Oklahoma City, OK — In a bold move to address the state’s growing need for special education teachers, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) has unveiled a new program offering significant financial incentives to educators. The latest round of signing bonuses, announced on Monday, is designed to attract experienced and new special education teachers to Oklahoma public schools.
The initiative includes a $20,000 signing bonus for teachers who taught special education out of state during the 2024-25 school year and are hired to teach in Oklahoma. Additionally, $10,000 will be offered to newly certified special education teachers entering their first year in an Oklahoma public school.
Beyond the signing bonuses, the OSDE is also offering retention bonuses to encourage educators to stay in the state for more than one year. $5,000 will be awarded to out-of-state special education teachers who remain for a second year, while $2,500 will be given to new teachers reaching their second year.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters expressed his enthusiasm for the program, emphasizing Oklahoma’s commitment to becoming a national leader in special education. “Oklahoma is ready to lead the nation in recruiting and retaining the best special education teachers,” Walters said in a statement. “With the leadership of President Trump and the elimination of the federal Department of Education, Oklahoma now has much more flexibility to innovate and provide customized solutions for our students with disabilities. We’re seizing this opportunity to ensure the best educators are coming to Oklahoma, and we’ll be a national leader in providing top-tier special education services.”
The OSDE projects that the program could bring as many as 110 new teachers into Oklahoma classrooms, with a total investment of $1.875 million. The department is hopeful that these financial incentives will help to alleviate the ongoing shortage of special education teachers in the state.
Applications for the 2025-26 signing bonus program will be available starting in May and will remain open until September 1. The OSDE encourages eligible teachers to apply for the program, which is expected to have a significant impact on the state’s ability to recruit and retain highly qualified educators in the field of special education.
This new initiative is just one of many steps the state is taking to improve its education system and ensure that all students, particularly those with disabilities, have access to quality education.
