OklahomaSchool employees can get grant-funded help paying for teacher certification
Oklahoma’s Grow Your Own Educator Program helps eligible school employees pay for approved certification courses through participating districts, depending on available grant money.
What it does
School employees taking required courses in an approved alternative route to teacher certification can receive tuition or course fee reimbursement through participating districts. Grants depend on available program money.
Districts receiving grants must report each year starting June 30, 2027. The State Department of Education must report to state leaders each year starting December 31, 2027.
Argument forReimbursing required certification courses could help school employees afford teacher training outside a degree program.
Argument againstAwarding grants in application order could leave later applicants without help when program money runs out.
More detail
The Grow Your Own Educator Program allows tuition or course fee reimbursement for employees taking required courses in an approved alternative route to teacher certification. Eligible employees take required courses outside a degree program through a teacher preparation program accredited by Oklahoma’s Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. The route must lead to a standard teaching certificate. The public school district or its foundation must have a program that helps employees pay tuition or repay loans. Districts must apply for grants. Awards follow application order and depend on available program money. The State Board of Education must make rules identifying and approving eligible courses and certification programs. The law took effect upon passage and approval, with governor approval recorded on May 11, 2026.
Grant recipients must report employee progress or employment status to the State Department of Education. The department must report program information to the Governor and legislative leaders. These duties cover districts receiving program grants and the State Department of Education. District reports cover training progress for employees receiving tuition help or employment status for employees receiving loan repayment help. The department’s report includes grant recipients, award amounts, degree subject areas, and information from district reports. District reports are due by June 30, 2027, and every June 30 thereafter. Department reports are due by December 31, 2027, and every December 31 thereafter.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/11/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 6Signed, returned to Senate
- May 6Enrolled, to House
- May 5Referred for enrollment
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 5Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 40 Nays: 7Major
- May 5HAs adoptedMajor
- May 5HAs read
- May 5Engrossed, signed, to SenateMajor
- May 4Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 4Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 80 Nays: 7Major
- May 4Amended by floor substitute
- May 4General Order
- Apr 14CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Apr 13
- Vote recorded Education Oversight Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 9Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Common EducationMinor
- Apr 8
- Vote recorded Common Education Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 31Referred to Common EducationMinor
- Mar 31Second Reading referred to Education OversightMinor
- Mar 30First ReadingMinor
- Mar 30Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 26Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 26Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 39 Nays: 0Passed Senate
- Mar 26General Order, Considered
- Feb 26Placed on General Order
- Feb 24Reported Do Pass Education committee; CR filedMinor
- Vote recorded Education. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 23Coauthored by Representative Lowe (Dick) (principal House author)
- Feb 11Remove as author Senator Pugh; authored by Senator Stanley
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to EducationMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Pugh
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Education