Library: Policy

340:110-3-284.2. Teaching personnel

Revised 6-1-22

(a) General.  In addition to the position specific requirements in this Section, personnel meet the general requirements, per Oklahoma Administrative Code (OAC) 340:110-3-284.

(b) Master teachers.  The program employs or utilizes at least the minimum number of required individuals or volunteers meeting the position specific requirements in (1) through (6) of this subsection.

(1) Required master teachers.  At least one master teacher is required for every 60 children of the licensed capacity.  Only the required number of master teachers are required to meet all of the master teacher requirements.  However, all master teachers meet cardio-pulmonary (CPR) and first aid certification requirements in (6) of this subsection.

(2) Position specific qualifications.  Master teachers:

(A) are at least 18 years of age;

(B) have at least a high school diploma, General Education Development (GED), or Licensing approved equivalent; and

(C) have a current Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder (OPDL) certificate, per OAC 340 Appendix FF - Oklahoma Professional Development Ladder of Level 4 or higher.

(3) Probationary master teachers.  Directors may request a one-year probationary period for personnel replacing master teachers not meeting educational criteria, per (2)(C) of this subsection.

(A) Probationary master teachers:

(i) complete the Oklahoma Human Services (OKDHS) form for the master teacher educational professional development plan, per OAC 340:110-3-281.3(b); and

(ii) are listed on the Oklahoma Professional Development Registry (OPDR).  No specific level is required; however, OPDL timeframes and certificates are met, per OAC 340:110-3-284(b).

(B) Licensing may extend the probationary period for a second year, providing the probationary master teacher is actively pursuing educational qualifications as identified on the OKDHS form.

(C) Master teacher educational qualifications are met for the initial permit, license issuance, and increases in licensed capacity.

(4) Director as master teacher.  The director may count as a master teacher when meeting the master teacher qualifications, per (b) of this Section.  Directors counting as master teachers are eligible for probationary periods, per (3) of this subsection.

(5) Position specific responsibilities.  Master teachers:

(A) support other teaching personnel in meeting teacher and assistant teacher responsibilities;

(B) are responsible for:

(i) direct care of children;

(ii) planning and implementing the lesson plans;

(iii) classroom arrangement;

(iv) planning and implementing parent communication and family engagement; and

(v) providing input on program development and evaluation; and

(C) are present at the facility during the hours of operation at least 50 percent of operating hours or 30 hours per week, whichever is less.

(6) Position specific professional development.  Master teachers obtain and maintain CPR and first aid certification requirements, per OAC 340:110-3-284(d).  Master teachers obtain the certification within three months.

(c) Teachers.  The program employs individuals or utilizes volunteers meeting the position specific requirements in (1) through (3) of this subsection.

(1) Position specific qualifications.  Teachers:

(A) are at least 18 years of age; and

(B) have at least:

(i) a high school diploma, GED, or Licensing approved equivalent; or

(ii) completed 10th grade and are in the process of obtaining a GED for a period not to exceed 12 months from employment.

(2) Position specific responsibilities.  Teachers:

(A) have the primary responsibility for direct care of children; and

(B) participate in:

(i) lesson plan development and implementation;

(ii) classroom arrangement;

(iii) parent communication and family engagement; and

(iv) program development and evaluation.

(3) Position specific professional development.  Teachers obtain and maintain CPR and first aid certification requirements, per OAC 340:110-3-284(d).  Teachers obtain the certification within three months.

(d) Assistant teachers.  The program may employ individuals or utilize volunteers meeting the position specific requirements in (1) through (4) of this subsection.

(1) Position specific qualifications.  Assistant teachers:

(A) are at least 16 years of age; and

(B) meet one of the criteria in (i) through (iii).  Assistant teachers: 

(i) are currently enrolled in high school or an equivalent;

(ii) have at least a high school diploma, GED, or approved equivalent; or

(iii) have completed 10th grade and are in the process of obtaining a GED for a period not to exceed 36 months from employment.

(2) Position specific responsibilities.  Assistant teachers:

(A) are responsible for direct care of children; and

(B) carry out assigned tasks that may include participation in:

(i) lesson plan development and implementation;

(ii) classroom arrangement;

(iii) parent communication and family engagement; and

(iv) program development and evaluation.

(3) Position specific professional development.  Assistant teachers obtain and maintain CPR and first aid certification requirements, per OAC 340:110-3-284(d).  Assistant teachers obtain the certification within three months.

(4) Position specific limitations.  Assistant teachers:

(A) are overseen by an on-site director, master teacher, or teacher:

(i) overseeing two or fewer assistant teachers at one time; and

(ii) providing intervention, when needed; and

(B) not having sole responsibility for a group of children:

(i) for more than three hours per day; and

(ii) during higher risk activities, per OAC 340:110-3-290.

(e) Substitutes for teaching personnel.  The program may employ individuals or utilize volunteers or other personnel meeting the position specific requirements in (1) through (3) of this subsection.

(1) Position specific qualifications.  Substitutes meet the teacher qualifications, per (c) of this Section.  However, the OPDL certificate is not required until indicated in (3) of this subsection.

(2) Position specific responsibilities.  Substitutes meet the responsibility requirements for the position(s) they are filling.

(3) Position specific professional development.  Substitutes meet the general professional development requirements, per OAC 340:110-3-284(d).  However, the timeframe for meeting professional development requirements begins when the substitute has worked for the program a total of 80 hours.  However:

(A) orientation is required, prior to being left alone with children; and

(B) CPR and first aid certification requirements are met per specific position requirements.