A. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are authorized to develop professional training institutes for the purpose of increasing the available pool of qualified teachers in subject areas that are in critically short supply in the elementary and secondary public schools of this state. Said program shall be in conjunction with Title II of Public Law 98-377, "The U.S. Education for Economic Security Act of 1984", as amended. The professional training institutes shall be located at and utilize the existing facilities of one or more of the Oklahoma public or private higher education institutions which provide programs of teacher education. The professional training institutes shall provide instruction for:

1. Graduates of accredited colleges who hold degrees with majors in and who wish to become certified in subject areas which are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers; and

2. Teachers currently certified in subject areas which are experiencing an oversupply of qualified teachers and who hold degrees with majors in and who wish to be certified in subject areas which are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers.

Initially, the professional training institutes shall provide instruction in the subject areas of mathematics, science, computer learning, and foreign languages and in teacher education in those subject areas. After three (3) years of operation, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall have authority to redesignate, based on data supplied by the State Department of Education, the subject areas which are experiencing a shortage of qualified teachers and to change the institutes accordingly.

B. Each professional training institute shall offer an intensive academic credit program in a designated subject area of need or in teacher education.

C. Upon successful completion of a professional training institute, a participant shall be eligible to teach full-time in the subject area of need for one (1) year in the public schools of this state during the school year following completion of the institute.

D. To the extent that funding permits, it is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature that participants not be required to pay for general enrollment fees, tuition, books, or special fees associated with a professional training institute. The Legislature further intends that participants be allowed to utilize campus housing and food services at the lowest available rate.

Added by Laws 1985, c. 354, § 2, emerg. eff. July 30, 1985.