Oklahoma’s 12 public teaching universities are committed to ensuring that only caring and competent teacher education graduates are headed into state classrooms. In fact, they guarantee it. In May 2000, Oklahoma higher education issued an institutional warranty on the state’s teacher education graduates, guaranteeing these individuals will meet the state’s 15 teaching competencies designed to improve student-learning opportunities. Approved by all 12 presidents of institutions with teacher preparation programs, the warranty is a confident measure taken by Oklahoma’s teacher education programs demonstrating that their education standards, assessment programs and pre-service training result in quality teachers.
The warranty is limited to candidates entering a college of education in or after fall 2000 and who teach in Oklahoma after graduation. Any initial-year teacher education graduate teaching in his/her field and at the appropriate grade level in Oklahoma who does not meet the requirements for standard certification during the initial residency year in any of the 15 competencies will receive additional training at no expense to the student or the employer during his/her second year. The additional training will consist of an individualized plan agreed upon by the teacher, the school district and the teacher education institution.
Oklahoma public universities offering the teacher education warranty (PDF, 56k) include: Cameron University; East Central University; Langston University; Northeastern State University; Northwestern Oklahoma State University; Oklahoma Panhandle State University; Oklahoma State University; Southeastern Oklahoma State University; Southwestern Oklahoma State University; the University of Central Oklahoma; the University of Oklahoma; and the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma.
