Like a majority of other states, Oklahoma has provided for alternative methods to teacher certification. This study examines the perceptions of principals and teachers regarding the level of preparedness and ability to develop effectiveness qualities of novice teachers from the Alternative Placement Program and Oklahoma colleges of education. The…

Recruit, train, reward, retain. These actions sound like the core competencies of a human resources manager or the buzzwords for economic development initiatives aiming to attract Fortune 500 companies. The same principles apply to finding, preparing and retaining effective educators. All 16 Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) states have…

The purpose of this descriptive-correlational study was to assess the level of teacher self-efficacy of first-year, secondary agricultural education teachers in Oklahoma at the beginning and end of their entry-year in the profession and describe their early career retention. This study found that these first-year teachers increased their level of…

For five years running, the National Council on Teacher Quality (NCTQ) has tracked states' teacher policies, preparing a detailed and thorough compendium of teacher policy in the United States on topics related to teacher preparation, licensure, evaluation, career advancement, tenure, compensation, pensions and dismissal. The 2011 State Teacher…

This paper presents the Oklahoma edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's 2008 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook". The 2008 "Yearbook" focuses on how state policies impact the retention of effective new teachers. This policy evaluation is broken down into three areas that encompass 15 goals. Broadly, these goals…

The Oklahoma Entry Year Assistance Program was enacted to ensure that Oklahoma children would be educated by teachers of demonstrated ability. Discussed are the overall effectiveness of the program, the perceptions of administrators and educators providing support to new teachers, and implications of problems and concerns raised. (MT)

This investigation looked at what criteria for certification were communicated to entry-year teachers by their teacher consultants. The teacher consultants apparently defined success for a first-year teacher in terms of membership in an institution rather than as performance behaviors in a classroom. (MT)

Papers are presented on: (1) "Preliminary Findings of the Teacher Induction Studies" (Susan Barnes); (2) "Initial Problems of Beginning Teachers from the Perspective of the Higher Education Representative" (Larry B. Godley, Beverly Klug, and Donald R. Wilson); (3) "Support and Assistance Provided First Year Teachers"…

Teachers in career and technical settings are often recruited directly from industry with little or no pedagogical training, which can result in job dissatisfaction and teachers leaving the profession. As a response to the lack of retention and success of new career and technical teachers, a statewide committee was formed in Oklahoma in 1996 to…

Five states (Georgia, South Carolina, Oklahoma, Florida, and Arizona) are currently either administering or field-testing classroom observation systems for certification or employment decisions regarding beginning teachers. In Georgia, a beginning teacher has three years to demonstrate competence. Observations are completed by an external data…

The Oklahoma edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) 2009 "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the third annual look at state policies impacting the teaching profession. It is hoped that this report will help focus attention on areas where state policymakers can make changes that will have a positive impact on teacher…

In 1980, the Oklahoma legislature passed House Bill 1706, which focused upon four major concepts: (1) strengthening screening requirements for admission; (2) testing teachers in their curriculum field; (3) development of an entry-year assistance program for beginning teachers; and (4) staff development programs in all school districts. The Central…