Sherri Brown — OKPLAC Legislative Chair
After every traumatic event we have experienced, Oklahomans have stepped up to help. After the Murrah Building bombing, after devastating tornadoes, after out-of-control wild fires, people from all walks of life, from all political affiliations, those of all faiths, races, creeds and colors stepped up to help others recover and rebuild. Our public schools are now in crisis.
Our public schools have been devastated by three school years of trauma caused by this global pandemic that continues today as we start the 2022 Legislative Session. It is still a scary time for parents, for children and for teachers and administrators as we work to keep everyone safe and learning.
The bill filing deadline was January 20 and as OKPLAC reviews the proposals, we look for the helper legislators who are seeking ways to support our teachers and public schools and to support our children in overcoming the trauma and interruptions to learning they have experienced. We are looking for public school advocate helpers to partner with legislators this session to find impactful ways to help our schools recover and rebuild.
Below we highlight some of the bills that appear on the surface to be helper bills and we’ve organized them according to our Legislative Priorites. Highlighting them here does not equate to an endorsement, but rather draws your attention to the proposals. The details will need to be studied. (This is not meant to be an exhaustive list of the “helper bills” or “helper legislators.”)
Respect, Recruit & Retain Educators
OKPLAC Advocates support legislation that will keep teachers in the profession and attract teacher candidates.
Sen. Pugh – SB1630 directs school districts to conduct exit interviews to help define issues; SB1631 directs the Commission for Educational Quality & Accountability to establish a mentor teacher pilot; SB1626 allows a district to provide issuance of advanced, lead, and master teaching certificates; SB1618 directs the OKSDE to develop a website for district employment vacancies.
Rep. Baker – HB4387, like Pugh’s SB1626, allows advanced, lead and master teaching certificates; HB4390 modifies a micro-credential program for teachers through the Education Leadership Act; HB4393 modifies the frequency of conducting an educator supply-and-demand study, listing shortage areas.
Sen. Stanley and Rep. Baker – SB1191 creates the OK Principal Leadership Program.
Rep. McBride – HB3564 creates the OK Future Teacher Scholarship and Employment Incentive Program; HB3565 provides a one-time bonus of $1,000 for certified classroom teachers employed by a public school district on 10/1/22; HB3072 with Rep. Hasenbeck provides for and increases the amount of annual bonus for National Board Certified teachers.
Sen. Pemberton – SB1112 would allow the child of a support employee to transfer to the employing district.
Rep. Ranson – HB3061 permits student transfer to a school district where the parent or guardian is employed.
Rep. Johns – HB3757 provides for a pay increase for support employees; HB3759 provides for eligibility for children of certified teachers for the OK Higher Learning Access Program.
Rep. Vancuren – creates an Education Employee Assistance Program within the Dept. of Mental Health; HB4107 recognizes the teaching certificate issued by a tribal nation.
Rep. Waldron – HB3722 creates the OK University-Trained Teacher Retention Program, funds to be used for retention stipends for university trained teachers up to $4,000 for every 5-year increments of teaching in an OK Title I school, up to $20,000 max.
Rep. Talley – HB3262 and Rep. Hansenbeck – HB4011 deletes the exceptions allowed from class size penalties. (Although parents and teachers want lower class sizes and we appreciate the efforts to find a solution, we would hope there could be some bills allowances made due to the shortage of qualified teachers and actual classroom space in some places.)
Rep. Sterling – HB3658 removes requirement to pass the general ed portion of the competency exam for certification.
Rep. Miller – HB3322 directs the SDE to establish a micro credential program in dyslexia.
Rep. Provenzano – HB3506 provides exemption from the Professional Learning Focus for teachers who exceed a certain amount of PD.
Rep. Wolfley – HB3670 Larry Dickerson Education Flexible Benefits Allowance providing appropriation for flex benefits for teachers’ dependents; HB3672 increases compensation for school support staff.
Safe & Supportive Learning Environments
OKPLAC advocates for mental health, behavioral support systems and wrap around services for children and their families experiencing challenges and trauma. We advocate for local control of duly elected school boards to establish policies that provide for safe and open schools.
Rep. Tammy West – HB3374 assists in establishing community school pilot projects in schools and districts that support the specific needs of the community.
Rep. Rosecrants – HB3047 the Active OK Kids Act protects the right to recess for students in pk-8 th grade; HB3001 the OK Community Schools Act, provides competitive grants establishing community schools through the OKSDE.
Sen. Garvin – SB1379 allows a school district board of education to contract for student mental health services.
Sen. Pemberton and Rep. Pae – SB1138 modifies provisions of the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act.
Sen. Floyd – SB1405 relates to suicide prevention training, Evan’s Law.
Rep. Sterling – HB3659 permits schools to create teacher-to-student mentorship programs.
Rep. Randleman – HB3251 requires disclosure of inpatient or emergency outpatient mental health services.
Freedom to Learn
OKPLAC supports choice and innovation within each child’s local public school district, choice in pathways to post graduation careers and children’s rights to an accurate and honest education.
Sen. Garvin – SB1115 allows governing boards of schools to determine the academic credit granted towards graduation requirements for apprenticeships, internships and mentorships; SB1386 requires high schools to make a family and consumer science course available beginning in 2025-26 subject to funding and staff.
Sen. Taylor - SB1147 – allows the state board of education to determine if courses on aviation are eligible for non-elective academic credit towards meeting graduation requirements; SB1184 creates the Students’ Right to Know Act to help high school students make informed decisions about their futures such as the most in-demand jobs, the average starting salaries, etc. to be posted on the SDE website annually.
Sen. Dugger & Rep. Ranson – SB1238 allows transfer students to enroll in full-time virtual education program as space is available as determined by receiving district.
Sen. Pugh – SB1623 creates the Learn Everywhere Act to allow students extended learning opportunities for enrichment, career development, etc.
Rep. Randleman – HB3043 directs the OKSDE to create an apprenticeship graduation program.
Rep. Sterling – HB3657 permits student apprenticeships, internships and mentorships to occur during non-traditional school hours.
Rep. Baker – HB4389 – modifies computer science college preparatory curriculum.
Rep. Lowe – HB4409 modifies graduation requirement to include a separate personal finance course.
Rep. Wallace – HB4073 provides for annual funding through legislative appropriations for concurrent enrollment services.
Choose All Kids
OKPLAC advocates for education policies that equitably benefit all students regardless of income, location, ability, faith or ethnicity.
Sen. Pugh - SB1620 removes language restricting transportation within certain boundaries. (We believe this is trying to find a solution to transportation issues keeping families from taking advantage of the open transfer law passed last session.)
Rep. Hilbert – HB3084 and HB3086 focus on the same transportation issue as Pugh’s SB1620.
Rep. Dills has worked diligently over the last few years to bring more accountability and transparency for charter schools, especially those that contract with outside for-profit and non-profit educational management organizations. She has filed HB3643, HB3644 and HB3645 to address these issues.
These bills represent attempts to find solutions to improve public education in Oklahoma, to address our teacher shortage and the academic and mental health needs of our children. As the details of these proposals are studied and discussed, the efficacy of these solutions will come to light. As public school advocates, we recognize these legislators who, in the midst of crisis, have worked to be the helpers. Let us find ways to engage with them on shared priorities to help public schools recover and rebuild.
If you are not already receiving our Advocacy Alert emails, please click here to be added to the list. We will advise as session progresses on the need for your voices at the Capitol.
~ Sherri Brown, OKPLAC Legislative Chair