SECTION 210:20-18-1. Lead and master teaching certificates

(a)   Purpose. Pursuant to Senate Bill 980 (2018), two advanced classes of teacher certification, a lead teaching certificate and a master teaching certificate, are available to applicants who meet the statutory criteria and make application to the State Board of Education.

(b)   Effect of lead or master certification status on school districts. Because a teacher certified as either a lead teacher or a master teacher is subject to contract requirements under 70 O.S. § 6-190 in addition to those that apply to a teacher with standard certification, a school district shall consider the school district obligations to teachers who hold a lead or master teaching certificate when recommending a teacher for advanced certification, and when entering an employment contract with such a teacher. If a person who holds a lead or master teaching certificate changes school districts during the validity period of the certificate, the terms of the contracts required under 70 O.S. § 6-190 shall be subject to approval by the new employing school district.

(1)   School board recommendation for lead or master teaching certificate. In order for a teacher to be eligible for a lead or master teacher certificate, the board of education of the teacher's employing school district must submit a recommendation to the State Board of Education indicating that the local board has determined the applying teacher's eligibility under the statutory criteria and is in favor of the teacher's advanced certification. The school district that recommends a teacher for lead or master teacher certification will be responsible for meeting the contract requirements associated with the advanced certification beginning with the school year following submission of the application.

(2)   Contract requirements for lead and master teachers. In addition to the contract requirements applicable to all certified teachers employed by Oklahoma public school districts, the following additional terms apply to the advanced certification classes:

(A)   Lead teachers. An individual who holds a lead teaching certificate may have a teaching load of not more than seventy-five percent (75%) student instruction to allow the teacher to mentor other teachers. The contract of a lead teacher shall provide for an additional ten (10) days to be used to strengthen instructional leadership, as well as a salary supplement of at least three thousand dollars ($3,000) or the district's daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary the teacher is entitled to under 70 O.S. § 18-114.14.

(B)   Master teachers. An individual who holds a master teaching certificate may have a teaching load of not more than fifty percent (50%) student instruction to allow the master teacher to spend time on co-teaching, co-planning, peer reviews, and other duties mutually agreed on by the district superintendent and the master teacher. The contract of a master teacher shall provide for an additional fifteen (15) days to be used to strengthen leadership, as well as a salary supplement of at least five thousand dollars ($5,000) or the district's daily rate of pay, whichever is higher, in addition to the salary the teacher is entitled to under 70 O.S. § 18-114.14.

(c)   Criteria for lead teaching certificate. The State Board of Education shall issue a lead teaching certificate to any person who upon application:

(1)   Has a minimum of five (5) years of experience as a teacher, as reflected in the official record of teacher experience maintained by the State Department of Education Office of School Personnel Records;

(2)   Participates in a meaningful individualized program of professional development as provided for in 70 O.S. § 6-101.10;

(3)   Has earned a "highly effective" or "superior" rating on their most recent district evaluation conducted pursuant to 70 O.S. § 6-101.16; and

(4)   Has been recommended by their employing school district for lead teacher certification.

(d)   Criteria for master teaching certificate. The State Board of Education shall issue a master teaching certificate to any person who upon application:

(1)   Has a minimum of seven (7) years of experience as a teacher;

(2)   Has either:

(A)   Earned a "superior" rating on their most recent district evaluation conducted pursuant to 70 O.S. § 6-101.16; or

(B)   Earned a "highly effective" rating on their most recent district evaluation conducted pursuant to 70 O.S. § 6-101.16 and holds or has held National Board certification; and

(3)   Has been recommended by their employing school district for master teacher certification.

(e)   Fees and renewal schedule for lead and master teaching certificates. The application fee for a lead teaching certificate or a master teaching certificate shall be the same as the fee for a standard teaching certificate as established in Oklahoma Administrative Code 210:20-9-9. The validity period of a lead teaching certificate or a master teaching certificate shall be the same as the validity period of a standard teaching certificate as established in Oklahoma Administrative Code 210:9-9-94. Renewal procedures and timelines for a lead teaching certificate or a master teaching certificate shall be the same as those established for a standard teaching certificate in Oklahoma Administrative Code 210:20-9-96, with the additional requirement that a lead teaching certificate may only be renewed if the teacher received a "superior" or "highly effective" rating on their most recent district evaluation, and a master teaching certificate may only be renewed if the teacher received either a "superior" rating on their most recent district evaluation, or received a "highly effective" rating and holds or has held a National Board certification.

(f)   Standard certification available to lead or master teacher who no longer meets requirements. An individual who holds a lead teaching certificate or a master teaching certificate may obtain a standard teaching certificate if they no longer meet the requirements for the advanced certification, or no longer wish to hold the advanced certification. Upon receipt of a written request for standard certification from an individual who holds a lead or master teaching certificate, the State Department of Education shall issue a standard teaching certificate with a validity period that ends on the same date as the lead or master teaching certificate currently held by the individual. Upon issuance of the standard teaching certificate, the lead teaching certificate or master teaching certificate previously held by the individual shall be deemed void. A lead teacher or master teacher who returns to standard teaching certification is responsible for notifying the school district(s) where they are currently employed, as well as any district with which a contract has been entered for the following school year, of their change in certification class.

[Source: Added at 36 Ok Reg 836, eff 7-25-19]