Education Oversight

The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved legislation that would provide public school districts with the opportunity to be heard by the State Board of Education (SBE) before any changes are made to their accreditation status. House Bill 1466 , authored by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, would allow for due process procedures for public school districts to be heard by the SBE prior to the issuance of an accreditation deficiency or accreditation status downgrade. The bill adds requirements for accreditation standards to address deficiencies, warnings, probation, or nonaccredited status for non-compliance. "This is a win for transparency in education," West said. "House Bill 1466 will bring more accountability to the process and help schools navigate the accreditation system with greater clarity and fairness. Every school district deserves a fair chance to be heard before major changes are made to their accreditation status, and this measure ensures that their voices are not only heard but considered in the decision-making process." Currently, Oklahoma school districts are not entitled to a hearing or notice before the SBE prior to their accreditation status is downgraded. HB1466 would give school districts the chance to appear before the SBE if the State Department of Education (SDE) recommends downgrading a school's accreditation from "Accredited with Warning" to "Accredited with Probation" or from "Accredited with Probation" to "Non-Accredited." Under HB1466, school districts would have ten days to request a hearing after receiving notice of a recommendation to downgrade their accreditation status. If the district does not request a hearing within this timeframe, they waive their right to one. Additionally, districts that fail to address accreditation issues within 90 days of receiving notice risk having their accreditation status withdrawn. HB1466 passed 89-0 and now moves to the Senate for consideration, where it is carried by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond.

House  Speaker  Kyle Hilbert, with  the  support  of  Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton and Governor Kevin Stitt, filed an amendment to legislation that would allow two members  of   the  State Board  of  Education to place items on  the  board agenda. House Bill 1491 allows any member  of   the  State Board  of  Education to place an item on  the  board agenda if requested in writing by at least two members  of   the  board.  The  item shall be placed on  the  agenda for  the  next meeting or a subsequent meeting, as decided by  the  requesting members, in accordance with  the  Oklahoma Open Meeting Act. "We have volunteer boards and commissions that play an important oversight function for state agencies for a reason, and  the  duly-appointed members  of   the  State Board  of  Education should have a say in  the  agenda before  the m. This has been a longstanding issue that needs to be fixed," said  Speaker  Hilbert, R-Bristow. "We have checks and balances on government intentionally built into our system and this legislation will help ensure  the  State Board  of  Education – no matter who is appointed or who is  the  chair – will be able to move  the  needle for Oklahoma kids." " The  State Board  of  Education plays a crucial role in shaping  the  future  of  our schools, and its members should have a clear and fair process for addressing key issues,” Pro Tem Paxton, R-Tuttle, said. “This legislation ensures that every board member has a voice in setting  the  agenda, reinforcing transparency and accountability in our education system. With  the  current structure,  the  board is neutralized and has no say in shaping policy. Allowing this will provide a fair and more effective structure.” “No one member should unilaterally control a board, especially one that directly impacts  the  outcomes  of  our students," said Gov. Kevin Stitt. "It’s time to give a voice on  the  Board  of  Education to parents and students all across Oklahoma. Thank you to  Speaker  Hilbert and Pro Tem Paxton for spearheading this important legislation.” House Bill 1491, originally authored by Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, will be heard in  the  House Education Oversight Committee today. -END-

The  House Education Oversight Committee today passed legislation that would remove chronic absenteeism from  the  state school accountability system and add an incentive for schools that are going above  the  state minimum in instructional time with students. House Bill 1412, by Rep. Ronny Johns, removes chronic absenteeism from being a measure on state school report cards. In its place, it puts a measure  of  instructional time for schools. Currently, schools are required by law to go at least 165 days and 1080 hours per year.  The  new instructional time measure would give schools additional points on  the ir report card if  the y go beyond that, up to 180 days and 1200 hours. "We can all agree that chronic absenteeism has not been a good measure for accountability  of  schools," said Johns, R-Ada. "We have worked to find a new measurement that is something within  the  district's control and can provide an incentive for schools to get students in front  of  our state's amazing teachers even more." The  bill requires  The  State Board  of  Education to amend  the  state plan in accordance with  the  requirements  of   the  Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to replace  the  measure  of  chronic absenteeism with a measure  of  instructional time.  The  State Board  of  Education must submit  the  proposed amendment to  the  United States Department  of  Education no later than August 1, 2025. If  the  amended state plan is approved by  the  USDE, beginning with  the  2025-2026 school year,  the  grade for an elementary, middle, and high school site would include a measure  of  instructional time in lieu  of  chronic absenteeism. This measure will account for a total  of  10 possible points out  of  90 points available on a school's report card. "All  the  data shows that academic achievement improves when students have more time with high quality teachers," said House  Speaker  Kyle Hilbert. "This legislation would reward  the  many districts who are already going above  the  state minimum on instructional time and incentivize additional schools to stay in school longer, which is a win for students." The  bill also adds scoring Silver Level or above on American College Testing (ACT) WorkKeys and military readiness as evidenced by being accepted for enlistment into any branch  of   the  military within  the  first year after high school graduation or earning a military readiness score on  the  Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) to  the  postsecondary measure on state school report cards. The  bill also clarifies that students who transfer in and out  of   the  school, emigrate to another country, and deceased students will not be included in  the  adjusted cohort graduation rate for school accountability. The  bill passed  the  House Education Oversight Committee with a vote  of  9-0 and will next be considered by  the  full House on  the  floor. -END-