OklahomaOklahoma provides teacher bonuses tied to growth and certification
Oklahoma law provides a student-growth pay pilot and annual certification bonuses for eligible public school teachers, with program results reported to state leaders.
What it does
A statewide pilot pays annual awards to 1,500 selected fourth- through eighth-grade English and math teachers based on student growth, within available funding.
Eligible teachers who attain or continue to hold National Board certification can receive $5,000 a year for five years if they keep their job and certification.
An independent evaluator studies how the teacher pay programs operate and their effects, while state agencies report program results to state leaders.
Argument forCertified teachers may receive up to five years of added pay for maintaining National Board certification while working in an Oklahoma public school district.
Argument againstTeachers’ award tiers may shift as statewide test results and available funding shape how many teachers qualify for each level.
More detail
The State Board of Education runs a pilot that pays some teachers annual awards based on student growth. The pilot is for full-time certified teachers of English language arts and math in grades four through eight at public or charter elementary and middle schools. The 1,500 participants represent about 15% of the highest-performing teachers in eligible schools, and the State Board sets selection criteria. Awards come from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund, and total payments are adjusted to stay within available program funding. The awards do not count toward minimum salary rules or retirement pay, and participating schools do not pay them. The pilot begins in the 2026–2027 school year and runs for at least three consecutive school years.
The State Department of Education pays eligible teachers an annual National Board certification bonus. Eligible teachers are certified teachers in any subject or grade who work for an Oklahoma public school district. Teachers must keep working for an Oklahoma public school district and maintain their certification during the five-year payment period. Teachers must submit proof of certification to start payments. The bonus comes from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund, does not count toward minimum salary rules or retirement pay, and is not paid by school districts. The bonus applies to certification attained, or held and maintained, on or after the act’s effective date. Payments are due by January 31 each year.
The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability contracts with an independent evaluator to study the teacher pay programs, and the State Department of Education reports results to state leaders. The evaluation covers the growth-based pilot and National Board certification bonuses. The evaluation examines how the growth-based pilot is carried out and the effects of both pay programs on student achievement and teacher workforce outcomes. Reports include participation, growth results, payments, and evaluation findings. The State Department of Education begins submitting evaluation results electronically on January 1, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 12Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/12/2026Became Law
- May 6Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 6Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 6Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 5Referred for enrollment
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 5Fourth Reading, Measure and Emergency Passed: Ayes: 80 Nays: 5Major
- May 5SA's read, adoptedMajor
- Apr 28SA's received
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 28Engrossed to HouseMajor
- Apr 28Referred for engrossment
- Apr 28Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 45 Nays: 0Major
- Apr 28Enacting clause restored
- Apr 28Title restored
- Apr 28General Order, Amended
- Apr 13Placed on General Order
- Apr 13Withdrawn from Appropriations committee
- Apr 7Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Education. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 7Enacting clause stricken
- Apr 7Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education committee; CR filedMinor
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Education Committee then to Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Mar 25Coauthored by Representative Rosecrants
- Mar 25First ReadingMinor
- Mar 25Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Mar 24Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 24Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 87 Nays: 4Passed House
- Mar 24General Order
- Mar 5Emergency added
- Mar 5Title stricken
- Mar 5Authored by Senator Pugh (principal Senate author)
- Mar 5Coauthored by Representative(s) Waldron
- Mar 5CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget CommitteeMinor
- Mar 4
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 16Recommendation to the full committee; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget Education SubcommitteeMinor
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Education Subcommittee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 13Referred to Appropriations and Budget Education SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 12Referred to Appropriations and BudgetMinor
- Feb 12Withdrawn from Rules Committee
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to RulesMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Johns
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
Education