Local Boards of Education in Oklahoma
Oklahoma public schools are governed by locally elected school boards, and members must meet qualifications established in Oklahoma Statute Under 70 O.S. § 5-110 and OAC 210:20-23.
Mandatory Board Training Points
Under 70 O.S. § 5-110 both new and incumbent school board members must complete required training
New Board Member Training Requirements
Must complete 12 hours of approved training within 15 months of taking office, including:
- 1 hour: Public School Finance (or CareerTech Finance)
- 1 hour: Oklahoma Open Records Act and Open Meeting Act
- 1 hour: Ethics
- The remaining hours may cover legal issues, board responsibilities, special education law, and/or legislative updates.
Incumbent Board Member Training Requirements
- 1 hour: School Finance
- 1 hour: Oklahoma Open Records Act and Open Meeting Act
- 1 hour: Ethics
- The remaining hours may cover legal issues, board responsibilities, specail education law, and/or legislative updates.
Continuing Education Hours by Term Length
In addition to the new/incumbent training:
- 3-year term members: must complete 9 hours
- 4-year term members: must complete 12 hours
- 5-year (or longer) term members: must complete 15 hours
Failure to Meet Training Points
Under 70 O.S. § 5-110.1 failure to complete the initial training will result in loss of the board seat. In addition, members who do not meet ongoing continuing education requirements will be ineligible to run in the next election cycle.
Checking Board Points
Superintendents can log in Single Sign-On (SSO) to view their district's board training records and confirm eligibility.
Board Training Authorization Overview
While the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) offers free, high-quality training for school board members, some may choose to pursue professional development through outside providers. To ensure these trainings meet state requirements, any third-party sessions must receive prior approval from OSDE.
The Local Board of Education Member Training Authorization Form outlines the process for submitting and approving these external trainings. Using a standardized rubric, OSDE evaluates each submission for content accuracy, alignment with statutory topics, presenter qualifications, and overall delivery quality. The form also includes clear submission instructions and documentation requirements to help organizations successfully apply for board training credit.
