Charter Schools Bill Passes House Committee

Legislation giving Oklahoma students more public school options passed House committee today.

Senate Bill 1862, by House Speaker Chris Benge, allows federally recognized Indian tribes and cities of more than 300,000 in population to establish charter schools. The legislation also removes the cap of three charter schools to be established per year.

The measure also requires the State Department of Education to publish a list of all vacant school district buildings that might be suitable for use by charter schools.

Finally, the bill designates a charter school as a local education agency for the purposes of federal funding and shall be eligible to receive funds from bond issues.

“More choice is never a bad thing when it comes to helping our students receive a quality education,” said Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing, who presented the bill in committee. “Our state has seen much success with our current charter schools, and this legislation will allow us to build on those achievements.”

The bill passed the House Common Education Committee with a vote of 10-4 today and will next be considered in the full House.

Also passed by the House Education Committee today is Senate Bill 2330, which creates the Empowered Schools and School Districts Act. The bill would allow schools, groups of schools or districts to become empowered schools through the State Board of Education.

If the State Board of Education approves a school, group of schools within a district or a district’s empowerment plan, those schools may receive waivers from certain statutory, regulatory or district requirements.

The state board shall not waive certain requirements including participation in the Teachers’ Retirement System, the state testing program, the federal No Child Left Behind Act and the state’s accountability system.

“A quality education for all students is essential as we seek to help our state grow and prosper in the future,” said Benge, R-Tulsa. “Our students are being asked to compete like never before, and an ever-expanding variety of educational options is critical to helping our students succeed in the future.”

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