2/27/23 Legislative Update

SPARTANS AT THE CAPITOL: LEGISLATIVE UPDATE

● Spartans at the Capitol Legislative Updates consist of strictly factual information, not to include information relative to support or opposition of legislation.The goal is to present the possible impact of legislation on public education, both positive and negative.

● “At a Glance” summary of education-related legislation being tracked by CCOSA this session.

● See here for the 2023 BPS + Bixby PLAC Legislative Goals!

Tips & Tools:

● Updated E-Mail Blocks

● Download the OK Legislature App! Apple Android

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Scheduled CapitolVisits

○ 2/14: Committee Meetings & Luncheon

○ 2/20: Public SchoolsWeek

○ 3/7: Committee Meetings & Luncheon

○ 3/28: Committee Meetings & Luncheon

○ 4/10: OKPLAC Day at the Capitol

Detailed information and itinerary will be sent to those signed up prior to each visit.We will brief each group on our legislative goals before sitting in on Education Committee Meetings and having a round table lunch/discussion with area representatives and senators.

CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP!

Questions?

Contact Jessica Jernegan at jjernegan@bixbyps.org.

PUBLIC SCHOOL PROUD

Last week started with Oklahoma schools highlighting their innovative programs at the Oklahoma Parent

BPS was well represented in this showcase and also attended appointments throughout the day with elected officials to discuss current legislation and budget talks as they relate to public schools. Special thank you to Mr. Dansby for organizing student participation and highlighting the BMS Robotics Program!

PUBLIC SCHOOLSWEEK

FEBRUARY 27 - MARCH 3, 2023

Join public school parents, teachers and staff across the nation in this grassroots effort to celebrate all the great things happening in our public schools.We'll remind our communities and elected officials how important public schools are as we serve 700,000 students in Oklahoma.

Update your social media profile pic with the #PublicSchoolProud frame and download the toolkit below that's right for you. Follow your local PLAC and/or OKPLAC for actions to take each day and content to share on your personal page.

BE PART OF THE CELEBRATION: Here are some ways you can participate!

Sunday, February 26: Update your social media profile picture with the red #PublicSchoolProud image. Download it from www.okplac.org/public-schools-week and upload it to your profile.

Monday, February 27: Join us in #RedforEd at the State Capitol for a news conference and meetings with legislators. Can't make it in person? Schedule a zoom meeting with your legislator or send an email.

Tuesday, February 28: Share the reasons you love public school on your social media accounts.Wear #RedforEd in a selfie OR post a favorite school moment photo with the hashtags #PublicSchoolProud, #RedforEd, #WeChoosePublicSchool, #OklaEd.

Wednesday, March 1: Quote your kid! Ask your student their favorite thing about school and share their answer on social media. Don't forget your hashtags!

Thursday, March 2: Send a note or email to your student's teachers reminding them of their value and saying thanks.

Friday, March 3: Send a handwritten note or card to our elected officials. Consider writing the Gov, Lt. Gov, State Superintendent and/or your legislators. Share the importance of public school and encourage them to fully support public education. (Kids' notes are impactful, too!)

HELPFUL

SOCIAL

TOOLS

MEDIA PROFILE PIC

PSW TOOLKIT

DAILY ACTION CALENDAR 2023 (PDF)

PUBLIC SCHOOLS PROUD INFOGRAPHIC.PDF

(PDF)

COMPETING PLANS

It seems at this time that we have varied interests with competing priorities at the Capitol as it relates to public education funding and teacher pay.

● January 8: Senator Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, Chair of both the Senate Education and Senate Appropriations Education Subcommittee, released his EducationPlan which he said originated from his conversations with over superintendents from across the state.

● January : State Superintendent Ryan Walters garnered approval for his educationbudgetandplan from the State Board of Education.

● February : Governor J. Kevin Stitt identified his education priorities in his StateoftheStateAddress.

● February : The House of Representatives approved the House Education Plan throughHB and HB . View the BPS notes on this planhere.

The very positive news in all of this is that it appears Oklahomawillhavethelargestbudgetinstatehistory, and there is interest among all branches of government to apply some of that budget to education.Ouradvocacywillbeasimportantaseverasdecisions aboutHOWtobudgetforpubliceducationaremade.

BPS PANEL SESSIONS

The district, alongside Bixby PLAC, is hosting a series of panel sessions to help our community better understand school finance.

The first session, The Implications of Vouchers was last Friday. / .

● View the Slides

● Watch the Video

UpcomingSessions:

Mar : School Finance

Mar : Teacher Pay/Compensation, Class Sizes, Impact of State Funding Learn more!

HB by Rep. Dean Davis, R-Broken Arrow,- Schools; class size limitations reduced from to 8 (grades - )/ to (grades - ); modifying certain class size limits; providing stipend for certain teachers in classes that exceed class size, there is no funding for this currently. Funding proposed:

● $ , per extra student

● $ , maximum

HB by Rep. Terry O'Donnell, R-Catoosa, requires classroom instruction by school personnel or third parties on sexual orientation or gender identity not occur in kindergarten through grade five or in a manner that is not age appropriate or developmentally appropriate for students.

HB by Rep. Randy Randleman, R-Eufaula, permits a school district to issue an alternate diploma for students who qualify for OAAP.

HB by Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore,The proposed committee substitute for HB 9 imposes a moratorium on the State Board of Education's ability to approve and impose new school accreditation rules without specific legislative authorization. The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability must review and prepare a report, by January , , of all statutes and rules the State Board uses to determine school accreditation and deficiencies.

HB by Rep. Jacob Rosecrants, D-Norman,provides students with an excused absence for attending mental health counseling and occupational therapy appointments.

HB by Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa,modifies the frequency requirements for certain teacher professional development programs.

HB by Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon,modifies the Oklahoma Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation (TLE) System.

HB by Rep. Boatman, R- Tulsa, requires schools to provide free school meals to certain children whose families earn up to % of the federal poverty level during the next two school years.

HB by Rep. Vancuren, R-Owasso, prohibiting loss or transferability of accumulated sick leave for teachers and support employees due to break in employment.

HB by Reps. Hefner & McBride, enacts the Oklahoma's Promise Inclusive Act, provides scholarships to students attending qualified postsecondary programs designed to support students with intellectual disabilities.

HB by Rep. Waldron, R-Tulsa, addresses evaluating teacher certification pathways and establishes the Data Governance Council.

HB by Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Depew, deletes requirement limiting student transportation within boundaries of the school district. The bill allows a board of education to provide transportation to students living outside of the boundaries and routes established by the State Board of Education.

SENATE BILLS OF NOTE PASSED OUT OF COMMITTEE THISWEEK

SB by Sen. Pugh and Rep. Baker, requires that School employees receive paid maternity leave.

SB by Sen. Pugh and Rep. McBride, establishes minimum salary schedule increase for teachers for $ , .

SB by Pugh, R-Edmond, requires annual mentor teacher stipends.

SB by Pugh, R-Edmond, requires reimbursement for teachers who take and pass certain subject area competency examination.

SB by Sen. Pugh, R-Edmond, creates the Oklahoma Teacher Corps Program.

SB by Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa,would require students to complete the Free application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) to graduate from high school.

SB by Sen. Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City, names an existing portion of statute that relates to suicide awareness and drug abuse policies Evan's Law.

SB by Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, allows school district boards of education and other agencies specified therein to apply directly for federal funds.

SB by Sen. Warren Hamilton, R-McCurtain, requires school district boards of education, charter schools and public libraries to designate materials as “elementary,” (Pre-K- th grade),“junior high,” ( -8th grades) “under ,” and “juniors and seniors” based on their content and prohibits content that the average person aged 8 or older applying contemporary community standards would find has a predominant tendency to appeal to a prurient interest in sex.

SB by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, creates the Statewide Charter School Board.

SB by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, authorizes the Commissioners of the Land Office to lease property to a charter school. The bill directs the CLO to provide a right of first refusal to a charter school located in the same county or an adjacent county as the real property available for lease.

SB by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, with title off,would:

● Rename and redefine the bilingual weight in the school funding formula to English language learner.

● Increase the transportation factor from . 9 to .

● Modify grade weights, increasing the first and second grade weight to . from . and third grade weight to . from . .

● Lower the grade weight for seventh through th grade to . from . .

● A variety of increases to category weights (special education, gifted, economically disadvantaged, etc.).

SB by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, creates the Rewarding Student Outcomes Act, to build an outcomes-based career, college, and military readiness incentive program for school districts; removes Chronic Absenteeism from A-F Report Card—adds a climate survey.

NotableAgendaItems

AgendaItem# .StateSuperintendent

● Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters said that the recent passage of the legislation in the House had been a "big step in the right direction for the state of Oklahoma that moves us closer to the line of what we want which is every family empowered in their kid's education." This refers to HB 9 : The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act

● He also addressed what he called "fake outrage" about removing the Education Hall of Fame portraits. He said it should have been done a long time ago and that they will be replaced with pictures of kids and parents.

Agendaitem# :

Curriculum&Instruction

The Superintendent stated that somechangesweremadetothestandardstoremoveanywokelanguage.Walters said we want “students who are ready for the workforce, not social warriors.” To go on to explain,“This is an agency where woke will go to die.” For example: In the computer science standards, state board members changed the word “culture” to “environment” throughout the standards also changing the term “diverse users” to “different users” when discussing the need to build programs that a “diverse” group of users can operate.

TheBoardunanimouslyapprovedallofthestandards(# .a,# .b.&# .c.)withasinglemotion.

.a. The proposed Oklahoma Academic Standards for ComputerScience(with the changes mentioned above)

.b. The proposed Oklahoma Academic Standards for FineArts

.c. The proposed Oklahoma Academic Standards for Health and PhysicalEducation

● Justasareminder:twonewmandatesregardingHealthEducation were passed in :

● Maria'sLaw:Maria's Law (HB - ) requirements was reflected in the modified standards approved at the March , Boardmeeting; ThemandatesofMaria'slawweretobeimplementedin - . Some resources can be found here.

● OklahomaHealthEducationAct:The SDE proposed standards incorporate the requirements from the OklahomaHealth EducationAct (SB - ) for districts toimplementin - .Districtsshall:

● provide instruction addressing all health education subject matter standards that may be integrated into one or more existing subjects or provided as an addition to existing coursework.

● assign teachers certified in physical and health education in a stand-alone health education course.

UPCOMING SCHOOL BOARD ELECTION

Election Day: April 4th

● Candidates:

○ Julie Bentley

○ Matt Dotson (Current BOE President)

● Registration Deadline: 3/10

● Absentee Request Deadline: 3/20

● EarlyVoting:

○ 3/30 8 AM - 6 PM

○ 3/31 8 AM - 6 PM

● Who is eligible to vote?: Anyone zoned for attendance at Bixby Public Schools

Thursday, March 9th 5PM, BPS Admin Building

Can't make it?This forum will be live streamed via Bixby PLAC and will be accessible to watch after the event.

Voter Portal & Election Information

● Register toVote!

● OKVoter Portal:

○ Update voter information:

■ (address, party, etc.)

○ Confirm your polling place.

○ Request absentee ballots!

○ Download sample ballots.

Bixby Public Schools has developed a 5-year Strategic Plan with the input of ALL stakeholders.

The mission: “Ignite the Potential of Every Student”

This plan cannot fully succeed without the ACTION of elected officials. If implemented, these legislative goals will ensure BPS is a place where ALL learners believe in their power to LEARN, EXCEL, and OWN their future!

BIXBY PUBLIC SCHOOLS & BIXBY PLAC 2023 Legislative Goals

Funding & Revenue Streams:

● Protect existing revenue

● Increase per-pupil funding to be regionally competitive

● Formulate a sustainable, long-term plan schools can count on

Graduation Requirements:

● Remove “shackles” (such as foreign language requirement) to open up pathways for kids

Vibrant Teaching & Learning

Culture of Innovation

● Allow greater autonomy at the local district level relative to graduation pathways

Instructional Investment:

● Protect instructional time by not supporting ANY increased testing

● Limit any and all additional requirements/mandates and FUND them if passed

Vouchers, ESA’s, & Tax Credit Scholarships:

● JUST SAY NO

● Public $$ = Public Schools

● Do not decrease the “pot” from which all state agencies are funded

● Accountability, transparency, and reporting for OSF

Teacher Pipeline & Retention:

● 50k starting pay for ALL teachers

● Approximate cost at BPS: $3.4M

Exemplary Teachers & Staff

Investment into the State Formula allowing the district to:

● Increase salary scales for support staff

● Lower class sizes across all grade levels (where capacity allows)

● Added programming for students

Safe &Welcoming Schools

Family & Community Engagement

Mental Health, Trauma Support, Community Education Programs:

● Increased funding for added counselors and/or on site social workers

● Local control with increased funding allowing districts to meet individual student needs

● Expand opportunities for Community Education and Family Engagement

● We know our students, we recognize their needs, provide us the resources to serve them