OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, this week asked Oklahoma's attorney general to call a multicounty grand jury to investigate the Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) and what he called the department's "gross negligence and failure to protect children from sexual abuse, physical abuse and neglect." Humphrey is following the same request by Adam Panter, the district attorney for Lincoln and Pottawatomie counties. "I have personally exposed numerous violations and alleged illegal acts of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services," Humphrey wrote in a letter to the attorney general. "I believe a substantial portion of DHS employees and administration have intentionally ignored or participated in blatant abuse and abhorrent criminal acts." Humphrey continued that despite multiple efforts to impose compliance, DHS has refused or failed to correct what he called "dishonest and unlawful conduct." He accused the DHS director and other agency directors of being complicit in harmful behavior. "Government officials responsible for overseeing these agencies have shown little to no interest in investigating the innumerable reported offenses," he wrote. He said for the attorney general to delay or prolong an investigation would place numerous children and families at risk, and he personally cannot stand to see another child unnecessarily victimized. Read the full letter to the attorney general here .
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, on Wednesday passed a bill in committee that would extend the age for a person wishing to complete their high school education. Senate Bill 745 would amend Oklahoma's high school learner statute, allowing individuals up to the age of 30 to complete high school. The current cut-off age is 26. "There are many reasons a person might not complete high school," Moore said. "This just gives these individuals the opportunity to take this important step and affords them the same privileges as those of traditional high school age. "Possessing a high school diploma can lead to better employment and earnings as well as the chance to pursue higher education and other opportunities. This will benefit not just the individual but improve our communities and our state." This builds on a measure that passed unanimously in the Legislature last year that expanded the age to 26 for those seeking to complete their high school diploma. This bill states that, beginning in the 2025-26 school year, individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 shall only be eligible to complete high school if they attend a virtual education program. This protects younger adults attending high school in person, Moore said. The measure also excludes such individuals from being included in the calculation of a school’s A-F report card. SB745 is authored in the Senate by Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow. It passed unanimously in the House Common Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Education Oversight Committee.
OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Common Education committee today passed a bill that would end discrimination for Oklahoma students with special needs. Senate Bill 105 , authored in the House by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, would amend eligibility requirements for students on an Individualized Education Program who are part of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. "Students with special needs or disabilities should receive services and accommodations that will advance their education from whatever school can best provide them," Caldwell said. "Neither these students nor their parents should have to jump through hoops to appease public school lobbying groups by attending a public school first in order to obtain instruction that best meets their specific needs." The measure would remove the requirement that a student attend a public school district the year prior to applying for the program. It also would remove language stating that acceptance of a scholarship has the same effect as parental revocation of consent to services under certain provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Giving up consent to service is not allowed under the federal code and is therefore senseless language, according to the bill's Senate author, Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville. The scholarship program authorizes the parent or guardian of a public-school student with a disability who is served under IDEA to exercise their parental option and request to have an LNH Scholarship awarded for their child to attend a participating private school approved by the State Board of Education. The program has been in place since 2011 and currently serves about 1,500 students. Eligible students include those: who have an Individualized Service Plan developed by the Department of Human Services (DHS); who are a child of a military family with permanent change of station orders who has moved to Oklahoma after receiving IDEA services in another state; who have been served through the SoonerStart program and during transition has been determined to be eligible for school district services; who have been in out-of-home placement through the office of Juvenile Affairs; or who have been in out-of-home placement with DHS, or who were adopted while in the permanent custody of DHS. SB105 passed the Common Education Committee with a vote of 6-5 and now is eligible to be considered by the House Education Oversight Committee.