OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - More than 800 emergency teaching certificates have been issued by the Oklahoma State Department of Education in an effort to address the state's teacher shortage.
On Thursday, the State Board of Education approved 157 additional certificates allowing applicants who haven't completed basic higher education and training requirements to immediately enter the classroom. The board approved 685 emergency certificates in July and August, bringing the new total for the year to 842 certificates.
The Tulsa World reports that the agency also announced Thursday that it's launching a 60-member Teacher Shortage Task Force to study and recommend potential solutions to the statewide problem.
The shortage is sparking a debate over teacher pay levels in Oklahoma.
(Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)
Oklahoma Teacher Shortage
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