• Contact
Thursday, June 5, 2025
  • Login
Oklahoma Business Voice
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    Rep. Suzanne Schreiber

    Childcare bill now Oklahoma law after legislature overrides Stitt veto

    Governor Kevin Stitt

    ODMHSAS head fired, Pro Tem Paxton criticizes Gov. Stitt for ‘smear’

    Governor Kevin Stitt

    Legal reforms now Oklahoma law, Gov. Stitt says good for business

    Firehawk Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Will Edwards

    Firehawk rocket motor manufacturer building facility in Oklahoma

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
    • All
    • Aerospace
    • Childcare
    • Education
    • Energy & Environment
    • Federal
    • Film & Television Industry
    • Finance
    • Health Care
    • Innovation
    • Issues Affecting Oklahomans
    • OBV One-on-One
    • Opinion
    • Politics & Elections
    • Taxes & Budget
    • Tribal
    • Workforce Development
    Rep. Suzanne Schreiber

    Childcare bill now Oklahoma law after legislature overrides Stitt veto

    Governor Kevin Stitt

    ODMHSAS head fired, Pro Tem Paxton criticizes Gov. Stitt for ‘smear’

    Governor Kevin Stitt

    Legal reforms now Oklahoma law, Gov. Stitt says good for business

    Firehawk Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Will Edwards

    Firehawk rocket motor manufacturer building facility in Oklahoma

  • Sign UpNEW
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!
No Result
View All Result
Oklahoma Business Voice
No Result
View All Result
Home News Education
Oklahoma legislation adjusted to expand scholarship eligibility for aspiring teachers

Oklahoma legislation adjusted to expand scholarship eligibility for aspiring teachers

Hicham Raache by Hicham Raache
May 18, 2023
in Education, News, Politics & Elections, Workforce Development
Reading Time: 2 mins read
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter

OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) – An Oklahoma bill that adjusts scholarship eligibility requirements to enable more students to become teachers was signed into law.

Gov. Kevin Stitt signed House Bill 2559, written by Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, and Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee.

HB 2559 not only renames the Oklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive Program to the Inspired to Teach Program, it also allows homeschooled students and individuals who earned a General Educational Development (GED) certification to apply for the scholarship, in addition to Oklahoma high school graduates, for whom the scholarship was already available.

The bill also modifies the “full-time student” definition to make the scholarship available to more prospective teachers. Full-time students are now defined as students “enrolled in 12 or more semester credits toward teacher education degree requirements; undergraduate students who are interning or student teaching in lieu of credit hours; or those who have an approved reasonable accommodation due to a documented disability,” an Oklahoma House of Representatives news release states.

“We are doing everything possible to address the teacher shortage that is affecting Oklahoma public schools as it is those across the nation,” McBride said. “Having a qualified teacher in the classroom is the best way to ensure students succeed in school and once they graduate. These scholarships will help us attract more future teachers, which in turn will benefit our students and our communities.”

The original future teacher scholarship legislation was passed last year. Nearly 2,000 students have since applied for those scholarships. Twenty-three Oklahoma educator preparation programs have reported a 53.28 percent increase in enrollments from fall 2022 to spring 2023, according to House officials.

The legislation provides up to $1,000 each academic year for up to three years for full-time students who accumulate less than 90 credit hours in an Oklahoma teacher preparation degree program, as well as $2,500 scholarships for students who have more than 90 credit hours until a $5,500 maximum is reached.

“We’re thrilled with how successful this program has been in its first year of attracting more students to pursue a teaching degree, and we want to keep that momentum going,” Pemberton said. “We want to help every student who has a desire to teach to have that opportunity, and expanding this scholarship will help us accomplish that and get more teachers into our classrooms.”

McBride said it’s his hope more funding will be added to the scholarship program through the general appropriation’s bill for Fiscal Year 2024, which starts July 1.

Tags: Inspired to Teach ProgramOklahomaOklahoma Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive ProgramOklahoma House of RepresentativesRep. Mark McBrideScholarshipSen. Dewayne PembertonTeacher
ShareTweetShare
Previous Post

U.S. manufacturing industry struggling with certified truck driver shortage, Oklahoma taking action

Next Post

Historic education package passes easily through Oklahoma Legislature, headed for Gov. Stitt’s signature

Related Posts

Rep. Suzanne Schreiber
Childcare

Childcare bill now Oklahoma law after legislature overrides Stitt veto

June 3, 2025
Governor Kevin Stitt
News

ODMHSAS head fired, Pro Tem Paxton criticizes Gov. Stitt for ‘smear’

June 2, 2025
Governor Kevin Stitt
News

Legal reforms now Oklahoma law, Gov. Stitt says good for business

May 30, 2025
Firehawk Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt Will Edwards
Innovation

Firehawk rocket motor manufacturer building facility in Oklahoma

May 29, 2025
Governor Kevin Stitt
News

Gov. Stitt signs Oklahoma personal income tax cut into law

May 29, 2025
Governor Kevin Stitt
News

Reindustrialize Oklahoma bill to attract business, jobs goes to Stitt

May 27, 2025
Next Post
State Capitol of Oklahoma in Oklahoma City

Historic education package passes easily through Oklahoma Legislature, headed for Gov. Stitt's signature

Oklahoma Business Voice

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

Navigate Site

  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

Follow Us

Welcome Back!

Login to your account below

Forgotten Password?

Retrieve your password

Please enter your username or email address to reset your password.

Log In
No Result
View All Result
  • Home
  • News
  • Sign Up
  • About
  • Contact
  • Advertise With Us!

© 2023 Oklahoma State Chamber.
Powered by High Five Media.
Privacy Policy

This website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy.