Oklahoma lawmakers hear recommendations from teacher task force

(Information in the following story is from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com)

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – A task force assembled to address the shortage of teachers throughout Oklahoma has presented lawmakers with nine recommendations on how to better support and recruit teachers.

The report by the Teacher Shortage Task Force was presented to lawmakers on Friday.

Recommendations include allowing retired teachers to mentor new teachers without having to be employed by the school district they serve and permitting teaching candidates seeking alternative certification to substitute certain work experience for grade point average.

State schools superintendent Joy Hofmeister says the recommendations require legislative action to complete. Hofmeister has presented a five-year plan to raise teacher compensation, but a projected budget shortfall of about $1 billion could affect that.

The Oklahoman newspaper reports that since July, the state Board of Education has approved 948 emergency teaching certificates.