Oklahoma Schools Warn of Deepening Teacher Shortage

State Board Pushes to End Reliance on Untrained Teachers

Oklahoma’s teacher shortage continues to strain districts across the state, and school leaders are warning that removing emergency teacher certifications could leave classrooms without any adults at all. The State Board of Education is now pushing to phase out the long-standing practice, arguing students deserve fully trained and credentialed teachers.

Emergency certifications allow individuals without a teaching degree to be placed in classrooms when no certified applicants can be found. Oklahoma has used them for more than a decade as workforce shortages worsened.

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Districts Say It’s Their Only Option

Sand Springs Superintendent Sherry Durkee said the proposal would hit some districts hard, because many classrooms are currently staffed only because emergency-certified teachers were allowed.

Durkee noted:

“Putting people who aren’t trained to be teachers in the classroom is currently our only option.”

The State Department of Education reports more than 3,500 applications for emergency certification have been filed for the current school year — one of the highest totals in the state’s history.

Ongoing Shortage Affects Rural & Urban Schools Alike

Oklahoma continues to rank among states with the highest teacher vacancy rates. Districts cite low pay, burnout, student behavior issues, and lack of support staff as major contributors. Several rural districts have moved to four-day weeks in an attempt to attract teachers.

No timeline has been set for when emergency certifications might be phased out, but education officials say the conversation is ongoing.

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