A new law that removes the 270 hours per semester cap for adjunct teachers in public school districts was called a “big win” by the bill’s author.
State Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, said adjunct teachers are professionals with distinguished qualifications in their field, such as scientists or accountants. Because of their professional background, they do not have to meet the standard certification requirements but can be authorized by local school boards to teach a subject related to their field of expertise.
Gov. Kevin Stitt signed Senate Bill 1119 into law April 29. The new measure takes effect July 1, which will allow school districts to hire adjunct teachers before the start of the 2022-2023 school term.
The number of adjunct teachers in Oklahoma schools has increased annually from about 175 during the 2015-2016 school year to more than 400 last school year, according to the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.
The state Board of Education has also approved more than 3,800 emergency certifications so far this school year.
“Until we no longer have a need for emergency certified or adjunct teachers, we must remove any barriers keeping districts from being able to have these highly qualified individuals in the classroom,” said Garvin. “Not only are these professionals helping fill a teaching void, but they’re also helping expose students to their professions, industries and perspective career fields, which is so important as students make decisions about their futures.”
Exposing students to different professionals in various industries opens up their educational experience and their ability to learn, the senator said.
“These people (adjunct teachers) can show them how to apply real-world applications to these subjects,” she said. “It provides innovative ways to expose our kids to something they wouldn’t have otherwise. It’s a game changer for (school) districts. We allow it (adjunct faculty) on college campuses, so why not allow it in our public schools?”
The new law also became a local control issue for school districts who are now able to hire professionals within the community. However, Garvin stressed that the bill was never intended to replace certified teachers.
Few Oklahoma school districts have used adjunct teachers in the past because of the previous limitation on hours they could teach per semester.
“This (new law) will allow people who are passionate about education and kids to share their experience,” Garvin said. “Why limit these people who want to help our kids?”
Pam Deering, executive director of The Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration, also praised passage of the Senate bill.
“With these changes, school districts will have more flexibility to help address the need for teachers in the classroom,” she said in a prepared statement.
Doug Folks, spokesman for the Oklahoma Education Association, said the OEA did not take a stance on the bill and had no comment on the new law.