Pogemiller introduces bills to support public education
OKLAHOMA CITY – House Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, has introduced several bills to help support public education based on her experience working with educators and her time speaking with her community on concerns regarding public education. “The number one issue that was discussed when I was knocking doors and speaking to my constituents was education,” Pogemiller said. “Students must have access to the mental health resources they need, as this is the best way to ensure their success during their time at school, after graduation, and as they enter the workforce. Teachers and support staff also need to be paid more. Oklahoma is falling behind when it comes to giving our public school employees a fair and competitive wage and this is one way to keep teachers in the State of Oklahoma. Chronic absenteeism continues to be a challenge for our students, but we can't penalize students through our truancy laws or schools through the Oklahoma State Report Card. Replacing the chronic absenteeism indicator with a school community survey will ensure that families, students, and educators are identifying the success and needs of individual schools. I've heard the concerns, and my priority is focusing on legislation that supports and uplifts public schools and their employees to ensure that our students are successful.” HB 1128 would reinstate the school counselor corps program, when ARPA dollars were utilized to help hire additional school counselors, social workers, and mental health professionals in school districts across the state. According to the American School Counselor Association, increasing the number of counselors available to students can increase standardized testing scores, reduce absenteeism, and improve postsecondary results. HB 1112 would give public school teachers a pay raise of $5K and a 6% pay increase for support staff. HB 1113 would create guardrails to ensure adjunct educators are on a pathway to becoming either traditionally, alternatively, or emergency certified. HB 1131 removes chronic absenteeism from the Oklahoma School Report Card and replaces it with a school community survey. HB 1109 would decriminalize youth truancy while establishing a progressive intervention program through the school that fosters a compassionate and effective approach to addressing absenteeism. It recognizes truancy as a complex issue best solved through collaboration, understanding, and community resources. -END-