Teacher incentives, math education bills become law in Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY — Longtime Oklahoma teachers will continue earning annual salary increases for an extra 10 years, and their children will qualify for a major state-funded scholarship under new laws the governor signed this week.

Gov. Kevin Stitt approved House Bill 1087 on Tuesday to extend the teacher salary schedule, which grants annual incremental pay raises, up to 35 years. The bill also adds one day to the minimum length of an Oklahoma school year, stretching it to 181 instructional days in public schools.

HB 1727, which Stitt also signed Tuesday, opens the Oklahoma’s Promise college scholarship to the children of classroom teachers with at least 10 years of experience. Oklahoma’s Promise pays an amount equal to full resident tuition at a public college or university.

The state’s largest teacher union, the Oklahoma Education Association, celebrated both bills as ways to retain veteran educators. 

Offering scholarship funds to educators’ children is a “powerful step for Oklahoma valuing its teachers and their households,” OEA President Cari Elledge said. 

“By granting Oklahoma’s Promise Scholarship to children of certified educators with at least a decade of service, this bill eases the college burden on our families while incentivizing long-term commitment to our schools,” Elledge, a former Norman teacher, said. “OEA championed this from committee rooms to the governor’s desk because addressing the educator shortage requires meaningful investment.”

The governor also signed a bill offering grants to school districts that are trying to boost the pipeline of new teachers. 

Senate Bill 235 offers matching funds to districts that have established Grow Your Own Educator programs, which give undergraduate college tuition assistance or loan repayment to aspiring teachers.

The bill’s author, Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said lawmakers set aside $5 million for these grants. 

Pugh, who leads the Senate Education Committee, said the slate of school-focused bills the Legislature passed this year are “building a stronger foundation for Oklahoma’s future.”

“Each of these measures reflects our commitment to supporting students, empowering teachers and ensuring every child in our state has access to a high-quality education,” Pugh said in a statement.

Multiple bills emphasizing math also passed.

Stitt approved HB 1287, giving $3 million to the University of Oklahoma for a math tutoring program assisting the lowest-performing ninth graders. Qualifying students must attend a school district with enrollment of at least 30,000 or a public charter school.

The governor also signed on Tuesday the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act, also known as SB 140. It’s expected to cost $1 million, according to a fiscal impact estimate from legislative staff.

The new law requires public schools to screen students’ math proficiency three times a year in grades 2-5. Schools must create a math intervention plan for children who score below their grade level and could receive extra funds dedicated for these students. Struggling students also must be screened for dyscalculia, a learning disability affecting comprehension of arithmetic.

Those who screen above their grade level in math must be offered advanced learning opportunities.

“Senate Bill 140 is a critical step forward in improving math outcomes across our state,” the bill’s author, Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, said. “By identifying students who need additional help or more advanced instruction, they will now have personalized support to ensure every child can succeed.”