Read the full stored bill text
An Act
ENROLLED SENATE
BILL NO. 710 By: Seifried of the Senate
and
Caldwell (Chad) of the
House
An Act relating to teacher preparation; amending
Section 1, Chapter 400, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp.
2025, Section 6-186.1), which relates to
establishment of TeachForwardOK; allowing the
Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability
to select more than one applicant to receive certain
monetary award if funds are sufficient; updating
statutory references; updating statutory language;
and declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Teacher preparation
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY Section 1, Chapter 400, O.S.L.
2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 6-186.1), is amended to read as
follows:
Section 6-186.1. A. The Commission for Educational Quality and
Accountability shall establish and maintain a two-year pilot program
to be known as TeachForwardOK to provide new, high-quality pathways
to enter the teaching profession and increase the number of teachers
in this state’s workforce.
B. Within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act
August 29, 2025, the Commission shall issue a request for proposals
to select technical assistance providers to evaluate teacher
education programs in institutions of higher education within The
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education that are accredited by the
ENR. S. B. NO. 710 Page 2
Commission pursuant to Section 6-186 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma
Statutes this title.
C. To participate in TeachForwardOK, a teacher education
program shall submit an application to the Commission in the manner
and on a form prescribed by the Commission. The Commission shall
establish criteria to approve applicants. Subject to the
availability of funds, the Commission shall award grants to approved
applicant teacher education programs. The Commission may use any
gifts, grants, devises, and donations from any public or private
source and monies appropriated by the Legislature for the purpose of
implementing the provisions of this section. Grants shall be used
as incentives to participate and to contract with a technical
assistance provider selected by the Commission pursuant to
subsection B of this section. The provider shall evaluate, at a
minimum, the following:
1. Teacher candidate recruitment and completion;
2. Whether the teacher education program prepares teacher
candidates effectively;
3. Whether the teacher education program meets workforce needs
in this state; and
4. Innovative ways to recruit nontraditional teacher candidates
unique to the teacher education program.
D. 1. Evaluation reports prepared by a technical assistance
provider shall be electronically submitted to the approved applicant
teacher education program and the Commission.
2. Within ninety (90) days of receiving the report, the teacher
education program shall electronically submit a report response to
the Commission detailing how the teacher education program plans to
address the evaluation report’s findings. The report response shall
prioritize innovative approaches to provide new, high-quality
pathways to enter the teaching profession and increase the number of
teachers in this state’s workforce including, but not limited to:
a. developing a system for recruiting eligible teacher
candidates, such as:
ENR. S. B. NO. 710 Page 3
(1) a pathway for high school students to become
paraprofessionals,
(2) a pathway for paraprofessionals to become
teachers, and
(3) a pathway for individuals with bachelor’s degrees
to become teachers,
b. developing a curriculum that includes intensive on-
the-job training for teacher candidates,
c. identifying a mastery-based evaluation system to
determine when eligible teacher candidates have
mastered the skills and competencies necessary for
graduation from an apprenticeship program and
outlining benchmarks that teacher candidates must meet
as they progress through on-the-job training,
d. offering a schedule that enables teacher candidates to
work full time full-time in a public school district
while participating in an apprenticeship program and
allowing paraprofessionals to continue in their
positions, or
e. providing a flexible schedule for paraprofessionals
participating in an apprenticeship program to support
their success in the program that will facilitate
course completion and on-the-job training.
E. Subject to the availability of funding, the Commission shall
review the report responses submitted pursuant to subsection D of
this section and select one approved applicant teacher education
program to receive Five Hundred Thousand Dollars ($500,000.00) to
enact the initiatives outlined in the program’s report response. If
funds are sufficient, the Commission may select more than one
approved applicant teacher education program to receive a monetary
award based on the report response submitted pursuant to subsection
D of this section to enact the initiatives outlined in the report
response.
ENR. S. B. NO. 710 Page 4
F. By December 31, 2027, the Commission shall electronically
submit a report of TeachForwardOK’s findings and recommendations to
the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, and the
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
G. The Commission shall promulgate rules to implement the
provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. 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.
ENR. S. B. NO. 710 Page 5
Passed the Senate the 16th day of March, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
Passed the House of Representatives the 6th day of May, 2026.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of __________________, 20 _______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________