Post by programwitch on May 24, 2019 7:24:26 GMT -6
Lawmakers Increase Education Funding, Kick Most Health And Criminal Justice Questions Down The Road
www.kgou.org/post/lawmakers-increase-education-funding-kick-most-health-and-criminal-justice-questions-down-road
www.kgou.org/post/lawmakers-increase-education-funding-kick-most-health-and-criminal-justice-questions-down-road
School weeks and charter schools
Lawmakers also held long debates before passing Senate Bill 441, a bill that effectively requires schools to operate five days a week.
Republican leaders said the move will help attract business. Some Democrats, however, said the bill is merely cosmetic, because it doesn’t change the minimum number of instructional hours for students.
Before state revenue tanked in 2008, Oklahoma lawmakers eliminated the state’s school day requirement. The change followed a particularly bad winter, and it allowed schools to make up instructional time by extending school days rather than adding new ones, as long as they completed 1,080 hours. Nearly 20 percent of Oklahoma school districts have adopted the four day week in an effort to cut costs, though a 2017 study showed short weeks were costing some districts more money and savings elsewhere were negligible. Some lawmakers say short weeks have become popular with parents and teachers.
The legislation includes exemptions for schools that can prove economic and academic benefits, and it goes into effect for the 2020-2021 school year.
Additionally, lawmakers passed new regulations for online charter schools. House Bill 1395 brings them under the same accounting and conflict of interest requirements as traditional public schools. This legislation was seemingly a response to concerns about Epic Charter Schools, which is being investigated by state and federal law enforcement.
Lawmakers also held long debates before passing Senate Bill 441, a bill that effectively requires schools to operate five days a week.
Republican leaders said the move will help attract business. Some Democrats, however, said the bill is merely cosmetic, because it doesn’t change the minimum number of instructional hours for students.
Before state revenue tanked in 2008, Oklahoma lawmakers eliminated the state’s school day requirement. The change followed a particularly bad winter, and it allowed schools to make up instructional time by extending school days rather than adding new ones, as long as they completed 1,080 hours. Nearly 20 percent of Oklahoma school districts have adopted the four day week in an effort to cut costs, though a 2017 study showed short weeks were costing some districts more money and savings elsewhere were negligible. Some lawmakers say short weeks have become popular with parents and teachers.
The legislation includes exemptions for schools that can prove economic and academic benefits, and it goes into effect for the 2020-2021 school year.
Additionally, lawmakers passed new regulations for online charter schools. House Bill 1395 brings them under the same accounting and conflict of interest requirements as traditional public schools. This legislation was seemingly a response to concerns about Epic Charter Schools, which is being investigated by state and federal law enforcement.
