This bill amends existing laws related to the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund and the compensation of special education teachers in Oklahoma. It allows the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to be used to support the compensation of teachers certified in special education, in addition to its previous purpose of funding advanced, lead, and master teacher certificates. The bill specifies that funding for special education teachers will only be allocated after the stipend amounts for advanced, lead, and master certificates are fully funded, and it establishes a first-come, first-served basis for fund distribution until the cash is exhausted for the school year.

Additionally, the bill increases the minimum pay for qualified special education teachers from five percent (5%) to ten percent (10%) above the prevailing wage of teachers without disabilities in the same public school district. It mandates that half of this increase (five percent) be provided by the employing school district, while the other half will be funded through allocations from the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund. The bill also directs the State Department of Education to ensure that funds are allocated to meet this new compensation requirement, thereby enhancing the financial support for special education teachers in Oklahoma. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage.