Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-181: Legislative declaration - Interpretation of act

The Legislature, recognizing its obligation to the children of

this state to ensure their opportunity to receive an excellent

education, and recognizing that the single most important factor

affecting the quality of education is the quality of the individual

teacher in the classroom, hereby calls for the development,

implementation and administration of a new competency-based teacher

preparation system in Oklahoma.

It is the intent of the Legislature that this act shall be in

addition to existing laws governing teachers, and nothing herein

shall be construed as repealing or amending any protection to

teachers prescribed, or as removing or diminishing any existing

power, authority or responsibility of the local boards of education

and the State Board of Education not in conflict with the provisions

of this act. Nondegreed vocational teachers and school nurses

certified under rules promulgated by the State Board of Education

shall be exempt from the provisions of this act, except for those

provisions concerning professional development programs.