Bill to attract retired teachers back to Oklahoma classrooms by eliminating pay cap signed into law

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a invoice into regulation that removes the earnings cap for retired educators who return to instructing in Oklahoma.

Senate Invoice 267 was written by Sen. Dewayne Pemberton, R-Muskogee, who serves as Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Schooling Chair and Schooling Committee Vice Chair, and signed by Stitt on Monday.

“Even after the 2 historic instructor pay raises, Oklahoma nonetheless had round 600 vacant instructing positions in 2019. We realized we needed to do extra to fill these essential positions, and one of the vital frequent solutions we heard from our districts was lifting the earnings cap for retired educators who return to instructing,” Pemberton stated. “This invoice extends the exemption authorized in 2017 to welcome these wonderful educators again to our colleges with out limiting their pay. With enrollment persevering with to extend, it will permit districts to resolve what to pay these professionals and fill their instructing vacancies.”

The state at present permits retired lecturers who return to the classroom to make a most annual wage of $15,000. That may change when the invoice goes into impact on July 1.

The invoice permits former lecturers to return to the classroom for 3 years with no earnings cap in the event that they retired as of July 1, 2023, acquired retirement advantages for at the least one 12 months and have not been employed by a public college throughout that point, in accordance with a State Senate information launch.

Rep. Jadine Nollan, R-Sand Springs, who wrote the invoice for the Oklahoma Home of Representatives, stated the invoice is important to addressing Oklahoma’s rising instructor scarcity.

“This laws supplies a beautiful alternative to place skilled lecturers again within the classroom, which is able to significantly profit our college students,” Nollan stated. “It is going to additionally assist our colleges fill their workforce wants. Not solely do our college students and our colleges profit, however we’re ready to do that with out impacting the lecturers’ retirement or the pension system. It’s a win for everybody.”