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b e t t e r s chools | J U LY 2 0 2 2
Guide to Navigating Oklahoma’s
New Adjunct Teacher Law
By Janet C. Vinson, Ph.D., Deputy Superintendent of Teacher Recruitment, Retention and Support, Oklahoma State Department of Education In response to the stifling nationwide educator shortage, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is partnering with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education (OSRHE) and university teacher education providers to provide more pathways for pursuing funding opportunities to improve teacher recruitment efforts. In the meantime, SB 1119, authored by Senator Jessica Garvin R-Duncan and Representative Kyle Hilbert R-Bristow (effective July 1, 2022) eliminates the 270-hour cap for adjunct teachers to serve in Oklahoma public schools. This discussion provides guidelines and tips for utilizing adjunct teachers.
SB 1119 Highlights ■ Removes 270-clock-hour limitation for adjuncts. ■ Permits local boards of education to approve adjuncts based on “distinguished qualifications.” ■ Disallows adjuncts in Special Education, PreK, Kindergarten and Administration (including Superintendent). ■ Requires “Parents’ Right to Know” communication for Title I sites and classrooms. ■ Requires an application process and $25 fee for each candidate. ■ Designates non-certified adjuncts as support employees.
SB 1119 70 O.S. 6-122.3 The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules authorizing adjunct teachers who shall be persons with distinguished qualifications in their field. Adjunct teachers shall not be required to meet standard certification. A person employed as an adjunct teacher pursuant to this subsection who does not hold a valid certificate to teach shall not be considered a teacher as defined by Section 1-116 of this title.
The Oklahoma legislature passed SB 1119 during the legislative session, which increases the number of hours an adjunct teacher may teach. Specifically, the bill repeals the 270-clock-hour limitation on the amount of time adjunct teachers – persons with distinguished qualifications in their field who do not hold a valid teaching certificate — may teach per semester. As a result, there is now no limit on the number of hours an adjunct teacher may teach in Oklahoma. The measure specifies that adjunct teachers are not to be included in the statutory definition of “teacher.” For purposes of the Teachers’ Retirement System, adjunct teachers are to be considered “non-classified personnel.”
With the ever-growing burden on school leaders to recruit, retain and support Oklahoma teachers, recent legislation is one avenue that may provide some relief for school districts until teacher education candidates increase. The OSDE is currently pursuing a a plan to tackle the issue, but traditional teacher pathways take at least four years to produce new candidates and school leaders need teachers now. As a result, this legislative session produced several bills addressing the teacher shortage, with perhaps the most complex being new adjunct teacher legislation.
