House Passes Education Legislation

HB 1686
Authored by Deutschendorf, Hilliard and Sherrer of the House and Lawler of the Senate

An act relating to Internet-based Courses

NEW LAW

The State Board of Education shall enter into contracts with private providers of Internet-based courses for distribution to students in the state. (The courses shall be offered through a school district the Board selects to participate in the program.)

The participating school district may use alternative education funding to supplement the cost of the Internet-based courses, if the courses are offered as part of an alternative education program and if approved by the State Board of Education. It appears that this single school district would receive an exemption from the 17 criteria currently in law for all alternative education programs. (Independent evaluations have shown that these 17 criteria are correlated with program quality and student success.)

Referred to the Senate Appropriations Committee 3/21/05.

HB 1356
Authored by Kern, Wesselhoft, DePue and Duncan of the House and Riley of the Senate

An act relating to schools; modifies requirements for certain education plans; authorizes school districts to assign zeros for days suspended.

Districts would no longer be required to provide an education plan for students who are suspended for five or more days. Instead, the students would receive all zeros while they’re suspended. (Oklahoma schools annually suspend more than 60,000 students.)

Referred to Senate, First Reading, 3/21/05