Education Oversight

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-

OKLAHOMA CITY – 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 their report card if they 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.