The State Board approved an emergency rulemaking process to publish Chapter 20, Subchapter 3, Section 4—the new industry specialist certification rule required under 2024 legislation (House Bill 3272, as referenced by agency staff). Agency staff said the regulation text was prepared and included in rulemaking intent and impact statements but was inadvertently omitted from the Oklahoma Register and the administrative rules system; the emergency process will make the rule effective in time for a June 1, 2025 launch in the State Department of Education system.

Why it matters: The agency told the board the certification pathway is intended to aid recruitment and retention of qualified career-technical instructors by providing an alternate certification route; staff estimated roughly 10,100 current career-tech teachers could be eligible for the pathway. The emergency rule was requested so the certification option can be available to technology centers and the State Department of Education by the target date rather than waiting for the next regular rule cycle.

Board action: After staff described the publication error and the statutory deadline, the board voted to enter emergency rulemaking; the staff said the emergency process will remain in effect until September 15, 2026 or until superseded by regular rulemaking.

Next steps: Agency counsel will proceed with the emergency rule filing and the agency will monitor publication and implementation timelines. Staff told the board the emergency process is expected to take about 90 days and that the agency will still include the rule in the next regular rulemaking cycle to replace the emergency action with permanent language.