Hello, Education Insiders! Every Friday Stand for Children will share with you what’s happening under the dome at 23rd and Lincoln in regards to all K-12 education legislation. If you have any questions, please contact our operations coordinator, Amy Stinnett, at [email protected], or Gwendolyn Caldwell, our government affairs director, at [email protected]. If you’d like to join us as a strong voice for education this session, please visit http://stand.org/oklahoma/ to see how you can help each child in Oklahoma receive a world-class education.

A multitude of education advocates rallied at the Capitol on Monday urging the legislature to reduce testing and place a higher value on having quality teachers in every classroom.

Meanwhile, NPR has been carrying out an education reporting series, and on Monday Professor Richard Ingersoll shared research he’s been conducting about why teachers leave the profession and the incurred costs to school districts as a result of the high turnover rate. Ginnie Graham did a piece this week on Ingersoll’s findings and how they relate to the education landscape in Oklahoma – most importantly, the conclusion that lack of a voice is the number one factor driving teachers into other fields.

Stand is in the midst of collecting stories from Oklahomans across the state about their favorite teachers. Because, let’s be honest, we’d be hard-pressed to find a single person who can’t think of a teacher that made a difference in their life. These stories will be integrated into our #TeachersMatterOK campaign – the goal of which is to restore respect to the teaching profession and offer teachers a place at the table when it comes to policies that affect their classrooms.

We’d love to hear from you about a standout teacher in your life. I’ve already shared my story and encourage you to do the same. Please feel free to email your story to me at [email protected].

Oklahoma governor signs bill barring payroll deductions for teachers unions Gov. signed a bill into law Thursday that will prohibit school districts from automatically deducting dues from teachers’ paychecks for the Oklahoma Education Association and the American Federation of Teachers. Oklahoma Says Policy Monitoring Social Media Excludes Students State education officials said Oklahoma’s new testing vendor “is absolutely not” tracking students on the Internet when monitoring social media in accordance with the state’s contract. Ginnie Graham: Not having input is a top reason teachers leave jobs Salary is not the main thing. It's important, but not the main thing. And that's an important finding because the teaching force is so large — it's now America's largest occupation — that raising everyone's salaries is a very expensive proposition. Oklahoma schools are not turning out enough workers to fill highly skilled state jobs, according to new report. Oklahoma schools are producing only half the workers needed for high-skilled state jobs that require formal learning, a trend that could result in more than 500,000 such jobs going unfilled by Oklahomans by 2020, according to a new report. Right Thinking: Defeating the coalition of the mediocre A toxic coalition of the left and right, if not soon stopped, will destroy the progress we have made. The left, ignoring the record of the last 40 years, demands that we spend more money on the existing system, repeal our paltry measures of performance, and kill school choice. The right, oblivious to our history of academic mediocrity, recoils both at importing rigorous standards from high-achieving states and teaching parents that successful institutions don’t promote students who can’t read or award high school diplomas to students who haven’t proven they have mastered the core curriculum. A significant number of fearful and unprincipled legislators pander to the worst instincts of both. Business community wants best for Oklahoma kids Businesses want to hire critical thinkers, people who can collaborate and problem-solve and be innovative. The success of a business depends on the quality of its workforce and nothing costs a company more than its human capital. Without quality employees, a company is doomed to fail. Three Questions for Teachers, Lawmakers Oklahoma Watch posed two questions to various teachers at Monday's rally at the State Capitol, and one question to several legislators inside, and then recorded their answers on video.

Teachers, Parents Renew Call For More Education Funding

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Thousands of teachers, administrators, parents and students rallied at the Oklahoma Capitol Monday calling for better education funding. The rally marked the second consecutive year residents marched. Many in attendance said it was clear to them that lawmakers did not listen last year. Tulsa World Editorial: Thousands head to Monday to demand better school policy and funding The Oklahoma PTA with support from the Oklahoma Educational Coalition has called another mass rally for Monday. Oklahoma PTA President Jeffrey Corbett has predicted an even more massive turnout — 50,000 supporters. That would truly be an unprecedented achievement, although, frankly, we don’t see it happening. Charter school plan for Oklahoma City has supporters, detractors Oklahoma state Sen. David Holt has proposed giving Oklahoma City the authority to sponsor charter schools. He says Senate Bill 68 is about “empowering cities” and about protecting the investment residents and businesses have made to revive Oklahoma City over the past two decades. Oklahoma schools superintendent: Bold leadership sought to tackle teacher shortage Having a high-quality teacher for one year, they concluded, increases a child’s cumulative lifetime income by $80,000. I am asking for bold leadership and that collectively we find a way this year to give each Oklahoma student an effective teacher for every classroom. Where there’s the will, there’s a way. Poll: Public strongly supports Joy Hofmeister's plan for teacher pay raises Shortly after state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister announced her proposal to increase base pay by $5,000 and the school year by five days over the next five years, almost 86 percent of all Oklahomans — and almost 94 percent of Tulsans — told SoonerPoll.com they liked the proposal. Oklahoma City school district reorganizes, drops four administrative positions Tamie Sanders, executive director of secondary schools; Patricia Watson-Hunt, executive director of elementary schools and Wilbur House, executive director of elementary curriculum were told Friday their positions would be cut. A fourth position, executive director of secondary curriculum, is vacant.

We’re tracking hundreds of bills that will impact the success of Oklahoma students this session. But we’re paying especially close attention to a list of bills we’re calling our “Watch List.” As the session progresses, we’ll be updating the list as needed, but wanted you Education Insiders to be in the know.

STATUS: S Referred to 2nd Committee COMMITTEE(1): S Appropriations 3

SUMMARY: Requires the State Board of Education to administer a valid and reliable criterion-referenced test that measures only reading proficiency and not proficiency in the language arts to determine the promotion and retention of third grade students pursuant to the Reading Sufficiency Act. (Amended by House, Stricken Title)

STATUS: S Referred to 2nd Committee COMMITTEE(1): S Appropriations SUMMARY: Establishes the School District Unfunded-Mandate Relief Program which will be administered by the State Board of Education to empower locally elected school district boards of education to avoid unfunded and underfunded state imposed mandates created by state law and associated State Board of Education rules. The bill requires that a school district will be deregulated from certain unfunded or underfunded mandates and associated State Board of Education rules places on upon the school district by the Legislature upon approval of the state board. The bill requires the State Board of Education rules, the amount of funding necessary to implement each mandate and associated State Board of Education rule, and the current level of funding provided by the to implement each mandate and associated State Board of Education rule. The bill requires the list to be approved by the State Board of Education no later than on Feb. 1 of each fiscal year. The bill provides that a state mandate will be deemed underfunded if the level of funding provided by the Legislature is at or below 75% of the funding necessary to implement the mandate as determined by the State Board of Education and to be deemed unfunded if the level of funding provided by the Legislature is at 0% of the funding necessary to implement the mandate as determined by the State Board of Education. The bill clarifies self-referential language. It also expands the scope of school boards exempted from the provisions listed therein. (Amended by House, Emergency Measure, Committee Substitute)

STATUS: S General Order SUMMARY: Adds alternative methods for satisfactorily demonstrating mastery of state academic content standards in certain subject areas listed within the bill in relation to the end-of-instruction criterion-reference tests. (Amended by House, Stricken Title)

STATUS: Second Reading – Referred to Senate Committee COMMITTEE(1): S Rules SUMMARY: Requires the members on a board of education to appoint members if, after the filing period closes, no candidate has filed and a vacancy is created. The bill allows appointment of members outside of the board or election district but requires the individual to reside in the school district and to meet other eligibility qualifications.

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STATUS: S General Order SUMMARY: Provides that teacher compensation does not include one-time incentive pay that is provided by the school district to a teacher not one-time retention incentive pay for returning a second year and exempts the pay from a negotiated agreement.

STATUS: Second Reading – Referred to Senate Committee (ON AGENDA) COMMITTEE(1): S Education SUMMARY: Modifies the qualifications required to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) to include a child in the permanent custody of the Department of Human n Services at the time the student enrolls in the program or after completing the 10th grade or reaching the age of 16. (Emergency Measure)

STATUS: S General Order SUMMARY: Allows a board of education of any school district, residing at least partially in a county with a population of at least 500,000, with an average daily membership of at least 30,000 to contract with a public or private nonsectarian entity to provide educational and administrative services for the school district. The bill suggests what those services may include. (Emergency Measure)

STATUS: S Referred to 2nd Committee COMMITTEE(1): S Appropriations SUMMARY: Modifies the list of entities that may sponsor a charter school to include any school district. The bill allows the State Board of Education to sponsor a charter school when the applicant has been denied a charter by the school district in which it will operate. The bill prohibits the board from sponsoring more than 10 charter schools per year and one school per district in any given year. The bill requires a sponsor to give priority to schools that serve at-risk student populations or students from low-performing traditional schools. This bill states a sponsor may give preference to applicants that have experience and a track record of success running a school or similar program. The bill specifies what an applicant must include on an application to host a charter. It lists the powers and duties of a charter school sponsor. The bill requires sponsors establish a procedure for accepting and disapproving charter school applications. It states charters will be immune from civil and criminal liability from the school it contracts with. The bill specifies what will be included in a charter school contract. It allows the sponsor to establish reasonable pre-opening requirements. The bill outlines how a charter school's performance will be judged by a sponsor. It sets guidelines for the renewal of a charter school contract. The bill would not have a charter school in the bottom 5 percent of 5

schools by school grade have its charter site renewed. It establishes the parameters for the termination of charter schools. The bill states a charter schools capacity be determined by the school board of that charter. This bill allows a charter school to enter into private contract for the purpose of borrowing from lenders. (Amended by House, Committee Substitute)

STATUS: Governor Action – Signed SUMMARY: Prohibits a state agency from making payroll deductions on behalf of an employee for membership dues in any public employee association or professional organization that collectively bargains on behalf of its membership. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate)

STATUS: Second Reading – Referred to Senate Committee COMMITTEE(1): S Education SUMMARY: Permits a student eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition under the provisions of this bill for the first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if the student is in the permanent custody of the Department of Human Services at the time the student enrolls in the program or in the permanent custody of the Department after completing the tenth grade or is in the permanent custody of the Department after reaching the age of 16. The bill requires that the OHLAP contact person be responsible for identifying students enrolled in the public school site or private school in the eighth, ninth, and tenth grade or are between the ages of 13 and 15, and are in the permanent custody of the Department. The bill additionally requires this person to notify the State Regents with the name of each student and notify the Regents if a student is in the permanent custody of the Department of Human Services at the time the student enrolls in the program or in the permanent custody of the Department after completing the tenth grade or is in the permanent custody of the Department after reaching the age of 16. It requires the State Regents enroll such students in the program and take steps to ensure that the students execute an agreement with provisions as determined the State Regents, upon notification. (Amended by House, Stricken Title, Committee Substitute)

STATUS: Second Reading – Referred to House Committee (ON AGENDA) COMMITTEE(1): H Common Education SUMMARY: Permits a charter school to be sponsored by the governing body of a city having more than 300,000 population according to the latest Federal Decennial Census only when the charter school is located in a school district that has an average daily

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membership of 5,000 or more and which all or part of the school district is located within the boundaries of that city. (Amended by Senate, Emergency Measure)

STATUS: H General Order SUMMARY: Provides the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board with administrative duties, including decisions on supplemental online courses. The bill authorizes the board to establish a review and certification process for supplemental online courses. It also permits the board to negotiate contracts with the providers of these courses and provide school districts with certified supplemental online courses with an emphasis in science, technology, engineering, math, foreign language and advanced placement courses. (Emergency Measure)

STATUS: H General Order SUMMARY: Modifies the income level for participation in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP). The bill changes the measure of the income to federal adjusted gross income from taxable and nontaxable sources and increases the amount to $55,000 from $50,000. (Amended by Senate, Stricken Title)

STATUS: H General Order SUMMARY: Requires the State Board of Education to align the standards for early childhood education programs with newly adopted standards.

STATUS: Subcommittee, Do Pass as Amended COMMITTEE(1): H Appropriations & Budget, Education SUMMARY: Modifies eligibility for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) to include admission to nonprofit universities offering online, competency-based degree programs located in the state as well as allowing awards for the program to be allocated to said nonprofit universities. (Amended by Senate, Emergency Measure)

STATUS: H General Order SUMMARY: Creates a revolving fund designated the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board Revolving Fund for the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in the State Treasury. (Amended by Senate, Emergency Measure)

STATUS: H General Order

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SUMMARY: Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, entitles a student who is identified at any point of the academic year as having a reading deficiency to intensive remediation in reading until the student is able to demonstrate proficiency in reading at the grade level in which the student is enrolled. It requires for a student enrolled in first or second grades who scores below proficient on a screening instrument which meets the acquisition of reading skills criteria an intensive remediation plan shall be developed by a Student Reading Proficiency Team. It establishes the members of the team. The bill removes provisions related to students who do not qualify for automatic promotion because of a “limited knowledge” score. The bill extends provisions for probationary promotion to the 2019-2020 school year and removes the school principal from the Student Reading Proficiency Team. The bill clarifies language related to retention of students. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate, Stricken Title, Stricken enacting clause)

STATUS: H General Order SUMMARY: Requires the State Board of Education along with the Teacher and Leader Effectiveness (TLE) Commission to study continued implementation of the TLE to produce a system that promotes reflection and professional growth for teachers and leaders. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate, Stricken Title, Stricken enacting clause)

STATUS: H General Order SUMMARY: Requires the State Board of Education, in consultation with multiple other entities, to develop recommendations for the requirements a student must meet to earn a high school diploma. The bill requires the Board to hold public meetings and solicit public input, designate assessments to determine college readiness, and consider alternative assessments. The bill allows the Board to adopt the requirements by May 1, 2016 and a timeline to implement the requirements. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate, Stricken Title, Stricken enacting clause, Committee Substitute)

STATUS: Second Reading – Referred to House Committee (ON AGENDA) COMMITTEE(1): H Common Education SUMMARY: Allows any school district to sponsor a charter school. The bill allows the State Board of Education to sponsor a school has been denied by its own school district. This bill allows a sponsor to give priority to certain applicants. The bill specifies what will be included in an application for a charter sent to a sponsor. It specifies what powers the charter school sponsor will have and requires sponsors to develop a protocol for accepting and denying school

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applications. This bill outlines what may be included in a contract between a sponsor and a charter school and states that no public charter school will begin operations without a contract in place. It specifies what will be included in the performance provisions of the contract. The bill outlines requirements for the renewal of a contract and specifies what a sponsor will consider when making contract renewal decisions. This bill prohibits charter identified as being in the bottom 5 percent in school performance from being renewed. It outlines what a sponsor will do if a charter refuses to be closed. The bill requires a sponsor to clearly state why a school's contract is not renewed. This bill states the capacity of a charter school will be determined by the governing body of the charter, not the sponsor. It states the governing body of a charter may not issue bonds or levy taxes. (Amended by Senate, Committee Substitute)

STATUS: H General Order SUMMARY: Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, requires a student who shows at any point in the school year a reading deficiency to receive intensive remediation in reading until they become proficient at the appropriate level. The bill establishes a Student Reading Proficiency Team to develop the intensive remediation plan. (Amended by House, Amended by Senate, Stricken Title, Stricken enacting clause, Committee Substitute)

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE DATE: Monday, April 6th TIME: 9:00AM LOCATION: Room 535 CHAIR: Sen. John Ford VICE CHAIR: Sen. Ron Sharp

BILLS HB1051 by Rep. Dan Kirby & Sen. A J Griffin HB1423 by Rep. Jerry McPeak & Sen. Bryce Marlatt HB1498 by Rep. Dennis Casey & Sen. Marty Quinn HB1512 by Rep. Sally Kern & Sen. Clark Jolley HB1604 by Rep. Ben Sherrer & Sen. Marty Quinn HB1672 by Rep. Steve Kouplen & Sen. Roger Thompson HB2049 by Rep. Jason Nelson & Sen. Greg Treat HB2180 by Rep. Jeff Hickman & Sen. Gary Stanislawski

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The following executive nominations are to be considered for approval: G. T. Bynum, Tulsa, to the Board of Regents of the University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma, to serve a seven-year term ending June 30, 2022, succeeding John Nelson. (Stanislawski) Dr. Derek "Bo" Hannaford, Alva, to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, to serve an unexpired term ending June 30, 2015, succeeding Robyn Miller. (Marlatt) Dr. Derek "Bo" Hannaford, Alva, to the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability, to serve a four-year term ending June 30, 2019, succeeding himself. (Marlatt) Bobby Michael Mouser, Stigler, to the Eastern Oklahoma State College Board of Regents, to serve a seven-year term ending June 1, 2022, succeeding Burl Williams. (Boggs)

HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS & BUDGET, EDUCATION SUBCOMMITTEE DATE: Monday, April 6th TIME: 10:30AM LOCATION: Room 412C CHAIR: Rep. Scott Martin VICE CHAIR: Rep. Katie Henke

Agenda not yet posted.

HOUSE COMMON EDUCATION COMMITTEE DATE: Monday, April 6th TIME: 3:00PM or AAI LOCATION: 412C CHAIR: Rep. Ann Coody VICE CHAIR: Rep. Michael Rogers

SB0068 by Sen. David Holt & Rep. Jason Nelson SB0782 by Sen. Clark Jolley & Rep. Lee Denney

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