State using federal relief funds to ensure student success with well-prepared teachers
OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — The Oklahoma State Department of Education is working to make sure students have well-prepared teachers by using $12.75 million in federal relief funding to pay eligible student teachers for their work.
This would be the first time student teachers are paid for their work.
“The traditional model of student teaching can be a major barrier for students who are supporting a family and cannot go without a paid job for months. This initiative will ensure teacher candidates can instead focus on their student teaching experience,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister. “We must do everything in our power to not only maintain but strengthen the pipeline of highly trained educators.”
SaVone Blue, a University of Central Oklahoma English education student, says the payments are a game-changer.
“Members of my student teaching cohort and I had been talking about how we were going to be able to make it work financially. We were very concerned about three to four months of no income. When we learned about the paid student teaching initiative, we were shocked but so grateful,” said Blue, who will be student teaching at Southeast High School in Oklahoma City Public Schools this fall. “It alleviates a lot of pressure. Because of this funding, I can give my all to the experience, into planning lessons and making sure I can give my students what they deserve – a great education.”
Not only will these payments help current students pursuing education degrees but Robin Fuxa, the director of professional education at Oklahoma State University says it will reach beyond.
“I’m thrilled that the OSDE has prioritized this critical recruitment and retention need for Oklahoma’s university teacher education programs. For transfer students or undecided majors, the promise of these funds over the next three years will help tip the scales toward choosing an education major,” said Fuxa. “Ultimately, because the latter half of the funding is tied to Oklahoma public school employment, our public school children will be the true beneficiaries.”
This initiative will last for the next three school years (2021-22 through 2023-24) and provide up to $3,250 payments to nearly 1,300 student teachers per year.
To qualify the student teachers must be enrolled at Oklahoma college and university Educator Preparation Providers. the EPP will issue the first $1,625 payments by the first week of student teaching. The final payment will then be paid by the school district hiring the student teacher.
The Paid Student Teaching initiative is a piece of the Ready Together Oklahoma: An Action Plan for Supporting Students Through the Pandemic and Beyond.
To learn more about the program click here.
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