The bill amends 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-101, which governs teacher contracts in Oklahoma. It introduces a prohibition against school boards entering into contracts with certified teachers for periods shorter than one year, ensuring that all contracts are for a minimum duration. Additionally, the bill allows for the payment of state-mandated salary increases to teachers during contract negotiations that occur after the school year has begun. Other amendments include clarifying the authority of school boards to contract with individuals who are in the process of obtaining certification and the conditions under which student teachers may be employed.

The bill also makes several deletions and insertions to existing legal language, including changing the subsection references and updating the provisions regarding the employment of non-certified teachers and student teachers. It establishes that contracts with student teachers can include stipends or signing bonuses, contingent upon their completion of the first year of their contract. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.