§ 70-6-195. Residency program.

A.  The State Department of Education shall administer a residency program which shall be approved by the State Board of Education.  Such program shall be developed in consultation with the teacher education institutions, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and the district boards of education.  Such program shall include, but not be limited to:

1.  Guidelines and assignments for resident teacher positions in the school districts;

2.  Requirements and guidelines for selection and appointment of mentor teachers which must include any requirements specified in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act;

3.  Guidelines for the appointment and functions of a residency committee; and

4.  An appropriate professional development program for the resident teacher.

B.  Except as otherwise provided in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, no person shall be certified to teach in the accredited schools of this state, unless such person:

1.  Has completed at least one (1) school year of teaching service as a resident teacher in the residency program as provided in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act;

2.  Has been recommended for certification by the appointed residency committee after completion of not less than one (1) or more than two (2) school years of resident teaching service; and

3.  Has successfully completed the curriculum examination as prescribed by the Board prior to July 1, 1997, and the competency examination as prescribed by the Commission beginning July 1, 1997.

C.  Any person who has been issued a license to teach by the Board may be employed on a temporary or continuing contract basis as a resident teacher by an accredited school upon appointment by the district board of education or by a private or public provider of early childhood education programs as authorized in Section 11-103.7 of this title.

D.  Upon placement of a licensed teacher in a resident teacher position at a public school, the district board of education shall appoint the residency committee members, as prescribed in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act, who shall have the following duties:

1.  Meet with the resident teacher as may be required by the Board;

2.  Work with the resident teacher to assist in all matters concerning classroom management and professional development for that teacher;

3.  Provide for meaningful parental, guardian or custodian input as one criterion in evaluating the resident teacher's performance; and

4.  Upon completion of one (1) school year of residency, make recommendations to the Board and the preparing institution of higher education as to whether the resident teacher should be issued a certificate or whether such resident teacher shall be required to serve as a resident teacher for one (1) additional school year.  In the event a resident teacher serves a second year, the recommendation of the residency committee to the Board and the institution of higher education after the second year shall be for either certification or noncertification.

Upon recommendation from the residency committee for noncertification or an additional year in the residency program, such residency committee shall, upon request of the resident teacher, supply a list to the resident teacher of the reasons for such recommendation.  The list of reasons shall remain confidential, except as otherwise provided by the resident teacher.

In the event a resident teacher is required to serve an additional year in the residency program, the resident teacher shall not be required to be under the supervision of the same residency committee, or any member of the committee, which supervised the resident teacher during the initial year in the program; and

5.  In the event the committee recommendation to the Board and the institution of higher education is for certification, a residency committee shall also recommend a professional development program for the resident teacher, designed to strengthen the resident teacher's teaching skills in any area identified by the committee.

All resident years shall count toward salary, fringe benefit adjustments, career status and retirement.

E.  Upon employment of a licensed teacher in a resident teacher position by a private or public provider of early childhood education programs pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 11-103.7 of this title, the district board of education shall appoint the residency committee members, as prescribed in the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act.  The residency committee members shall have the same duties as prescribed in subsection D of this section.

F.  Nothing in this act shall be construed as requiring more than one (1) year of employment at the resident level before a standard certificate can be issued to a resident teacher.

The professional development program shall commence with the residency year and shall require continuing education throughout the career of a teacher.

G.  For the 2003-04 school year, if the district board of education is unable to find a teacher willing to serve as a mentor teacher, the district may leave the position of mentor teacher on the residency committee unfilled.  If the district leaves the position unfilled, the remaining members of the residency committee may carry out the duties of the committee.

Added by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 16, eff. July 1, 1995.  Amended by Laws 2001, c. 403, § 1, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2003, c. 434, § 11; Laws 2009, c. 25, § 2, eff. July 1, 2009.