OKLAHOMA CITY (July 14, 2026) — In August, six Oklahoma universities are launching programs designed to create innovative pathways to teaching and strengthen Oklahoma’s education workforce.
Oklahoma State University, University of Central Oklahoma, the University of Oklahoma and Northeastern State University will offer accelerated certification pathways designed for career changers and people pursuing alternative certification.
Cameron University and Southwestern Oklahoma State University will launch apprenticeship-style pathways that allow aspiring teachers and school employees to earn credentials while continuing to work.
The programs at OSU, UCO, Cameron and SWOSU are part of TeachForwardOK, a program funded and managed by the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA). The State Department of Education is funding the work at OU and Northeastern.
'TeachForwardOK is about creating more opportunities for Oklahomans to become outstanding teachers without lowering our expectations for quality,' said Michelle Seybolt, executive director of OEQA. 'By partnering with our universities to develop innovative, flexible routes into the profession, we're helping more aspiring educators turn their experience and passion into successful teaching careers.'
Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindel Fields also praised the efforts.
“These partnerships meet two of our three priorities at OSDE: improving teacher recruitment and retention and creating career pathways,” Fields said. “TeachForwardOK is proof that when individuals and organizations at all levels unite in the common cause of improving education in Oklahoma, we can have a positive impact on the entire system.”
Education Secretary Dan Hamlin noted the critical nature of the work. “This initiative represents an important step toward ensuring that teachers holding emergency certification receive high-quality training at no cost,' Hamlin said. 'Our state’s universities have demonstrated exceptional partnership by developing accelerated programs tailored to the needs of emergency- certified teachers. This effort is a strong example of governmentuniversity collaboration in service of Oklahoma’s teachers, schools and students.”