There were 1,019 teaching vacancies in Oklahoma schools during the 2022-23 academic year, the highest number reported since the Oklahoma State School Boards Association began conducting its annual survey nine years prior.
Low salaries and poor working conditions have contributed to teacher shortages nationwide, although some states are faring worse than others. Oklahoma’s student-teacher ratio ranked 38 out of 50, according to Scholaroo, which analyzed 2022-23 data.
To combat teacher shortages, schools are issuing emergency teaching certificates, which require a bachelor’s degree but no formal teaching experience or training. Oklahoma issued 4,676 certifications in 2023-24, breaking the previous year’s record of 4,574 certifications.
A 2023 state initiative offered sign-on bonuses of as much as $50,000 to new and retired teachers with completed certifications. Candidates were required to commit to teaching in Oklahoma for five years to receive the full bonus.
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Sources
Oklahoma State School Boards Association Teacher Staffing Survey Shows Record Vacancies
Scholaroo The US Teacher Shortage 2023: A State by State Breakdown
Oklahoma State Department of Education Oklahoma Alternative Placement Program for Teacher Certification
The Oklahoman Oklahoma has approved a record number of teacher emergency certifications
US Department of Education Raise the Bar: Eliminate the Educator Shortage
Annenberg Institute at Brown University Is there a national teacher shortage? A systematic examination of reports of teacher shortages in the United States
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