State Reps address national teacher shortage, ACT pilot program

OKLAHOMA CITY –House Speaker Jeff Hickman and House Republican education leaders called for a more cooperative approach to address the impact of the national teacher shortage on Oklahoma school districts. The Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA) announced results Monday of their survey of the impact in Oklahoma of a challenge most schools across the U.S. continue to face: finding enough certified teachers to fill classrooms across the country.

The OSSBA survey showed approximately 1,000 teaching jobs still open in Oklahoma because school districts are unable to find qualified applicants. The situation is not unlike most other states, many of which have higher costs of living than Oklahoma and pay teachers higher salaries than the mandated minimum wage for Oklahoma teachers. State lawmakers said they remain ready to work together creatively with school districts here to meet the needs of Oklahoma students.

“Significant signing bonuses might very well have helped our school districts fill those 1,000 teaching jobs this summer and it is still an idea worth exploring by the state superintendent,” said Hickman (R-Fairview). “Last week, paying for the ACT test for all 11th grade students was a higher priority than our teacher shortage. I believe the state superintendent should reconsider the priorities and allocate the $1.5 million in excess funding she said she received in this year’s state budget to provide a $1,500 signing bonus for those 1,000 Oklahoma classrooms in need of teachers.”

An announcement last week by the Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction of a new state program to spend $1.5 million for all 11th grade students to take the ACT exam while new state education standards are still in development and when the state faces a potential budget shortage as low oil prices impact the Oklahoma economy met questions from many House Republican legislators.

Approximately 75 percent of Oklahoma high school students already register on their own to take the ACT before graduation and ACT offers financial assistance to students who may not be able to afford the roughly $40 cost for the exam.

Lawmakers now have more questions about why that $1.5 million would be directed to start a new state program when it could be used as an incentive to help with the impact of the national teacher shortage on Oklahoma schools.

“I understand that we want more college graduates, but we need to make sure we have the teachers to ensure our children receive the education needed to succeed in college,” said Rep. Dennis Casey (R-Morrison), a former teacher and school superintendent who is now vice chairman of the House Appropriations & Budget Committee. “A test doesn’t do that but an incentive to hire more teachers just might.”

House legislative leaders also expressed their desire to develop a long-term solution to teacher compensation in Oklahoma by looking at reallocating the billions of dollars the state now spends on public schools.

Despite the false rhetoric of political education groups recently claiming Oklahoma schools faced greater cuts than other states, revenue for Oklahoma’s pre-K through 12th grade schools was greater than ever for the 2013-14 school year, almost $5.5 billion dollars. Examining expenditures and reprioritizing how the taxpayers’ dollars are spent by school districts could be the quickest way to boost classroom teacher salaries in Oklahoma.

“Our teachers need competitive wages,” said Rep. Chad Caldwell (R-Enid), a member of the House Education Committee. “The 33 percent increase in the number of non-teaching staff members in Oklahoma schools from Fiscal Year 1992 to FY2013 when our enrollment grew by 14 percent and the number of teachers only grew by 11 percent is concerning at the least and merits a legislative review. If the growth of non-teaching staff had even been equal to the 14 percent increase in the number of students, it would mean roughly $294 million dollars would be available annually to significantly raise the salaries of our classroom teachers. These are dollars that could have addressed teacher compensation but instead the education lobbyists would have everyone believe that the legislature is the only group responsible for being efficient with state tax dollars when we should all share in that responsibility.”

House education leaders said they believe there is a way to find solutions to the teacher shortage and increase compensation for Oklahoma classroom teachers, but it will require new approaches and a willingness by the education lobbying groups, like OSSBA, to work with lawmakers instead of continuing their partisan attacks.

“We can still address these issues,” said House Education Committee Vice Chairman Rep. Michael Rogers (R-Broken Arrow), a former educator. “There must be less rhetoric so we can have an honest conversation and a commitment to changing how we do things. Together, we have to develop a long-term plan that addresses the teacher shortage, student testing and bloated administration levels. Schools cannot continue to operate as they have in the past.”

Senate Committee Amendment Could Extend School Year, Cut Transportation Funding

A bill aimed at providing more resources for Oklahoma schools could extend the school year. The amended legislation has been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee. In its current form, House Bill 2642, also known as the “Securing Educational Excellence Fund,” by Sen. Jim Halligan in the Senate and Rep. Lee Denney in the House, would divide current “off the top” funding that now goes to transportation and give half of that amount to public schools.

Halligan, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, said the national recession resulted in decreased funding for schools in recent years, while student enrollment has increased. Lawmakers are also dealing with a shortfall of $188 million for the coming fiscal year.

Halligan said in the bill’s current form, for every $60 million provided to education, one additional instructional day would be added, up to a total of 10 days.

Currently, $357 million comes off the top of the state budget annually and is earmarked for a fund to repair or replace aging bridges and roads. That fund automatically increases by approximately $60 million a year until it reaches a cap of $575 million, and the state is currently projected to meet that cap by fiscal year 2018. Under HB 2642, education would receive half of the $60 million annual increase, but Halligan says that would only result in a three and a half year delay before the roads fund hit its maximum cap.

The measure, which was approved Wednesday on a vote of 20-3, will next be considered by the full Senate.

“It’s certainly possible we’ll see more changes in this bill, but this is something we’ve got to keep working on,” Halligan said.

Denney chairs the House Appropriations and Budget Committee on Common Education. She said lawmakers value the work of educators in their districts.

Human trafficking bills go to Gov. Fallin

The growing problem of human trafficking has resulted in Senate passage of two bills aimed at helping the victims of this crime. House Bill 1058 by Sen. Nathan Dahm and Rep. Sally Kern and House Bill 1067 by Sen. A.J. Griffin and Rep. Lee Denney were approved in the Senate on Thursday.

A crime that affects mainly women and children, the State Department has identified the United States as the #1 destination for child sex trafficking. With Oklahoma at the crossroads of I-35 and I-40, the state has seen a tremendous increase in this crime, with several notorious cases making headlines in recent years. Dahm said HB 1058 is intended to help survivors of human trafficking.

“It allows a charge to be expunged if that person was forced into prostitution as a victim of human trafficking,” said Dahm, R-Tulsa. “What happens to these victims is not their fault. They need to be able to have their record expunged in order to move on with their lives.”

Kern said the legislation was an important step forward in how Oklahoma deals with human trafficking.

“I think it is a necessary bill that will protect the victims of this crime as they seek to rebuild their lives without having the unnecessary burden of a criminal record,” said Kern, R-Oklahoma City.

Griffin said HB 1067 is aimed more specifically at minor victims of human trafficking who are forced into the sex trade.

“It does several things—it requires peace officers to notify those victims of the services that are available and make sure the proper authorities with the Department of Human Services are notified. It also assumes that individuals who are minors involved in the crime of prostitution have been coerced to participate in that activity,” said Griffin, R-Guthrie. “They are survivors of a horrible crime and as such we need to help, not punish them.”

Denney explained it is important to recognize that when human traffickers force children and teens into prostitution, it’s the traffickers who are the criminals.

“I believe it is vital to protect our children who have been drawn into human trafficking and abuse,” said Denney, R-Cushing. “We need to protect them from prosecution and focus instead on restoring their mental and physical wholeness.”

Both measures now go to Gov. Mary Fallin for her approval.

House Republican Caucus Unveils Pro-Growth Strategic Plan

OKLAHOMA CITY – The House Republican Caucus today unveiled their 2013 legislative agenda, which included a three-point plan addressing economic development, education reforms and infrastructure funding and maintenance.

Speaker T.W. Shannon

“Oklahomans have spoken loud and clear this year by voting in the largest Republican majority in Oklahoma history,” said House Speaker T.W. Shannon, R-Lawton. “They want overreaching regulations that limit their freedom repealed. They want policies enacted that protect their rights, that encourage job growth and prosperity and that improves our education system so their children can have a brighter future.”

On infrastructure, Speaker Shannon proposed an eight-year, pay-as-you-go plan to directly fund the upkeep and repair of infrastructure.

“In the past, the model has been to neglect infrastructure to the point of decay and then to take out bonds to repair those needs,” said Shannon. “Our plan will be similar to the eight-year transportation plan we introduced last year that allows us to prioritize projects based on need and to pay our way as we go without adding more debt onto the backs of hardworking Oklahomans.

House Republican Majority Caucus Elects Leadership

OKLAHOMA CITY – Two days after the election that gave Republicans a historic 72-29 seat control in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, the House Republican caucus today elected its leadership and re-affirmed state Rep. T.W. Shannon as their choice for House Speaker-elect.

Speaker-elect T.W. Shannon
R-Lawton

Speaker-elect Shannon is only the sixth Republican speaker in state history.

“I am truly honored and, frankly, humbled by the support of my colleagues,” said Shannon, R-Lawton, who ran unopposed for the position. “We face many challenges in the upcoming session, but I view challenges as opportunities to lead and make our state better for every Oklahoman.

“Our nation is at a tipping point, and I truly believe Oklahoma can be a light for the rest of the nation to follow. Leaders in Washington, D.C. have proven they are incapable of leading. We have the will to get things done, and I am ready to collaborate with the entire House body to develop a conservative, free-market, limited-government agenda that will create strong, prosperous families and grow our economy.”

The Republican caucus also elected several top leadership positions today and voted on proposed caucus rules.

In addition to electing Shannon, the caucus chose state Rep. Mike Jackson as Speaker Pro Tempore-elect.

“I am looking forward to working with Speaker-elect Shannon and the members of the caucus,” said Jackson, R-Enid. “It is a privilege to serve the members, and I feel like 2013 is going to be a great year for the people of Oklahoma.”

State Rep. Weldon Watson, R-Tulsa, who also ran unopposed, was chosen as Caucus Chairman.

"It has been a privilege to serve the caucus as Chairman during the past two years, and I am honored to continue serving," said Watson. "Our caucus has continued to grow. We have a great opportunity to govern and I am excited about the potential we have to make a difference for the future of Oklahoma."

Other elected leadership positions include:

• Vice Caucus Chairman, state Rep. Harold Wright, R-Weatherford, who ran unopposed.
• Caucus Secretary, state Rep. Elise Hall, R-Oklahoma City, who ran unopposed.
• Assistant Majority Floor Leader, state Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing.
• Assistant Majority Floor Leader, state Rep. Charles Ortega, R-Altus.
• Assistant Majority Floor Leader, state Rep. Randy McDaniel, R-Oklahoma City.
• Assistant Majority Whip, state Rep. Mike Sanders, R-Kingfisher.
• Assistant Majority Whip, state Rep. Steve Vaughan, R-Ponca City.
• Assistant Majority Whip, state Rep. Todd Russ, R-Cordell.
• Assistant Majority Whip, state Rep. Sean Roberts, Hominy.

"I'm humbled that my colleagues feel I have good judgment and trust me to do the job," said Wright, who was elected for a second term. "I always look at this position as a way to serve the members, much like I serve my own constituents. Serving the caucus can be a thankless job sometimes, but it is vitally important if you are going to build coalitions that get the people's work done."

"I am very honored to be elected by my fellow representatives to a position of leadership," said Hall. "We have a great opportunity to enact truly conservative policies during the next two years and I plan on working as hard as I can to repay my colleagues for their support."

During the next several weeks Speaker-elect Shannon will announce additional appointed leadership positions.

On Wednesday, November 14 at 11:00 a.m., the newly elected members of the entire House will be sworn in at the Capitol. In early January, the full House will convene for an organizational day to formally elect House leadership.

Supt. Barresi Thanks Legislative Leaders for Additional Funds

State Superintendent Janet Barresi last week thanked legislative leaders for shepherding approval of additional dollars so that school districts across the state can receive a total of $33 million for instructional and textbook purposes.

“Our first goal should be to get dollars to the classroom, where funds can help students,” said Barresi. “These additional dollars will help to lessen the impact of a tough budget year.”

Senate Bill 1535 passed the House of Representatives last week 88 to 3. The bill appropriates an additional $3 million to Oklahoma’s education budget. The money will help to offset a potential shortfall and will allow $33 million to be disbursed to districts to help them cover costs for a variety of instructional purposes. Traditionally earmarked for textbook expenses, for the past few years local districts have been given flexibility to spend the dollars on other needs.

Barresi said that same flexibility for districts would continue and that the full $33 million would be distributed to districts. Lawmakers earlier passed legislation that diverted a portion of the textbooks fund to the general education budget, something Supt. Barresi had not sought. The additional funds approved today ensures those dollars can be used for their original purpose.

“While the standstill state budget passed for education will create funding challenges, we will continue to work with lawmakers to seek supplemental appropriations in the upcoming legislative session next year,” Barresi said.

State Sen. Clark Jolley (R-Edmond), chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee; State Sen. Jim Halligan (R-Stillwater), chair of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education; State Rep. Earl Sears (R-Bartlesville), chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee; and State Rep. Lee Denney (R-Cushing), chair of the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee, have pledged to work to restore funding for the state education budget in the next legislative session beginning in February 2013.

“I’m grateful to Senator Jolley, Senator Halligan, Representative Sears and Representative Denney for their work on this issue — as well as to Speaker Steele and Senate President Pro Temp Brian Bingman,” Barresi said.

School Counseling Bill Gets House Approval

OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation approved by the Oklahoma House of Representatives would implement better intervention efforts when students are identified as needing counseling.

House Bill 2641, by state Rep. Lee Denney, creates the Twenty-first Century Successful Living Act. The legislation would require the Office of Juvenile Affairs and the Oklahoma Association of Youth Services to identify an evidence-based counseling curriculum for schools.

“This legislation will allow schools to be more proactive dealing with students who are in need of counseling to help them resolve the issues that may prevent these kids from succeeding in school and becoming productive citizens,” said Denney, R-Cushing. “Hopefully, we can put a lot of troubled youth back on the path to being model students.”

Under the bill, the Office of Juvenile Affairs would make the counseling available to students and school districts through designated youth service agencies.

If the bill becomes law, each of the existing 41 youth services agencies would train two staff and deliver services to approximately 75 students, for a total of 6,150 students served in the coming fiscal year.

During the second year of the program, the number of students served would double to 12,300. During the third year of the program, the agency expects to serve 18,450 students.

House Bill 2641 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 70-15 vote. It now awaits a hearing in the state Senate.

Information, Applications Posted on Newest School Choice Law

Oklahoma Equal Education Opportunity Scholarship Act Begins Work

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 8, 2011) -- The Oklahoma Tax Commission has posted applications on its website for both educational improvement grant organizations and scholarship-granting organizations in response to Senate Bill 969, a tuition tax credit program, which took effect August 26. 

Supt. Janet Barresi

“I’m glad this important reform has taken effect,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi said. “This bill allows Oklahoma parents the opportunity to make the best choice for their children’s education. It gives much-needed support to low-income families and helps bring innovative programs to our schools.”

SB 969, by State Sen. Dan Newberry, R-Tulsa, and State Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing, is a key plank in Superintendent Barresi’s 3R Agenda to rethink, restructure and reform Oklahoma’s education system.

The bill offers a 50 percent state income tax credit to businesses and individuals making contributions to scholarship-granting organizations. Those organizations, in turn, provide tuition scholarships to families earning less than 300 percent of the requirement for the federal free and reduced lunch program or whose children attend a school identified as needing improvement under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Funds generated from the tax credits also could be used to finance grants for innovative education programs in rural public schools across the state.

Contribution limits are up to $1,000 per person, $2,000 per couple or up to $100,000 per business entity. Up to $5 million in tax credits can be raised each year, half from individual tax filers and half from corporate tax filers. Any credits earned during the time period beginning August 26, 2011, through December 31, 2012, may not be claimed until tax year 2013.

Scholarship and grant organizations will be established as nonprofits, contributing at least ninety percent of annual receipts to eligible recipients and reporting annually to the Tax Commission. 

Sen. Dan Newberry
R-Tulsa

“In order to give every student a chance to learn, we must empower students and families with freedom of choice,” said Newberry in May after the Senate passed the final version of SB 969. “This legislation will encourage private sector investment in the success of our low-income children, removing barriers to achievement and helping children build better lives. Expanding choice will create a more fertile climate for learning, improving our education system.”

Newberry noted the measure would increase the overall amount spent on primary education while saving the state tax dollars.

Rep. Lee Denney
R-Cushing

“This legislation provides an opportunity for Oklahomans to help poor children obtain a quality education,” said state Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing. “It provides a much-needed new source of education funding to benefit the students who are most at-risk.”

Organizations interested in applying can go to http://www.tax.ok.gov/btforms.html.

Legislature Sends Major School Choice Bill To Governor

The state Senate voted this week to increase educational opportunity for needy children through a new scholarship tax credit program.

Senate Bill 969, by state Sen. Dan Newberry and state Rep. Lee Denney, would create the “Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act.”

Under the provisions of SB 969, students meeting financial need requirements or living in school districts identified for improvement under No Child Left Behind will be eligible for scholarships.

“In order to give every student a chance to learn, we must empower students and families with freedom of choice,” said Newberry, R-Tulsa. “This legislation will encourage private sector investment in the success of our low-income children, removing barriers to achievement and helping children build better lives. Expanding choice will create a more fertile climate for learning, improving our education system.”

The bill would allow a tax credit equal to 50 percent of the amount contributed to a scholarship-granting organization up to $1,000 per person, $2,000 per couple or up to $100,000 per business entity.

The total credit authorized could not exceed $1.75 million annually.  

“This legislation provides an opportunity for Oklahomans to help poor children obtain a quality education,” said state Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing. “It provides a much-needed new source of education funding to benefit the students who are most at-risk.”

Scholarships funded through the tax credit program would serve children from low-income families and allow them to attend private schools. The privately funded scholarships would pay up to $5,000 or 80 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure in the school district where the recipient student resides. Scholarships for special needs students under the bill would cover up to $25,000.

School Grade Bill Headed to Governor

Legislation requiring that Oklahoma school districts be issued letter grades based on student performance was sent to Gov. Mary Fallin yesterday afternoon to be signed into law.

Rep. Lee Denney
R-Cushing

"Today, lawmakers moved from talking about education reform to enacting it," said state Rep. Lee Denney, a Cushing Republican who chairs the House appropriations subcommittee on education. "The new letter-grading system will provide parents a measurable, concrete and clear apples-to-apples comparison between local schools. As a result, this measure will help determine both our state’s success stories and areas of need, incentivizing improvement and a better product for all Oklahoma children."

Under House Bill 1456, by Denney, Oklahoma’s public schools would be given an annual grade of "A" to "F" based on student performance on state tests.

Under the legislation, annual reports would be issued giving letter grades to schools based on student performance on the Oklahoma School Testing Program.

The grades would be as follows:
"A" means schools making excellent progress;
"B" means schools making above average progress;
"C" means schools making satisfactory progress;
"D" means schools making less than satisfactory progress; and
"F" means schools failing to make adequate progress.

Under the bill, 33 percent of a school’s grade would be based upon test scores, 17 percent learning gains in reading and mathematics, 17 percent on improvement of the lowest 25th percentile of students in the school in reading and mathematics, and 33 percent on whole school improvement.

For middle school grades and elementary school grades, total school improvement will be based upon the drop-out rate, the percentage of students taking higher level coursework at a satisfactory or higher level, and any other factors selected by the superintendent of public instruction.

"This legislation will make it easier for poorer-performing schools to duplicate the strategies of their successful counterparts, benefiting students all across Oklahoma," Denney said. "All Oklahoma children deserve access to a quality education, and this bill will help make that possible."

The legislation is based on a similar plan in Florida.

In 1999, the first year Florida issued letter grades for schools, there were 515 schools that received an A or B, while 677 received Ds or Fs. Performance continually improved until 2,317 schools received As or Bs in 2009, and just 217 received Ds or Fs.

House Bill 1456 gained final passage in the Oklahoma House of Representatives today on a 59-31 vote and now goes to Gov. Mary Fallin to be signed into law.

Bipartisan hopes: Hamilton, Denney make the case for opportunity scholarships

by Patrick B. McGuigan, CapitolBeatOK.com

Senate Bill 969, creating an opportunity scholarship program funded by tax credits, passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives last week. State Rep. Rebecca Hamilton of south Oklahoma City, a Democrat, was one of the half dozen legislators who rose to speak in favor of the legislation. 

Republican Lee Denny of Cushing, House author of the measure, closed debate in favor of the measure.

While passage of the bill represents a significant development in the history of education policy in Oklahoma, Rep. Hamilton addressed the issue in terms of the practical effect it will, she believes, have on her constituents. While many of them impoverished, they hope for better education and prospects for their children, she said. 

Rep. Rebecca Hamilton
D-Oklahoma City

In Wednesday’s debate, Hamilton told colleagues, “I am speaking today for the children of House District 89. If I went against this bill, I really feel that I would be a complete ingrate, and I would not be doing what’s right for the people who put me up here and who trusted me with their lives when they did it.

“I represent children (and I mean all of the children that I represent) who go to schools that are essentially factories. Those schools not only do not provide them with the kind of education that they need to have a future, but they destroy their souls while they’re at it. The schools are dangerous. The schools are dehumanizing. You don’t do this to human beings, and yet we do this to human beings. If this bill will help any of those children at all, then I have to vote for it, and I have to speak for it.

“I wish there was a way that we could help them all, and I know that this won’t help them all. But I cannot turn my back on the ones that it will help.

“I have to tell you that since 1980, when I was first elected …, I have introduced many bills to try to do something about the inner city schools, and they were killed every single time. The arguments that were used to kill them were essentially the same arguments that are being used against this bill today.

“I wish that we had a public education system that provided the kind of educational experience for every child in Oklahoma where they had a hope and a future. But it does not, and we do not.

“The number one thing lacking in my district among my children is hope. You take hope away from people, and you destroy them. You take hope away from people, and these are not chimps, these are people, with all the drive and intelligence that is inherent in every human being, and you get something that is dangerous, and destructive, and that ends up costing you a lot more money, if money is what this is all about. Hopeless people are dangerous people. That’s what these schools give these children right now: no hope. That’s what this bill does give them: hope.

“If this bill goes into law, one of the first things I’m going to do is use my letters that we get to send out up here to the kids in my district and say ‘this program is available. I want you to apply for it. If you have problems…’ -- and they will with the paperwork –‘I want you to call my office, and I will help you.’

I am going to contact all of my parents, because my parents are scared, they’re scared of any kind of authority, and I’m going to walk them through it, and convince them that they can do this without fear, because I’ll protect them. I have to tell my constituents that a lot, ‘I will protect you. You can call the police because I will protect you. I will call the police for you’ because they’re scared to do it. ‘You can walk through this, because I will help you.’

“I know that is a very alien thing for some of you with districts where you have constituents who don’t even really need representatives because they can fight for themselves. But that’s what I deal with everyday.

“I’m going to vote for this bill. I co-authored this bill, because I owe that to the people who have trusted me in election after election after election for all these years to come out here and take care of their interest in government. I urge all of you to do the same.”

Rep. Lee Denney
R-Cushing

Rep. Denny closed debate on the issue. She thanked colleagues who had supported the bill, then refuted contentions made by House Minority Leader Scott Inman of Del City, assertions that foreshadowed a press release listing opposition arguments that was circulated in the hours after debate concluded. 

Denny said, “I wanted to start out by refuting what the Representative from Del City said. I don’t know where he read in the bill about cherry picking, or that we’re trying to help private schools. This bill is about helping kids. It was designed to help kids, not schools. We do a lot out here to help schools; this is designed to help kids. It’s designed to help parents of those kids that know that their kids are in a failing situation that’s not working for them, and they want a better opportunity. I don’t know a single parent that doesn’t want what’s best for their kids. Up and down, it has no economic boundaries, it has no socioeconomic, no class boundaries. Parents want what’s best for their kids. 

“This bill opens the door of opportunity for kids [who] are in failing schools, kids that have no hope, kids that are trapped in these poor schools, an opportunity to do better. I don’t know one parent that wouldn’t want to take advantage of this. 

House Lawmakers Vote to Give School Grades

Member of the Oklahoma House of Representatives voted today to implement a new grading system – for schools, not just students.

Under House Bill 1456, by state Rep. Lee Denney, Oklahoma’s public schools would be given an annual grade of “A” to “F” based on student performance on state tests.

Rep. Lee Denney

“For too long, people have simply talked about education reform; today, the members of the House actually did something to move our state forward, and I appreciate their support for this bill,” said Denney, a Cushing Republican who chairs the House appropriations subcommittee on education. “The new letter-grading system will provide a measurable, concrete way for parents to obtain a true apples-to-apples comparison between local schools.”


Under the legislation, annual reports would be issued giving letter grades to schools based on student performance on the Oklahoma School Testing Program.

The grades would be as follows:

• “A”  means schools making excellent progress;
• “B”  means schools making above average progress;
• “C” means schools making satisfactory progress;
• “D” means schools making less than satisfactory progress; and
• “F” means schools failing to make adequate progress.

Schools receiving an “A” or those that improve at least two grade levels in a year would be rewarded by granting them greater authority over the allocation of the state-funded portion of the school’s budget.


Each school’s grade would be based on a combination of student test scores on all criterion-referenced tests and end-of-instruction tests, student learning gains in reading and mathematics, and improvement of the lowest twenty-fifth percentile of students in reading and mathematics.


For high schools, 50 percent of the school grade would be based on the above-listed factors and the other half of the grade would be graduation rates, student performance on the ACT and SAT, and similar factors.


“Assigning each school a letter-grade will help clearly identify success stories in our education and encourage other schools to duplicate their strategies, improving student performance across Oklahoma,” Denney said. “AllOklahoma children deserve access to a quality education, and this bill will help make that possible.”


House Bill 1456 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 65-32 vote.