Senate Education Committee Approves Teacher Retention Act

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill to encourage and retain Oklahoma’s top educators has cleared its first legislative hurdle. Sen. Rob Standridge, R-Norman, is the author of Senate Bill 1127, the Teacher Retention Act of 2020.  The bill was approved by the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday.

The measure creates a process for teachers who complete their National Board Certification and meet other additional requirements to receive annual bonuses of $1,500 beginning in the 2020-21 school year.  Under the legislation, depending on available revenue, that amount could be increased in subsequent years until it reaches a maximum of $5,000.

“In both 2018 and 2019, we approved much-needed pay raises for Oklahoma educators,” said Standridge, R-Norman. “Senate Bill 1127 gives us another way to incentivize and reward educators who go above and beyond what’s required of them to enhance the educational experience of their students.  Rewarding those efforts will help us retain our best and brightest teachers.”

If approved, beginning July 1, 2020, the State Board of Education would provide annual bonuses to a teacher who has completed each of the following:

• National Board certification and is teaching full time in a public school.

• Received a district rating of “superior” or “highly effective” under the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System during the previous year.

• Is serving as a mentor teacher.

• Has been recommended for the bonus by their superintendent and principal with approval by the school board.

The measure next moves to the Senate Appropriations Committee for further consideration.