Representative Ronny Johns

R

District 25

Hi, I’m Ronny Johns and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 25th District.


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News & Announcements

Mar 6, 2025

House Oversight Committee Passes Bill Removing Chronic Absenteeism from State School Report Cards; Adds Incentive for More Instructional Time

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-

Mar 5, 2025
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House Oversight Committee Passes Bill Removing Chronic Absenteeism from State School Report Cards; Adds Incentive for More Instructional Time

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.

Sep 29, 2023
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Johns, Waldron, Blancett to Study A-F Report Cards in Public Schools

A bipartisan interim study to examine the value of A-F report cards when rating the quality of public schools across the state has been scheduled for Monday, October 2. The meeting is a joint study by Reps. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, John Waldron, D-Tulsa, and Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, and will overview the A-F report card program. Presenters will discuss how absenteeism affects the schools' grades, the pros and cons of the bell curve system, the current systems used for Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) compliance and school evaluation, and explore alternatives to existing methodologies. "I believe the A-F report card is a useful tool that gives a good overall picture of what's going on in our schools and the great job our educators are doing," said Johns, a former middle school principal. "One area of particular concern is the bell curve system we currently have in place, which severely limits schools' ability to improve their grade score even if they show vast improvement. I hope this study provides valuable information that we can use to begin considering what system best serves students, parents and teachers." Speakers include Michael Tamborski, Program Manager over Data Quality and Research in the State Dept. of Education Office of Accountability, who will provide an overview of the A-F report cards; Dr. Jeanene Barnett, Education Policy and Research Analyst, Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA), who will detail what other states have done as alternatives to the A-F report card system; and Sandra Valentine, formerly with APlus, who will explain the A-F report card scoring process. “The study seeks to update and improve our system of school assessment by looking at alternative models that can add value to our understanding of school performance, and point the way to improving student learning,” said Waldron, a former public school teacher. Also speaking to the committee will be Bixby Public Schools Superintendent Rob Miller, Stillwater Public Schools Superintendent Uwe Gordon, and Stillwater Public Schools Board Member Marshall Baker. The study, which is open to the public, is scheduled for Monday, October 2 at 1 p.m. in Room 206 at the Oklahoma State Capitol. The meeting will be held before the House Common Education Committee and will be live-streamed at www.okhouse.gov .