Vetoed by Governor Brad Henry

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to concur with Senate amendments and pass a bill that establishes local school district control, exempting these districts from all statutory requirements and State Board of Education rules, as outlined in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, with some exceptions.

Highlights:

-Establishes the School District Empowerment Program whereby schools selected for the program are exempted from all statutory requirements and State Board of Education rules, as outlined in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act (Sec. 1). -Requires schools under this program to hire employees certified or licensed by the State Board of Education and requires students to demonstrate academic competency via the completion of state curriculum requirements and through a mastery of the state academic content standards (Sec. 1). -Requires schools identified for school improvement be added to the School District Empowerment Program in the 2010-2011 school year. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt a five-year implementation schedule whereby 20% of the remaining school districts are selected each year, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, to participate in the program, so that the program has been implemented in all schools for the 2015-2016 school year (Sec. 1). -Sets forth procedures for teacher pretermination in school districts both participating and not participating in the School District Empowerment Program (Sec. 3, 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill, with amendments, that establishes local school district control, exempting these districts from all statutory requirements and State Board of Education rules, as outlined in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, with some exceptions.

Highlights:

-Establishes the School District Empowerment Program whereby schools selected for the program are exempted from all statutory requirements and State Board of Education rules, as outlined in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act (Sec. 1). -Requires schools under this program to hire employees certified or licensed by the State Board of Education and requires students to demonstrate academic competency via the completion of state curriculum requirements and through a mastery of the state academic content standards (Sec. 1). -Requires schools identified for school improvement be added to the School District Empowerment Program in the 2010-2011 school year. Requires the State Board of Education to adopt a five-year implementation schedule whereby 20% of the remaining school districts are selected each year, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year, to participate in the program, so that the program has been implemented in all schools for the 2015-2016 school year (Sec. 1). -Sets forth procedures for teacher pretermination in school districts both participating and not participating in the School District Empowerment Program (Sec. 3, 4).

Full Bill Text

Vote Smart's Synopsis:

Vote to pass a bill that establishes the School District Empowerment Program, exempting districts from all statutory requirements and State Board of Education rules, as outlined in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act, with some exceptions.

Highlights:

-Exempts selected schools from all statutory requirements and State Board of Education rules, as outlined in the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act. Provides the exceptions of state minimum salary and benefit requirements for teachers (Sec. 1). -All schools that have been identified as in need of improvement will participate in the program beginning in the 2010-2011 school year. An additional 20% of school districts each year will also participate until all districts have implemented the program by September 30, 2014 (Sec. 1).

Full Bill Text