Oklahoma State Board of Education
Local School Boards of Education
Public schools in Oklahoma are governed by a local board of education. Board of education members are elected by the public. Currently there are 2,700 local board members in the state of Oklahoma.
In order to be elected to a school board, candidates must meet qualifications established in Oklahoma statutes. In addition to meeting established qualifications, a board member must comply with the Oklahoma nepotism laws.
State Department of Education’s New School Board Member Workshop The State Department of Education will be conducting its 2-day New School Board Member Workshop in Tulsa and Oklahoma City. Tulsa Oklahoma City For registration information please contact Karyn Hutchens or staff at (405) 521-4527. |
Elections
File for Office: First Monday through Wednesday, December
Elections: Second Tuesday, February
Runoff Elections: First Tuesday, April
Qualifications
To file for the position of locally elected school board member, an individual must meet the following requirements:
- The individual must have been a registered voter
with the county election board at an address located within the geographical
boundaries of the district for six months preceding the first day of
the filing period.
(26 O.S. 13A-106)
- The individual must have resided within the local school district
for at least six months preceding the first day of the filing period.
(26 O.S. 13A-106)
- In school districts that are divided into election districts, a candidate
must have resided in the district for at least six months preceding
the first day of the filing period and have been a registered voter
registered with the county election board at an address located within
the geographical boundaries of the election district for six months
preceding the first day of the filing period.
(26 O.S. 13A-106)
- The individual cannot have been convicted of, or have plead guilty
or no contest to, a felony under state or federal law or a misdemeanor
involving embezzlement. Any person having a record of any of these crimes
is ineligible to file for the school board position during the pending
of any appeal or for a period of 15 years following completion of sentence.
(26 O.S. 5-105a)
- The individual must have been awarded a high school diploma or certificate
of high school equivalency in order to be a candidate for or elected
to serve on a board of education.
(26 O.S. 13A-106)
- An incumbent school board member must have completed
continuing education prior to the date set for filing for reelection
to the same board seat.
- Nine hours for board members serving 3-year terms;
- Twelve hours for board members serving 4-year terms; and
- Fifteen hours for board members serving 5-year
or 7-year terms.
- Failure by the board member to have satisfied the continuing
education requirements shall result in the ineligibility of the member
to run for reelection
(70 O.S. 5-110.1)
- The individual must not be related within the second degree by blood
or marriage to a current school district employee or current member of
the board of education of the district for which the candidate is seeking
office. (It is also illegal to hire a relative within the second degree.)
See Nepotism Chart
(70 O.S. 5-113)
Training
New School Board Member (70 O.S. 5-110)
Requirement - complete 12 hours of instruction on education issues, including school finance, Oklahoma education laws and ethics, duties and responsibilities of district board of education members.
When - 15 months preceding or following election.What Counts -
If a board member has not met the requirements within the allotted time, the local board shall declare the seat of such member vacant and shall fill the vacancy according to law.
- State Department of Education New School Board Member Workshop.
- State Board of Education approved workshops and seminars.
- Higher education institution workshops/seminars/classes.
Incumbent (Reelected) Member (70 O.S. 5-110)
Requirement - complete 6 hours emphasizing changes in school finance, Oklahoma education laws and ethics, duties and responsibilities of district board of education members.
When - 15 months following election.
What Counts -If a board member has not met the requirements within the allotted time, the local board shall declare the seat of such member vacant and shall fill the vacancy according to law.
- State Department of Education New School Board Member Workshop.
- State Board of Education approved workshops and seminars.
- Higher education institution workshops/seminars/classes.
Continuing Education (70 O.S. 5-110.1)
Requirement -
- Complete 9 hours during a full 3-year term,
- 12 hours during a full 4-year term, or
- 15 hours during a full 5-year or 7-year term.
When - During any full term of office, to be completed prior to the date to file for reelection.
What Counts -
- Workshops, seminars, conferences and/or
conventions conducted by the
- State Department of Education.
- State Department of Career and Technology Education.
- Oklahoma State School Boards Association.
- State Department of Education.
- Local staff development programs of the
board member's district.
- All other programs must have prior approval by the State Department of Education and the State Department of Career and Technology Education.
For more information contact: Resident Teacher/Professional Development, SDE at (405) 521-4527.