiting a
school district or school district board of education
from being liable for certain recommendation;
providing for promulgation of rules; providing for
noncodification; providing for codification;
providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law not to be
codified in the Oklahoma Statutes reads as follows:
The Legislature finds that:
Req. No. 3464 Page 2
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1. Timely teacher licensure is essential to ensuring that
public school districts are able to staff classrooms effectively and
provide uninterrupted instruction to students;
2. Administrative delay in the teacher licensure process can
contribute to teacher shortages, particularly in rural and high-need
school districts, and undermine local efforts to recruit qualified
educators;
3. School district boards of education are often best
positioned to evaluate the qualifications, character, and readiness
of teacher candidates to meet the instructional needs of their
communities;
4. Excessive centralization of teacher licensure decisions can
create unnecessary barriers to employment and delay the placement of
otherwise qualified teachers in classrooms in this state; and
5. Clear timelines and accountability in the teacher licensure
process promote efficiency, transparency, and responsiveness while
preserving statutory standards and state-level oversight.
SECTION 2. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 5-117.8 of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Local
Teacher Licensure Act”. The purpose of the Local Teacher Licensure
Act shall be to grant school district boards of education the
authority to evaluate and recommend teacher licensure or
Req. No. 3464 Page 3
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
certification applications. The State Board of Education shall
maintain final oversight and ratification authority over the
issuance of teacher licenses or certificates in compliance with
Section 5 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution and Section
3-104 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
B. School district boards of education are hereby authorized to
evaluate and recommend approval of teacher licensure or
certification applications to the State Board of Education based on
the standards set forth in Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
C. Upon receiving a recommendation for licensure or
certification from a school district board of education, the State
Board of Education shall:
1. Review the recommendation for completeness and compliance
with statutory requirements including, but not limited to, Sections
5-142, 6-107, 6-122.3, 6-187, and 6-190 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma
Statutes. A recommendation shall be considered complete when the
Board has received all documentation showing compliance with the
statutory provisions in place for teacher licensure or certification
when the recommendation was submitted;
2. Approve or reject the licensure or certification
recommendations within thirty (30) calendar days of receipt; and
3. Provide written notification of approval or rejection to the
recommending school district board of education and the licensure or
certification applicant.
Req. No. 3464 Page 4
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
D. Failure of the State Board of Education to act on a
recommendation within thirty (30) calendar days pursuant to
subsection C of this section shall result in the Board’s automatic
approval of the license or certificate; provided, however, that the
recommendation submitted by the school district board of education
meets all statutory and procedural requirements for teacher
licensure or certification set forth in Title 70 of the Oklahoma
Statutes and the rules promulgated by the Board.
E. Teacher licenses or certificates issued pursuant to the
provisions of this section shall be valid for a term of five (5)
years from the date of issuance and shall be subject to renewal in
accordance with the provisions of Section 6-108.1 of Title 70 of the
Oklahoma Statutes.
F. The State Board of Education shall retain oversight of all
teacher licensure or certification processes, and the State
Department of Education shall maintain all records regarding teacher
licenses or certificates issued pursuant to this section.
G. School district boards of education shall establish
transparent procedures for licensure or certification
recommendations including:
1. Timelines for application submission, which shall provide
teacher license or certificate applicants with a minimum of twenty
(20) calendar days to complete the process;
Req. No. 3464 Page 5
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
2. A timeline for board of education review and approval or
rejection, not to exceed thirty (30) calendar days from the date of
application submission; and
3. Written notification to the teacher license or certificate
applicant and the State Department of Education within five (5)
business days of the board of education’s decision.
H. Neither a school district nor its board of education shall
be liable for civil damages arising solely from a recommendation
submitted pursuant to the provisions of this section.
I. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules strictly
necessary to implement the provisions of this section.
SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
60-2-3464 EB 1/14/2026 6:46:29 PM