Professional Development
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) provides high‑quality professional development for teachers, administrators, and school staff across multiple formats. Opportunities include synchronous and asynchronous virtual sessions, webinars, and in‑person regional workshops designed to support continuous improvement and instructional excellence. OSDE strongly encourages districts to exercise their local control when determining how professional development time is used, ensuring that training aligns with local needs, priorities, and strategic goals.
OSDE Connect
Educators can access a wide range of free online professional learning courses through OSDE Connect, the agency’s virtual learning platform. Many of the required professional development courses are available directly through OSDE Connect.
OSDE Connect User Statement
OSDE Connect is a virtual community of learners striving to better serve 700,000 Oklahoma schoolchildren. Every community has shared standards, and we would appreciate you upholding the following practices in your interactions and comments.
1. Encourage engagement by asking questions, sharing your perspective and inviting feedback
2. Ensure your comments are respectful of others and their points of view. If necessary, think before you comment
3. Sharing best practices and tips is beneficial, but refrain from hard-sells of products, services or ideas.
4. Be transparent about your identity; anonymous comments are not allowed.
5. Remember that your comments are your own and do not represent the Oklahoma State Department of Education but may reflect on your school, district and the education community in general
6. There is no room at OSDE Connect for hate speech or comments that demean, diminish or hurt. Violators will be removed from the platform.
Professional Development Requirements
Frequency |
Topic |
Audience |
Guiding Rule or Law |
Suggested Resources & OSDE Contact |
Frequency determined by local board of education.
|
Digital Teaching and Learning |
Certified teachers and administrators.
|
70 O.S. 6-192 |
ISTE Standards for Students, Educators & Administrators Office of AI and Digital Learning |
Frequency determined by local board of education.
|
EL (English Learners) |
Certified employees & support staff who work with EL students.
|
70 O.S. 6-192 |
|
Frequency determined by local board of education. |
Family & Community Engagement
|
All school personnel.
|
70 O.S. 6-194
|
Family & Community Engagement: OSDE Connect
|
Frequency determined by local board of education. |
FERPA (Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act) |
Certified employees & support staff.
|
70 O.S. 6-194
|
|
Frequency determined by local board of education.
Except for laboratory employees who will be provided information and training on hazardous chemicals in their work area at the time of their initial assignment and whenever a new chemical hazard is introduced into their work area. |
Hazardous Communications |
Certified employees & support staff.
|
70 O.S. 6-194 29 CFR 1910.1200 |
|
| Frequency determined by local board of education from recommendation of the Safe School Committee. | Human Trafficking |
Certified employees and support staff.
|
70 O.S. § 24-100.5 |
|
Frequency determined by local board of education. |
Teacher Induction Program |
First, second, & third-year teachers.
|
70 O.S. 6-195
|
Teacher Induction Program Guidelines Senior Director, Teacher Recruitment & Retention Autumn Kouba
|
Training when initially hired and then frequency determined by local board of education. |
Student Communication |
All school personnel.
|
70 O.S. 6-401 70 O.S. 6-194 |
Student Communication: OSDE Connect Senior Director, Compliance Jennifer A. Hembree, Ed.D. |
| Training when initially hired and then frequency determined by local board of education. | Title IX |
Title IX Coordinator.
|
34 C.F.R. § 106.8(a) |
|
Complete 3 hours of training annually.
Frequency determined by local board of education.
|
Title IX, Part A Education for the Homeless & Other Laws |
District Homeless Liaison:
Certified Employees and support staff.
|
Title 42 U.S.C. §11432(g)(1)(D) & (g)(6)(A)(ix) 70 O.S. 6-194
|
Suggested Resources: Tuesday Talks Weekly Office Hours https://www.zoomgov.com/meeting/register/KNKtEWolTbCN5TyS4_Qivg NAEHCY Conference. Senior Director, Federal Programs, Tammy Smith |
Initial training within 9 months of hire, or within 3 years prior to employment in the position; then 12 hours of approved training every 3 years from the date of initial employment. |
Finance |
School District encumbrance clerks and treasure clerks.
|
70 O.S. 5-190
|
Program Director, Financial Accounting, OCAS and Auditing katherine.black@sde.ok.gov, 405-522-0275 |
11 Days (66 hours) of training during first year of employment. |
Superintendent Training |
First-time Oklahoma superintendents.
|
OAC 210:20-21-1 |
Senior Director, Compliance Jennifer A. Hembree, Ed.D. |
A teacher must earn a micro-credential to integrate health education into other content areas. |
Health Education micro-credential |
Teachers who teach health education. A stand-alone health class must be taught by a certified physical education/health teacher. |
70 O.S. § 11-103R.13 |
Health Education Micro-credential in OSDE Connect Project Manager, Health & Physical Education |
Within the first year of being assigned the content. |
Personal Financial Literacy |
Certified teachers delivering Personal Financial Literacy instruction.
|
70 O.S. S 11-103.6H |
Teaching Personal Financial Literacy: OSDE Connect Project Manager, Social Studies and Personal Financial Literacy Brenda Beymer-Chapman, J.D. |
Once each school year. |
Bloodborne Pathogens |
Bloodborne pathogens training is required only for employees who have “occupational exposure” to blood or other potentially infectious materials (OPIM).
Recommended for all district personnel. |
20 CFR 1910.1030 |
OSHA Overview 1 Bloodborne Pathogens OSHA Standard Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
Once each school year. |
Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) & Heimlich Maneuver |
One certified teacher & one non-certified staff member per school site.
|
70 O.S. 1210.199 |
Student Health Services Resources Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
Once each school year. |
Diabetes Management Training (DMT) |
Employees responsible for students with diabetes
|
70 O.S. 1210.196.2 |
Diabetes Management Training: OSDE Connect Student Development: Safe and Healthy Schools Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
Once each school year.
|
Dyslexia/Dysgraphia Awareness
|
Certified teachers and administrators.
|
70 O.S. 6-194 |
|
Once each school year
|
Science of Reading
|
For districts receiving greater than $2500, 10% must be spent on evidence-based professional development from an SDE approved list for any PK-5 teachers within a district. **This is a requirement for funding, but is not a requirement for all teachers to participate.
|
70 O.S. § 1210.508.D |
State Department of Education has approved a list ofevidence-based professional development programswhich is published on the RSA Coordinator website. Program Director, Literacy Policy and Programs Melissa Ahlgrim literacy@sde.ok.gov |
Once each school year. |
Seizure Rescue training
|
One school employee at each school.
|
70 O.S. § 1210.183 |
Seizure Safe Schools Training OSDE Connect Safe and Healthy Schools Professional Learning Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
Once each school year. |
Sports-Related Head Injuries-Concussion Management Guidelines- Penalties |
Game Officials and team Officials.
|
70 O.S. 24-155(C)(1) |
NFHS: Concussion in Sports Training |
Once each school year. |
Sudden Cardiac Arrest Training |
Coach of an athletic activity, school nurses, and athletic trainers.
|
70 O.S. 24-156 |
OSDE Resources and Information OSDH Sudden Cardiac Arrest, CPR, AED, and First Aid Requirements Approved providers of Sudden Cardiac Arrest training courses for coaches: Provider: National Federation of High Schools Course: Sudden Cardiac Arrest Provider: Sports Safety International Chase Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
Once each school year if medications are being dispensed at the school. |
Medication Administration Training |
Any school personnel that may administer medications.
|
70 O.S. § 1-116.2 |
Medication Administration Training: OSDE Connect Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
Once each school year before the school year begins or upon hiring. |
Allergy and Anaphylaxis Training |
Required training for all teachers and staff who are directly responsible for students in the K-12 setting, starting 8/1/25.
|
70 O.S. § 1-116.3 |
Allergy and Anaphylaxis: OSDE Connect Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
All student teachers during the resident year and at least one time every three (3).
At least once every three (3) years. |
Autism |
All student teachers of students in early childhood programs through grade three shall be required to complete the autism training. All other teachers and education support professionals of students in early childhood programs through grade three. |
70 O.S. 2011.194.6
|
Special Education Services: (405) 521-3351 |
Once every three years. |
Vision Screening Provider Training |
Screeners of K, 1st, and 3rd grade are required to take this training and be on the statewide vision registry at OSDH.
|
70 O.S. § 1210.284 |
OSDH Vision Screening Resources Project Manager, School Health Services Shawna Blackburn |
First year of hire, then once every fifth academic year |
Alcohol and Drug Awareness |
Certified employees & support staff. First year of hire, then once every fifth academic year |
70 O.S. 1210.229-5 (A)(4) |
Student Development: StudentDevelopment@sde.ok.gov |
First year and then once every fifth academic year. |
Bullying Prevention |
All school personnel.
|
70 O.S. 24-100.4.A9 OAC 210:10-1-20 |
Prevention and Intervention - OSDE Connect Student Development: StudentDevelopment@sde.ok.gov |
First year and then once every fifth academic year. |
Child Abuse and Neglect; Child Sexual Abuse Awareness & Reporting |
Certified teachers and administrators.
|
70 O.S. § 6-194 |
|
First year and then once every fifth academic year. |
Mental Health Needs of Students |
Certified employees.
|
70 O.S. 6-194.3(A) |
Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Student Mental Health Resources Crisis Preparedness and Response Student Development: StudentDevelopment@sde.ok.gov |
First year and then once every fifth academic year. |
Suicide Awareness training
|
All school personnel.
|
70 O.S. § 24-100.7 |
School-Based Suicide Prevention (Oklahoma Dept. of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services) |
Every five (5) years, each driver shall have successfully completed four (4) hours per year of Inservice training approved by the State Department of Education |
Bus Driver Training |
School Bus Drivers
|
OAC 210:30-5-8 (Section b:3-A) |
Mat Luse mat.luse@sde.ok.gov |
