Stipends For Nationally Certified Oklahoma Teachers Under Review

Oklahoma teachers say the elimination of a stipend program for completing a rigorous national certification process could have long-term consequences inside classrooms.

Legislation that would authorize $5,000 annual stipends for teachers who are certified by the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards is pending in the House Appropriations and Budget Committee after it was resurrected by a budget subcommittee that defeated it a week earlier.

Lawmakers say they are concerned about the program's long-term sustainability. It's estimated to cost about $15 million in the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Belle Isle Enterprise School teacher Daniel Buckmaster is a nationally certified teacher. He says the process encourages teachers to improve their skills, and lawmakers should view the stipends as an investment to keeping great teachers in the classroom.