The Legislature, recognizing its obligation to the children of this state to ensure their opportunity to receive an excellent education, and recognizing that the single most important factor affecting the quality of education is the quality of the individual teacher in the classroom, hereby calls for the development, implementation and administration of a new competency-based teacher preparation system in Oklahoma.
It is the intent of the Legislature that this act shall be in addition to existing laws governing teachers, and nothing herein shall be construed as repealing or amending any protection to teachers prescribed, or as removing or diminishing any existing power, authority or responsibility of the local boards of education and the State Board of Education not in conflict with the provisions of this act. Nondegreed vocational teachers and school nurses certified under rules promulgated by the State Board of Education shall be exempt from the provisions of this act, except for those provisions concerning professional development programs.
Added by Laws 1992, c. 308, § 1, eff. June 1, 1992. Amended by Laws 1994, c. 224, § 1, eff. Sept. 1, 1994; Laws 1995, c. 322, § 2, eff. July 1, 1995. Renumbered from § 6-171 of this title by Laws 1995, c. 322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995.