Bills aim to tackle teacher shortage, added options for maternity leave for teachers

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Lawmakers at the Capitol are having conversations about how to address a growing problem across the state. Bills heard in Tuesday’s Senate Education Committee addressed the teacher workforce shortage.House Bill 1485 concerns emergency teacher certifications.

The legislation would allow emergency-certified teachers to spend more time in the classroom while working to become certified."Currently, they can only provide a temporary contract for four semesters. This should allow them to extend that contract until that certified teacher obtains full certification,” said Sen.



Aaron Reinhardt (R-Jenks). "It allows a lot of flexibility."Bill could cut Oklahoma’s mandatory grocery, gas taxReinhardt is co-sponsoring the measure on the Senate side.

Nearly 5,000 emergency certifications have been handed out each year for the past two years in Oklahoma. It has been a short-term solution to a long-term problem.The bill gained full support from the Senate Education Committee and passed unanimously.

The next step will be consideration on the full Senate floor.House Bill 1601 aims to give pregnant teachers more options."Choosing between your career or your family is an unfair choice," said Sen.

Adam Pugh (R-Edmond).The bill will allow teachers to use six weeks of built-up sick leave after their allotted six weeks of maternity leave. The state enacted a law in 2023 giving teachers six weeks of paid maternity leave.

Representative Emily Gise (R-Oklahoma City) authored the legislation after complaints of school districts denying requests to use sick leave on top of maternity leave."A teacher can say, ‘Hey this is my first child, and I think it's going to take me eight weeks. I have a ton of saved-up sick leave.

I've waited for this moment my whole life, and I'm ready to take it,’” said Gise. “That is my intention with this bill, to have upfront conversations, and I hope that will help our workforce shortage with teachers."The committee gave it the green light and moved the bill forward with unanimous support.

Its next step will be consideration on the Senate floor..