It does not appear an Oklahoma teacher pay raise has slowed the exodus from the classroom in the state.
When the state board of education meets tomorrow, its members are expected to certify over 850 emergency teaching certificates. When added to the number approved last month, that means the new fall semester will started with over 1,200 emergency certified teachers. That would be a record.
An emergency certification allows a person to teach school in Oklahoma, without having teacher credentials.
It was hoped a pay raise, approved last April by the legislature, would slow the number of educators leaving the profession.