State Superintendent Seeks Funding for Program to Certify Teachers

By Dave Jordan, NEWS 9

OKLAHOMA CITY -- State Superintendent Sandy Garrett is asking legislative leaders to fund a program for teachers that promised an increase in pay if they improved their teaching credentials.

Teachers who went through the National Board Certification, a rigorous, year-long program, were to receive a $5,000 pay bump from the State Board of Education. About 2,600 received the certification including about 300 who completed the program this year. However, those teachers may not see a raise because of recent budget cuts.

"We, according to the law, must pay them this bonus by the end of January," Garrett told NEWS 9. "And we're over $4 million short."

The total amount needed to make the payouts is $12.9 million. The legislature only gave the program just over $8 million for this fiscal year.

"When a teacher invests their own money at the salary level that they have to increase their professional ability based on a promise of the state, the state has an obligation to follow through with it," said Amy James, education consultant.

James, a former teacher turned education consultant, said the state must keep its word despite the current economic climate.

"I understand that there are budget issues, but you can't solve budget issues by reneging on prior promises to pay," James said.

A shortfall in state revenues has led to across-the-board cuts for all state agencies this fiscal year, including the State Board of Education, but Garrett wants those cuts made to administrative services and not into the teacher workforce.