House Bill No. 1412 amends existing laws regarding teacher certification and compensation in Oklahoma. The bill directs that stipends, rather than salary increases, be provided to teachers who obtain advanced, lead, or master certificates, with specific stipend amounts set at $3,000, $5,000, and $10,000 respectively. Additionally, it allows school districts that receive certain funding allotments to designate additional teachers for these certificates, while stipulating that these stipends will not be included in calculations for minimum salary schedules or retirement benefits. The bill also establishes a process for school districts to evaluate and designate high-quality teachers for these certificates, with a cap on the percentage of teachers that can be designated each year.

Furthermore, the bill modifies the purpose of allocations from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund, which will be used to support the stipend program for designated teachers. The fund will operate without legislative appropriation and will be managed by the State Department of Education. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage.