4062 Certification, Licensing, and Highly Qualified Status
It is the responsibility of the employee to meet the qualifications for any license, certification, or highly qualified status required in order to hold the position assigned. Any license or certification required must be kept valid and up-to-date to qualify for continued employment. State school law requires a valid certificate before salary can be paid as a certified teacher. Unless otherwise specified by law, pursuant to Board Policy #4050, a teacher without valid, current Oklahoma certification on file* in the Human Resources Department will be transferred to long-term substitute status and paid as a long-term substitute and, may not teach for more than 135 days in the classroom except under circumstances specifically authorized by the Superintendent, Assistant Superintendent,
Associate Superintendent, or the Executive Director of Human Resources. The Board authorizes these individuals to determine the appropriate number of additional days above 135 that may be granted under specific circumstances warranting such extension.
Any such long-term substitute who has not provided a valid, official certificate to the Human Resources Department by the 135th day of any classroom assignment will be removed from the assignment unless an extension of days has been authorized by one of the individuals listed above. Upon receipt of a valid, official Oklahoma certificate in the Human Resources Department, the long-term substitute teacher may be transferred back to teacher status at teacher pay.
New hire teacher candidates recommended for open teaching positions with the district, whose certification* is pending, if hired by the district will be hired as non-certified, long-term substitute teachers at long-term substitute pay until a valid, official Oklahoma Certificate is provided to the Human Resources Department. Upon receipt of a valid, official Oklahoma certificate in the Human Resources Department, the long-term substitute teacher may be transferred to teacher status at teacher pay. Any such long-term substitute who has not provided a valid, official certificate to the Human Resources Department by the 135th day of any classroom assignment will be removed
from the assignment, with no obligation by the district to hire the candidate as a teacher at any future date unless an extension of days has been authorized by one of the individuals listed above.
* Valid certification requires specific certification endorsement(s) that are required by the Oklahoma State Department of Education to teach the subject/grade level of the classroom assignment.
Revised 6/10/96
Revised 12/10/07
Revised 11/8/10
Revised 8/13/12
Revised 12/10/12
Revised 12/11/17
Revised 12/9/19