HB 4268: Education; Teacher Effectiveness and Excellence Act; Growth-based Teacher Compensation Program; pilot program; eligibility; bonus program; effective date; emergency. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was revised to reflect Senate floor amendments, updating the bill's title, sponsors, and scope. The most significant substantive change is the expansion of the National Board Certification Bonus Program to apply to all certified teachers in any subject or grade level, whereas the House version limited it to specific roles. The Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program definitions were also adjusted to align with Senate preferences.

Scope change

The scope of the National Board Certification Bonus Program was expanded from specific roles to all certified teachers in any subject or grade level.

SCOPE

The National Board Certification Bonus Program eligibility was broadened to include any certified teacher in any subject or grade level, removing previous restrictions.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Eligible teacher' for the National Board Certification Bonus Program was changed to include any certified teacher in any subject area or grade level employed by a public school district.

TECHNICAL

Header information was updated to reflect the Senate Floor Version, including a new co-sponsor (Rosecrants) and revised title descriptions.

House Committee Substitute → Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was amended to include the Senate's version, which expands the scope of the National Board Certification Bonus Program to include all certified teachers rather than just those in specific subjects. Additionally, the bill title was updated to reflect that it is an 'Engrossed' bill, and the effective date was changed to include an emergency provision.

Scope change

The National Board Certification Bonus Program eligibility was expanded from teachers in grades 4-8 teaching English/language arts and mathematics to any certified teacher in any subject or grade level.

SCOPE

The National Board Certification Bonus Program now applies to all certified teachers in any subject or grade level, whereas the previous version limited it to teachers in grades 4-8 teaching English language arts and mathematics.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Eligible teacher' was broadened to include any certified teacher employed by a public school district, removing the previous grade and subject restrictions.

TECHNICAL

The bill header was updated to indicate it is an 'Engrossed' bill and includes the Senate sponsor, Pugh.

TIMELINE

The codification section was updated to include an 'emergency' provision, allowing the bill to take effect immediately if necessary.

Proposed Committee Substitute (sub committee) 2 → House Committee Substitute · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised from a proposed subcommittee version to a House Committee Substitute, primarily updating the bill's title and formatting while retaining the core policy of a growth-based teacher compensation pilot program and a National Board Certification bonus. The substantive policy content, including eligibility criteria, funding sources, and program mechanics, remains unchanged from the previous version.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on education, specifically establishing a pilot program for teacher compensation based on student growth and a bonus for National Board Certification.

TECHNICAL

The bill title was updated from 'Proposed Subcommittee Substitute' to 'Committee Substitute' to reflect the legislative process stage.

The bill's introductory text was updated to include a formal 'emergency' declaration bracket, a standard procedural addition.

Page numbering and request numbers were updated to reflect the new version of the document.

Minor formatting adjustments were made to the layout and spacing of the text.

Proposed Committee Substitute (sub committee) 1 → Proposed Committee Substitute (sub committee) 2 · 5 edits

MODERATE

The bill was updated from a draft to a revised committee substitute version, incorporating specific amendments to the Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program and the National Board Certification Bonus Program. These changes refine the administrative authority, adjust the program's name and scope, and restructure the compensation tiers and distribution rules to ensure clearer implementation guidelines.

Scope change

The bill's scope was modified to shift administrative authority for the Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program from the State Department of Education to the State Board of Education, and the program name was updated to 'Growth-based' (lowercase 'b').

REQUIREMENT

Administrative authority for the Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program was changed from the State Department of Education to the State Board of Education.

The program title was updated to 'Growth-based Teacher Compensation Program' to standardize the terminology.

The selection criteria language was updated to require the State Board of Education to establish criteria for 'recognized teachers' rather than just general participation.

Compensation tier descriptions were reorganized and clarified, specifying the exact percentile ranges for Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3.

The National Board Certification Bonus Program section was restructured with new line breaks and formatting to improve readability.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → Proposed Committee Substitute (sub committee) 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was downgraded from a full committee substitute to a subcommittee substitute, indicating it is still in the early stages of legislative review. The text of the bill itself was significantly rewritten to clarify the program's structure, correct a typo in the program name, and change the National Board Certification bonus from an annual payment to a one-time payment.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding the Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program was clarified by shifting administration from the State Board of Education to the State Department of Education. The National Board Certification Bonus Program was narrowed to provide a one-time bonus instead of an annual one.

TIMELINE

The bill header and date were updated to reflect the subcommittee version, showing the document is in an earlier stage of the legislative process.

REQUIREMENT

A typo in the program name was corrected from 'Growth-based' to 'Growth-Based' for consistency.

The administrator of the Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program was changed from the State Board of Education to the State Department of Education.

The National Board Certification Bonus Program was changed from providing five-year annual bonuses to providing a single one-time bonus for eligible teachers.

DEFINITION

The definition of an 'eligible teacher' for the National Board Certification Bonus was broadened to include any certified teacher in any subject or grade level, whereas the Growth-Based program remains limited to specific grades and subjects.

ENFORCEMENT

The requirement for an independent evaluation of the program was changed to require the State Department to submit an annual report instead.

Engrossed → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten by the committee to clarify its purpose and structure. The new version consolidates the 'Growth-based Teacher Compensation Program' and the 'National Board Certification Bonus Program' into a single, cohesive act. It retains the core eligibility criteria for teachers in grades 4-8 but streamlines the language regarding pilot program administration and bonus payments.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on Oklahoma public school teachers in grades 4-8, but the legislative text is now organized as a unified 'Teacher Effectiveness and Excellence Act' rather than separate sections.

STRUCTURE

The bill text was entirely replaced with a new version that consolidates all provisions into a single, continuous narrative instead of fragmented sections.

DEFINITION

Definitions for 'Eligible teacher', 'Participating school', and 'Recognized teacher' were retained but rephrased for clarity within the new structure.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility requirements for the pilot program remain consistent, targeting full-time certified teachers in grades 4-8 teaching English or math.

FISCAL

Funding sources (Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund) and bonus amounts ($5,000 for National Board Certification) were preserved in the new text.

TIMELINE

The start date for the pilot program (2026-2027 school year) and the duration (minimum three years) were maintained.

REQUIREMENT

Compensation criteria based on student growth percentiles and performance tiers were kept but reorganized for better flow.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 5 edits · Apr 28, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to replace the original 'Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program' with a 'National Board Certification Bonus Program.' This changes the focus from paying teachers based on student test scores to paying them a fixed $5,000 annual bonus for holding National Board Certification. The eligibility criteria were broadened to include all certified teachers rather than just those in specific grades, and the funding source was updated to reflect the new program name.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a performance-based pilot program for specific grade levels to a certification-based bonus program available to all certified teachers in the state.

SCOPE

The primary program changed from a 'Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program' to a 'National Board Certification Bonus Program'.

ELIGIBILITY

Eligibility was expanded from 'eligible teachers' (specifically grades 4-8 in ELA and Math) to 'any certified teacher in any subject area or grade level'.

REQUIREMENT

A new fixed bonus amount of $5,000 per year was established for teachers who attain or hold National Board Certification.

TIMELINE

The start date for the pilot program was updated to the 2026-2027 school year.

DEFINITION

The definition of 'Eligible teacher' was rewritten to include all certified teachers in any subject or grade, replacing the previous narrow definition.

Enrolled (final version) → Amended And Engrossed · 3 edits · Apr 28, 2026

MINOR

The bill was amended to change the title and authorship, adding a Senate coauthor and updating the bill type to an 'Engrossed Senate Amendment.' The substantive policy content regarding the Teacher Effectiveness and Excellence Act, including the Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program and National Board Certification Bonus Program, remained unchanged in text, though the formatting and page structure were reorganized to reflect the new legislative status.

Scope change

The bill's scope and applicability remain unchanged; the amendment is primarily procedural, updating the document's title, authorship list, and formatting to reflect its progression through the legislative process.

TECHNICAL

Updated the bill title from 'Enrolled House Bill' to 'Engrossed Senate Amendment' to reflect its current legislative status.

Added 'Rosecrants' to the list of bill authors and included a new House coauthor.

Reorganized the document layout and page numbering to conform to the new amendment format, while keeping the core legal text identical.

Introduced → Enrolled (final version) · 9 edits · Mar 25, 2026

MAJOR

The bill was renamed from the 'Oklahoma Education Reform Act' to the 'Teacher Effectiveness and Excellence Act' and significantly expanded in scope. The new version adds a pilot program for performance-based pay based on student test scores and establishes a new bonus program for teachers with National Board certification. It also updates several state statutes to change how educational data is collected and reported.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded from a general education reform act to specifically include a pilot performance-pay program and a National Board certification bonus, while also adding new requirements for data reporting and commission member terms.

SCOPE

Added a new pilot program called the Growth-Based Teacher Compensation Program that pays teachers bonuses based on their students' test score growth.

ELIGIBILITY

Defined eligibility for the performance-pay pilot as limited to full-time certified teachers in grades 4-8 teaching English or math at specific schools.

FISCAL

Established that performance bonuses will be paid from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund and clarified that these bonuses are not part of the standard salary scale or retirement contributions.

DEFINITION

Created new definitions for 'eligible teacher', 'participating school', 'recognized teacher', and 'student academic growth'.

REQUIREMENT

Added a new National Board Certification Bonus Program for teachers who hold or attain National Board certification.

Changed the responsibility for conducting the educator supply-and-demand study from the State Board of Education to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability.

Updated reporting requirements for the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to include electronic submission of reports.

TIMELINE

Changed the bill's effective date to November 1, 2026, and established a minimum three-year duration for the pilot program starting in the 2026-2027 school year.

TECHNICAL

Removed the original short title and introductory text regarding the 'Oklahoma Education Reform Act of 2026'.

Education; Teacher Effectiveness and Excellence Act; Growth-based Teacher Compensation Program; pilot program; eligibility; bonus program; effective date; emergency.

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