OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Common Education Committee today advanced House Bill 4427, authored by House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, strengthening Oklahoma’s adjunct teacher policy while prioritizing student success in early grades.

House Bill 4427 updates existing statute to ensure adjunct teachers bring meaningful experience into classrooms while maintaining strong standards for student learning, particularly in the earliest grades.

“We value the professionals who step into our schools with real-world experience and subject-matter expertise," Hilbert said. "We also have a responsibility to protect the quality of instruction our youngest students receive. This bill ensures we do both.”

The measure clarifies that public and charter schools may hire adjunct teachers who possess distinguished qualifications in their field, as defined by the State Board of Education through formal rulemaking. For adjunct teachers who do not hold a baccalaureate degree, the bill requires they either be within two years of completing a degree program or have at least 20 years of distinguished, verifiable experience in the subject area they are hired to teach.

Beginning with the 2026-2027 school year, adjunct teachers will no longer be permitted to teach core curriculum subjects, specifically math, English, language arts, science or social studies, in pre-kindergarten through fourth grade. However, school districts may apply for a waiver for adjunct teachers who were previously employed in those roles, provided the teacher has completed professional development in the science of reading and receives approval from the State Board of Education.

The bill also establishes that adjunct teachers may not serve longer than five years unless they earn a standard or alternative teaching certificate, complete the requirements for certification, or are actively on a pathway to becoming certified within two years. If certification is not achieved within that timeframe, continued employment as an adjunct teacher would not be permitted.

Additionally, the State Department of Education will be required to publish an annual report outlining adjunct teacher qualifications, the subject areas in which they are teaching, and the types of distinguished experience that qualified them for the classroom.

Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, who presented the bill in committee said the legislation strengthens accountability while maintaining flexibility to address workforce needs.

“We are setting clearer expectations, giving direct paths to certification, and protecting early-grade instruction, all while keeping the door open for highly qualified professionals to contribute in our schools,” Lowe said. “This is a thoughtful step forward for students, parents and educators.”

House Bill 4427 passed the Common Education Committee unanimously and will now advance to the Education Oversight Committee.