ENROLLED HOUSE
RESOLUTION NO. 1035	By:	Hoskin, Coody, Denney, Morgan, Virgin, Sears, Armes, Banz, Bennett, Billy, Blackwell, Brown, Brumbaugh, Cannaday, Casey, Christian, Cockroft, Condit, Cooksey, Cox, Dank, Derby, DeWitt, Dorman, Enns, Farley, Faught, Fourkiller, Glenn, Grau, Hall, Hamilton, Hardin, Hickman, Hilliard, Holland, Inman, Jackson, Johnson, Jordan, Joyner, Kern, Key, Kirby, Kouplen, Liebmann, Lockhart, Martin (Scott), Martin (Steve), McAffrey, McCullough, McDaniel (Jeannie), McDaniel (Randy), McNiel, McPeak, Moore, Morrissette, Mulready, Murphey, Nelson, Newell, Nollan, Ortega, Osborn, Ownbey, Peters, Peterson, Pittman, Proctor, Pruett, Quinn, Renegar, Reynolds, Richardson, Ritze, Roan, Roberts (Dustin), Roberts (Sean), Rousselot, Russ, Sanders, Schwartz, Scott, Shannon, Shelton, Sherrer, Shoemake, Shumate, Steele, Stiles, Sullivan, Terrill, Thomsen, Tibbs, Trebilcock, Vaughan, Walker, Watson, Wesselhoft, Williams and Wright 

A Resolution recognizing the value of National Board certified teachers; expressing intent that scholarships and bonuses for new applicants be funded as soon as budget restraints allow; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation and the State Board of Education have established the Education Leadership Oklahoma program; and
WHEREAS, the purposes of the Education Leadership Oklahoma program are to provide teachers information about National Board certification, to provide scholarships for teachers seeking National Board certification, and to provide a $5,000 bonus to teachers who achieve National Board certification; and    

WHEREAS, the National Board certification program advances the quality of teaching and learning by maintaining high and rigorous standards for accomplished teachers; and 

WHEREAS, approximately 2,800 teachers in the State of Oklahoma have achieved National Board certification; and

WHEREAS, the children of the State of Oklahoma greatly benefit from the expertise of National Board certified teachers; and

WHEREAS, during the 2nd Session of the Fifty-second Oklahoma Legislature, it was necessary due to budget restraints to place a two-year moratorium on the funding of scholarships and bonuses for new applicants seeking National Board certification; and

WHEREAS, in recognition of the great value of having National Board certified teachers employed in the state, the Oklahoma House of Representatives intends to fund the Education Leadership Oklahoma program in order to provide scholarships and bonuses for new applicants seeking National Board certification as soon as budget restraints allow.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 53RD OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives recognizes the value of having National Board certified teachers employed in the state.

THAT the Oklahoma House of Representatives intends to fund scholarships and bonuses for new applicants seeking National Board certification as soon as budget restraints allow. 

THAT an official copy of this resolution be distributed to Ted Gillespie, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation. 

Adopted by the House of Representatives the 18th day of May, 2011.

	
Presiding Officer of the House of
	Representatives