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The Oklahoma Board of Education has approved a record number of emergency certificates for non-traditionally trained teachers.

The Oklahoman reports that the board approved 916 certificates at Thursday's board meeting, increasing the total number of certificates approved for the 2018-19 school year to 2,153.

Joy Hofmeister is the state's superintendent of public instruction. She says the state is "now experiencing the full weight" of the teacher shortage.

Districts turn to emergency-certified candidates when they're unable to fill a teaching position with a certified candidate. An individual must pass a test in the subject area they'd be teaching. They also must pass a criminal background check before being granted the two-year emergency certificate.

Oklahoma hired 32 emergency-certified teachers in 2012.