Oklahoma Statutes Citationized
Title 70. Schools
Chapter 50 - Higher Education Code
Article Article II - Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
Section 3224 - Instructors to be Proficient in Speaking English Language - Intent of Legislature - Certification of Proficiency - Annual Report
This Statute Will Go Into Effect
See Historical Data for Current Version
Cite as: 70 O.S. § 3224 (OSCN 2026)
A. It is the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature that all instructors, including all graduate teaching assistants, now employed or being considered for employment at institutions within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall be proficient in speaking the English language so that they may adequately instruct students.
B. Exceptions to this statement of intent shall include the instruction of courses that are:
1. Designed to be taught predominantly in a foreign language; and
2. Elective, special arrangement courses such as individualized instruction and independent study courses.
C. It is further the intent of the Legislature that each institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education evaluate its instructional faculty for oral, aural, and written fluency in the English language in the classroom. By September 1 of each year, each state institution shall, utilizing the centralized filing system provided for in Section 378 of this act, electronically file with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education a certification stating that the instructional faculty members, whose native language is other than English, hired either after July 1, 1995, or hired subsequent to the last annual certification, are proficient in the English language.
D. Each college and university of the State System shall, utilizing the centralized filing system provided for in Section 378 of this act, electronically provide an annual report to the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of the Oklahoma Legislature by January 1 of each year setting forth the following information:
1. Procedures established to guarantee faculty members have proficiency in both written and spoken English; and
2. Procedures established to inform students of grievance procedures regarding instructors who are not able to speak the English language.
Historical Data
Laws 1982, SB 477, c. 47, § 1, emerg. eff. June 1, 1982; Amended by Laws 1995, HB 1205, c. 184, § 2, emerg. eff. July 1, 1995; Amended by Laws 2026, SB 1877, c. 445, § 285, eff. January 1, 2027 (superseded document available).
Citationizer® Summary of Documents Citing This Document| Cite | Name | Level |
|---|
| None Found. |
| Cite | Name | Level | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma Session Laws - 2026 | |||
| Cite | Name | Level | |
| 2026 O.S.L. 445, 2026 O.S.L. 445, | [SB 1877] - Centralized report system, Part 1 of 11 (Sections 1 through 38) | Cited | |
| Title 70. Schools | |||
| Cite | Name | Level | |
| 70 O.S. 3224, | Instructors to be Proficient in Speaking English Language - Intent of Legislature - Certification of Proficiency - Reports | Cited | |