Okla. Admin. Code § 610:25-41-8

Current through Vol. 42, No. 8, January 2, 2025

Section 610:25-41-8 - Participant eligibility for employment incentive payments

(a) In order to qualify to receive the employment incentive disbursement benefits under the Inspired to Teach program, program participants who are employed as traditionally prepared and certified teachers in Oklahoma public prekindergarten through 12th grade schools must:

(1) After being accepted into the Inspired to Teach program, maintain program eligibility pursuant to 610:2541-3 throughout matriculation and receive at least one scholarship award;

(2) Graduate from an accredited Oklahoma teacher preparation degree program;

(3) Obtain a traditional teacher certification and provide eligible full-time teaching service under a regular teaching contract at an Oklahoma public school in the area of certification or qualified subject area; and (4) Begin the first year of eligible full-time teaching service, as described above, within thirteen (13) months from the date of graduation from a four-year institution in Oklahoma.

(b) Employment incentive payments may be awarded following each consecutive year of satisfactory service as documented by the employing school district for up to five (5) years of service to Inspired to Teach program scholarship recipients upon graduation from an accredited Oklahoma teacher preparation degree program and traditional certification to teach in Oklahoma.

(c) The maximum amount of employment incentive payments for any qualified participant shall be Four Thousand Dollars ($4,000) per year for up to five (5) years, not to exceed a total of Twenty Thousand Dollars ($20,000) per participant.

(d) If sufficient funds are not available for employment incentive payment to qualified participants during any fiscal year, the Chancellor may make reductions in the payments made to qualified participants.

(e) Participants may apply to the employing school for a leave of absence when a serious illness, pregnancy, or other natural cause prevents the participant from providing consecutive full-time teaching service. Participants must present official school documentation to OSRHE that a leave of absence was granted which meets the requirements of this rule. Official notification must be given within one year that the teacher has resumed the teaching duties or participant may be withdrawn from the Inspired to Teach program.

(f) Leaves of absence may not exceed more than one academic year. Leaves of absence will not be included for the purpose of calculating the required consecutive five (5) years of teaching service.

(g) A Reduction in Force will not disqualify a participant based on the consecutive five-year obligation if the following requirements are met:

(1) Participant must provide to OSRHE official documentation of the Reduction in Force; and

(2) Participant must resume teaching at an Oklahoma public school within eighteen (18) months after the Reduction in Force.

Okla. Admin. Code § 610:25-41-8

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 5, November 15, 2022, eff. 10/12/2022

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 40, Issue 22, August 1, 2023, eff. 8/11/2023

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 4, November 1, 2023, eff. 11/1/2023, exp. 9/14/2024 (Emergency)

Amended by Oklahoma Register, Volume 41, Issue 21, July 15, 2024, eff. 7/25/2024