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Oklahoma Legislature· SB 365Coauthored by Representative Townley (principal House author)

An act relating to schools, the official text

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1                  STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1

2                 1st Session of the 60th Legislature (2025)

2

3 SENATE BILL 365                By: Burns

3

4

4

5

5

6                  AS INTRODUCED

6

7   An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,

7   Section 1-116, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 281,

8   O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 1-116),

8   which relates to positions in a school system;

9   modifying certain definition; updating statutory

9   language; defining term; amending 70 O.S. 2021,

10  Section 3-104, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter

10  445, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 3-104),

11  which relates to powers and duties of the State Board

11  of Education; requiring electronic submission of

12  certain report; authorizing the Board to promulgate

12  rules regarding the issuance and revocation of

13  certificates for head coaches; updating statutory

13  references and language; providing an effective date;

14  and declaring an emergency.

14

15

15

1 6 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:

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17  SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY  70 O.S. 2021, Section 1-116, as

17

1 8 amended by Section 1, Chapter 281, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024,

18

1 9 Section 1-116), is amended to read as follows:

19

20  Section 1-116. As used in this title:

20

21  1. "Teacher" means any person who is employed to serve as

21

2 2 district superintendent, principal, supervisor, counselor,

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2 3 librarian, school nurse, athletic trainer, head coach, or classroom

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2 4 teacher or in any other instructional, supervisory, or

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    Req. No. 763                                                Page 1
1 administrative capacity. The person shall not be deemed qualified

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2 unless the person holds a valid certificate issued by and in

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3 accordance with the rules of the State Board of Education or the

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4 rules of the State Board of Career and Technology Education, to

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5 perform the particular services for which the person is employed;

5

6   2. "Superintendent" or "superintendent of schools" means the

6

7 executive officer of the board of education and the administrative

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8 head of the school system of a district maintaining an accredited

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9 school, provided the person holds an administrator's certificate

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1 0 recognized by the State Board of Education;

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11  3. "Principal" means any person other than a district

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1 2 superintendent of schools having supervisory or administrative

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1 3 authority over any school or school building having two or more

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1 4 teachers. A teaching principal shall be a principal who devotes at

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1 5 least one-half (1/2) the time school is in session to classroom

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1 6 teaching. Teaching principals shall be required to hold

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1 7 administrative certificates;

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18  4. "Teachers" means, for purposes of complying with the State

18

1 9 Aid Law and other statutes, but not any other provision of law,

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2 0 which apportion money on the basis of teaching units or the number

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2 1 of teachers employed or qualified, all persons holding proper

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2 2 certificates and connected in any capacity with the instruction of

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2 3 pupils;

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24

24

    Req. No. 763                                             Page 2
1   5. "Inductee" means any certified teacher who is employed in a

1

2 local school to serve as a classroom teacher under the guidance and

2

3 assistance of a mentor teacher or teachers;

3

4   6. "Student teacher" means any student who is enrolled in an

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5 institution of higher learning approved by the State Board of

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6 Education for teacher training and who is jointly assigned by the

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7 institution of higher learning and a board of education of a school

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8 district to perform practice teaching under the direction of a

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9 regularly employed and certified teacher. A student teacher, while

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1 0 serving an internship under the supervision of a certified teacher,

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1 1 shall be accorded the same protection of the laws as that accorded

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1 2 the certified teacher and shall be eligible to receive compensation

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1 3 beginning on the first day of the internship for up to one full

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1 4 school year; provided, however, that such compensation shall not be

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1 5 considered compensation for purposes of teacher retirement or the

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1 6 minimum salary schedule;

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17  7. "School nurse" means a person employed full time by a board

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1 8 of education who is a registered nurse licensed by the Oklahoma

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1 9 State Board of Nurse Registration and Nursing Education and is

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2 0 certified the same as a teacher by the State Board of Education.

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2 1 Provided, that any person who is employed as a full-time school

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2 2 nurse in any school district in Oklahoma who is not registered on

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2 3 July 2, 1971, may continue to serve in the same capacity; however,

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2 4 such person shall, under rules adopted by the State Board of

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    Req. No. 763                               Page 3
1 Education, attend classes in nursing and prepare to become

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2 registered. A school nurse employed by a board of education shall

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3 be accorded the same protection of laws and all other benefits as a

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4 certified teacher;

4

5        8. "Athletic trainer" means a person employed full time by a

5

6 board of education who is a Certified Athletic Trainer certified

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7 athletic trainer with current certification from the Board of

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8 Certification of the National Athletic Trainers' Association and is

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9 also currently licensed to practice in the state in accordance with

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1 0 the State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision. An athletic

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1 1 trainer employed by a board of education shall be accorded the same

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1 2 protection of laws and all other benefits as a certified teacher;

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1 3 and

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14       9. "Support employee" means an employee who provides those

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1 5 services which are not performed by certified teachers, principals,

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1 6 superintendents, or administrators and which are necessary for the

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1 7 efficient and satisfactory functioning of a school district; and

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18       10. "Head coach" means the lead person employed by a school

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1 9 district who is assigned to supervise and instruct students

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2 0 participating in a specific school-sponsored athletic activity.

20

21       SECTION 2.   AMENDATORY  70 O.S. 2021, Section 3-104, as

21

2 2 last amended by Section 2, Chapter 445, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp.

22

2 3 2024, Section 3-104), is amended to read as follows:

23

24

24

    Req. No. 763                                              Page 4
1   Section 3-104. A. The supervision of the public school system

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2 of Oklahoma shall be vested in the State Board of Education and,

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3 subject to limitations otherwise provided by law, the State Board of

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4 Education shall:

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5   1. Adopt policies and make rules for the operation of the

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6 public school system of the state;

6

7   2. Appoint, prescribe the duties, and fix the compensation of a

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8 secretary, an attorney, and all other personnel necessary for the

8

9 proper performance of the functions of the State Board of Education.

9

1 0 The secretary shall not be a member of the Board;

10

11  3. Submit to the Governor a departmental budget based upon

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1 2 major functions of the State Department of Education as prepared by

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1 3 the Superintendent of Public Instruction and supported by detailed

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1 4 data on needs and proposed operations as partially determined by the

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1 5 budgetary needs of local school districts filed with the State Board

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1 6 of Education for the ensuing fiscal year. Appropriations therefor

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1 7 shall be made in lump-sum form for each major item in the budget as

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1 8 follows:

18

19            a. State Aid to schools,

19

20            b. the supervision of all other functions of general and

20

21                special education including general control, free

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22                textbooks, school lunch, Indian education, and all

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23                other functions of the Board and an amount sufficient

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24                to adequately staff and administer these services, and

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    Req. No. 763                                       Page 5
1   c. the Board shall determine the details by which the

1

2                 budget and the appropriations are administered.

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3                 Annually, the Board shall make preparations to

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4                 consolidate all of the functions of the Department in

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5                 such a way that the budget can be based on two items,

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6                 administration and aid to schools. A maximum amount

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7                 for administration shall be designated as a part of

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8                 the total appropriation;

8

9   4. On the first day of December preceding each regular session

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1 0 of the Legislature, prepare and deliver electronically to the

10

1 1 Governor and the Legislature a report for the year ending June 30

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1 2 immediately preceding the regular session of the Legislature. The

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1 3 report shall contain:

13

14  a. detailed statistics and other information concerning

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15                enrollment, attendance, expenditures including State

15

16                Aid, and other pertinent data for all public schools

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17                in this state,

17

18  b. reports from each and every division within the State

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19                Department of Education as submitted by the

19

20                Superintendent of Public Instruction and any other

20

21                division, department, institution, or other agency

21

22                under the supervision of the Board,

22

23  c. recommendations for the improvement of the public

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24                school system of the state,

24

    Req. No. 763                                               Page 6
1   d. a statement of the receipts and expenditures of the

1

2                 State Board of Education for the past year, and

2

3   e. a statement of plans and recommendations for the

3

4                 management and improvement of public schools and such

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5                 other information relating to the educational

5

6                 interests of the state as may be deemed necessary and

6

7                 desirable;

7

8   5. Provide for the formulation and adoption of curricula,

8

9 courses of study, and other instructional aids necessary for the

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1 0 adequate instruction of pupils in the public schools;

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11  6. Have authority in matters pertaining to the licensure and

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1 2 certification of persons for instructional, supervisory, and

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1 3 administrative positions and services in the public schools of the

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1 4 state subject to the provisions of Section 6-184 of this title, and

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1 5 shall formulate promulgate rules governing the issuance and

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1 6 revocation of certificates for superintendents of schools,

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1 7 principals, supervisors, librarians, clerical employees, school

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1 8 nurses, school bus drivers, visiting teachers, classroom teachers,

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1 9 head coaches, and for other personnel performing instructional,

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2 0 administrative, and supervisory services, but not including members

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2 1 of boards of education and other employees who do not work directly

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2 2 with pupils, and may charge and collect reasonable fees for the

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2 3 issuance of such certificates:

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24

24

    Req. No. 763                                                 Page 7
1   a. the State Department of Education shall not issue a

1

2                 certificate to and shall revoke the certificate of any

2

3                 person who has been convicted, whether upon a verdict

3

4                 or plea of guilty or upon a plea of nolo contendere,

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5                 or received a suspended sentence or any probationary

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6                 term for a crime or an attempt to commit a crime

6

7                 provided for in Section 843.5 of Title 21 of the

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8                 Oklahoma Statutes if the offense involved sexual abuse

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9                 or sexual exploitation as those terms are defined in

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10                Section 1-1-105 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes,

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11                Section 741, 843.1, if the offense included sexual

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12                abuse or sexual exploitation, 865 et seq., 885, 888,

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13                891, 1021, 1021.2, 1021.3, 1040.13a, 1087, 1088,

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14                1111.1, 1114, or 1123 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma

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15                Statutes or who enters this state and who has been

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16                convicted, received a suspended sentence, or received

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17                a deferred judgment for a crime or attempted crime

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18                which, if committed or attempted in this state, would

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19                be a crime or an attempt to commit a crime provided

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20                for in any of the laws, and

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21  b. all funds collected by the State Department of

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22                Education for the issuance of certificates to

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23                instructional, supervisory, and administrative

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24                personnel in the public schools of the state shall be

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    Req. No. 763                                                 Page 8
1                 deposited in the "Teachers' Certification Fund" in the

1

2                 State Treasury and may be expended by the State Board

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3                 of Education to finance the activities of the State

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4                 Department of Education necessary to administer the

4

5                 program, for consultative services, publication costs,

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6                 actual and necessary travel expenses as provided in

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7                 the State Travel Reimbursement Act incurred by persons

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8                 performing research work, and other expenses found

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9                 necessary by the State Board of Education for the

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10                improvement of the preparation and certification of

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11                teachers in this state. Provided, any unobligated

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12                balance in the Teachers' Certification Fund in excess

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13                of Ten Thousand Dollars ($10,000.00) on June 30 of any

13

14                fiscal year shall be transferred to the General

14

15                Revenue Fund of this state. Until July 1, 1997, the

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16                State Board of Education shall have authority for

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17                approval of teacher education programs. The State

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18                Board of Education shall also have authority for the

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19                administration of teacher residency and professional

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20                development, subject to the provisions of the Oklahoma

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21                Teacher Preparation Act;

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22  7. Promulgate rules governing the classification, inspection,

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2 3 supervision, and accrediting of all public nursery, kindergarten,

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2 4 elementary and secondary schools, and on-site educational services

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    Req. No. 763                            Page 9
1 provided by public school districts or state-accredited private

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2 schools in partial hospitalization programs, day treatment programs,

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3 and day hospital programs as defined in this section, Section 3-

3

4 104.7 of this title, and Section 603.4 175.20 of Title 10 of the

4

5 Oklahoma Statutes for persons between the ages of three (3) and

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6 twenty-one (21) years of age in the state. However, no school shall

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7 be denied accreditation solely on the basis of average daily

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8 attendance.

8

9  Any school district which maintains an elementary school and

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1 0 faces the necessity of relocating its school facilities because of

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1 1 construction of a lake, either by state or federal authority, which

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1 2 will inundate the school facilities, shall be entitled to receive

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1 3 probationary accreditation from the State Board of Education for a

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1 4 period of five (5) years after June 12, 1975, and any school

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1 5 district, otherwise qualified, shall be entitled to receive

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1 6 probationary accreditation from the State Board of Education for a

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1 7 period of two (2) consecutive years to attain the minimum average

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1 8 daily attendance. The Head Start and public nurseries or

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1 9 kindergartens operated from community action agency funds shall not

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2 0 be subjected to the accrediting rules of the State Board of

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2 1 Education. Neither will the State Board of Education make rules

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2 2 affecting the operation of the public nurseries and kindergartens

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2 3 operated from federal funds secured through community action

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2 4 agencies even though they may be operating in the public schools of

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   Req. No. 763                                               Page 10
1 the state. However, any of the Head Start or public nurseries or

1

2 kindergartens operated under federal regulations may make

2

3 application for accrediting from the State Board of Education but

3

4 will be accredited only if application for the approval of the

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5 programs is made. The status of no school district shall be changed

5

6 which will reduce it to a lower classification until due notice has

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7 been given to the proper authorities thereof and an opportunity

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8 given to correct the conditions which otherwise would be the cause

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9 of such reduction.

9

10  Private and parochial schools may be accredited and classified

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1 1 in like manner as public schools or, if an accrediting association

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1 2 is approved by the State Board of Education, by procedures

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1 3 established by the State Board of Education to accept accreditation

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1 4 by such accrediting association, if application is made to the State

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1 5 Board of Education for such accrediting;

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16  8. Be the legal agent of this state to accept, in its

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1 7 discretion, the provisions of any Act of Congress appropriating or

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1 8 apportioning funds which are now, or may hereafter be, provided for

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1 9 use in connection with any phase of the system of public education

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2 0 in Oklahoma. It shall prescribe such rules as it finds necessary to

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2 1 provide for the proper distribution of such funds in accordance with

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2 2 the state and federal laws;

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23  9. Be and is specifically hereby designated as the agency of

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2 4 this state to cooperate and deal with any officer, board, or

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    Req. No. 763                                                Page 11
1 authority of the United States Government under any law of the

1

2 United States which may require or recommend cooperation with any

2

3 state board having charge of the administration of public schools

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4 unless otherwise provided by law;

4

5   10. Be and is hereby designated as the "State Educational

5

6 Agency" state educational agency referred to in Public Law 396 of

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7 the 79th Congress of the United States, as amended, which law states

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8 that the act may be cited known as the "National Richard B. Russell

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9 National School Lunch Act" Act, and the State Board of Education is

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1 0 hereby authorized and directed to accept the terms and provisions of

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1 1 the act and to enter into such agreements, not in conflict with the

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1 2 Oklahoma Constitution of Oklahoma or the United States Constitution

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1 3 and Statutes of the United States, as may be necessary or

13

1 4 appropriate to secure for this state the benefits of the school

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1 5 lunch program established and referred to in the act;

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16  11. Have authority to secure and administer the benefits of the

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1 7 Richard B. Russell National School Lunch Act, Public Law 396 of the

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1 8 79th Congress of the United States, as amended, in this state and is

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1 9 hereby authorized to employ or appoint and fix the compensation of

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2 0 such additional officers or employees and to incur such expenses as

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2 1 may be necessary for the accomplishment of the above purpose, and

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2 2 administer the distribution of any state funds appropriated by the

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2 3 Legislature required as federal matching to reimburse on children's

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2 4 meals;

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    Req. No. 763                                               Page 12
1   12. Accept and provide for the administration of any land,

1

2 money, buildings, gifts, donation donations, or other things of

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3 value which may be offered or bequeathed to the schools under the

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4 supervision or control of the Board;

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5   13. Have authority to require persons having administrative

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6 control of all school districts in Oklahoma to make such regular and

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7 special reports regarding the activities of the schools in the

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8 districts as the Board may deem needful for the proper exercise of

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9 its duties and functions. Such authority shall include the right of

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1 0 the State Board of Education to withhold all state funds under its

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1 1 control, to withhold official recognition including accrediting,

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1 2 until such required reports have been filed and accepted in the

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1 3 office of the Board and to revoke the certificates of persons

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1 4 failing or refusing to make such reports;

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15  14. Have general supervision of the school lunch program. The

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1 6 State Board of Education may sponsor workshops for personnel and

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1 7 participants in the school lunch program and may develop, print, and

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1 8 distribute free of charge or sell any materials, books, and

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1 9 bulletins to be used in the school lunch programs. There is hereby

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2 0 created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the Board, to be

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2 1 designated the "School Lunch Workshop Revolving Fund". The fund

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2 2 shall consist of all fees derived from or on behalf of any

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2 3 participant in any such workshop sponsored by the State Board of

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2 4 Education, or from the sale of any materials, books, and bulletins,

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    Req. No. 763                                                Page 13
1 and funds shall be disbursed for expenses of such workshops and for

1

2 developing, printing, and distributing of the materials, books, and

2

3 bulletins relating to the school lunch program. The fund shall be

3

4 administered in accordance with Section 155 of Title 62 of the

4

5 Oklahoma Statutes;

5

6   15. Prescribe all forms for school district and county officers

6

7 to report to the State Board of Education where required. The State

7

8 Board of Education shall also prescribe a list of appropriation

8

9 accounts by which the funds of school districts shall be budgeted,

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1 0 accounted for, and expended; and it shall be the duty of the State

10

1 1 Auditor and Inspector in prescribing all budgeting, accounting, and

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1 2 reporting forms for school funds to conform to such lists;

12

13  16. Provide for the establishment of a uniform system of pupil

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1 4 and personnel accounting, records, and reports;

14

15  17. Have authority to provide for the health and safety of

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1 6 school children and school personnel while under the jurisdiction of

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1 7 school authorities;

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18  18. Provide for the supervision of the transportation of

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1 9 pupils;

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20  19. Have authority, upon request of the local school board, to

20

2 1 act in behalf of the public schools of the state in the purchase of

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2 2 transportation equipment;

22

23  20. Have authority and is hereby required to perform all duties

23

2 4 necessary to the administration of the public school system in

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    Req. No. 763                                                Page 14
1 Oklahoma as specified in the Oklahoma School Code; and, in addition

1

2 thereto, those duties not specifically mentioned herein if not

2

3 delegated by law to any other agency or official;

3

4  21. Administer the State Public Common School Building

4

5 Equalization Fund established by Section 32 of Article X of the

5

6 Oklahoma Constitution. Any monies as may be appropriated or

6

7 designated by the Legislature, other than ad valorem taxes, any

7

8 other funds identified by the State Department of Education, which

8

9 may include, but not be limited to, grants-in-aid from the federal

9

1 0 government for building purposes, the proceeds of all property that

10

1 1 shall fall to the state by escheat, penalties for unlawful holding

11

1 2 of real estate by corporations, and capital gains on assets of the

12

1 3 permanent school funds, shall be deposited in the State Public

13

1 4 Common School Building Equalization Fund. The fund shall be used to

14

1 5 aid school districts and charter schools in acquiring buildings,

15

1 6 subject to the limitations fixed by Section 32 of Article X of the

16

1 7 Oklahoma Constitution. It is hereby declared that redbud school

17

1 8 grants disbursed from the State Public Common School Building

18

1 9 Equalization Fund shall be used for the same purposes as a building

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2 0 fund, as provided for in Section 1-118 of this title. It is hereby

20

2 1 declared that the term "school districts" as used in Section 32 of

21

2 2 Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution shall mean school districts

22

2 3 and eligible charter schools as defined in subsection B of this

23

2 4 section. The State Board of Education shall disburse redbud school

24

   Req. No. 763                                      Page 15
1 grants annually from the State Public Common School Building

1

2 Equalization Fund to public schools and eligible charter schools

2

3 pursuant to subsection B of this section. The Board shall

3

4 promulgate rules for the implementation of disbursing redbud school

4

5 grants pursuant to this section. The State Board of Education shall

5

6 prescribe rules for making grants of aid from, and for otherwise

6

7 administering, the fund pursuant to the provisions of this

7

8 paragraph, and may employ and fix the duties and compensation of

8

9 technicians, aides, clerks, stenographers, attorneys, and other

9

1 0 personnel deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of this

10

1 1 paragraph. The cost of administering the fund shall be paid from

11

1 2 monies appropriated to the State Board of Education for the

12

1 3 operation of the State Department of Education. From monies

13

1 4 apportioned to the fund, the State Department of Education may

14

1 5 reserve not more than one-half of one percent (1/2 of 1%) for

15

1 6 purposes of administering the fund;

16

17  22. Recognize that the Director of the Department of

17

1 8 Corrections shall be the administrative authority for the schools

18

1 9 which are maintained in the state reformatories and shall appoint

19

2 0 the principals and teachers in such schools. Provided, that rules

20

2 1 of the State Board of Education for the classification, inspection,

21

2 2 and accreditation of public schools shall be applicable to such

22

2 3 schools; and such schools shall comply with standards set by the

23

2 4 State Board of Education; and

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    Req. No. 763                                              Page 16
1   23. Have authority to administer a revolving fund which is

1

2 hereby created in the State Treasury, to be designated the

2

3 "Statistical Services Revolving Fund". The fund shall consist of

3

4 all monies received from the various school districts of the state,

4

5 the United States Government, and other sources for the purpose of

5

6 furnishing or financing statistical services and for any other

6

7 purpose as designated by the Legislature. The State Board of

7

8 Education is hereby authorized to enter into agreements with school

8

9 districts, municipalities, the United States Government,

9

1 0 foundations, and other agencies or individuals for services,

10

1 1 programs, or research projects. The Statistical Services Revolving

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1 2 Fund shall be administered in accordance with Section 155 of Title

12

1 3 62 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

13

14  B. 1. The redbud school grants shall be determined by the

14

1 5 State Department of Education as follows:

15

16  a. divide the county four-mill levy revenue by four to

16

17                determine the nonchargeable county four-mill revenue

17

18                for each school district,

18

19  b. determine the amount of new revenue generated by the

19

20                five-mill building fund levy as authorized by Section

20

21                10 of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution for each

21

22                school district as reported in the Oklahoma Cost

22

23                Accounting System for the preceding fiscal year,

23

24

24

    Req. No. 763                                              Page 17
1   c. add the amounts calculated in subparagraphs a and b of

1

2                 this paragraph to determine the nonchargeable millage

2

3                 for each school district,

3

4   d. add the nonchargeable millage in each district

4

5                 statewide as calculated in subparagraph c of this

5

6                 paragraph and divide the total by the average daily

6

7                 membership in public schools statewide based on the

7

8                 preceding school year's average daily membership,

8

9                 according to the provisions of Section 18-107 of this

9

10                title. This amount is the statewide nonchargeable

10

11                millage per student, known as the baseline local

11

12                funding per student,

12

13  e. all eligible charter schools shall be included in

13

14                these calculations as unique school districts,

14

15                separate from the school district that may sponsor the

15

16                eligible charter school, and the total number of

16

17                districts shall be used to determine the statewide

17

18                average baseline local funding per student,

18

19  f. for each school district or eligible charter school

19

20                which is below the baseline local funding per student,

20

21                the Department shall subtract the baseline local

21

22                funding per student from the average nonchargeable

22

23                millage per student of the school district or eligible

23

24

24

    Req. No. 763                                               Page 18
1                 charter school to determine the nonchargeable millage

1

2                 per student shortfall for each district, and

2

3   g. the nonchargeable millage per student shortfall for a

3

4                 school district or eligible charter school shall be

4

5                 multiplied by the average daily membership of the

5

6                 preceding school year of the eligible school district

6

7                 or eligible charter school. This amount shall be the

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8                 redbud school grant amount for the school district or

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9                 eligible charter school.

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10  2. For fiscal year 2022, monies for the redbud school grants

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1 1 shall be expended from the funds apportioned pursuant to Section 426

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1 2 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. For fiscal year 2023 and each

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1 3 subsequent fiscal year, monies for the redbud school grants shall be

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1 4 appropriated pursuant to Section 426 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma

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1 5 Statutes, not to exceed three-fourths (3/4) of the tax collected in

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1 6 the preceding fiscal year pursuant to Section 426 of Title 63 of the

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1 7 Oklahoma Statutes as determined by the Oklahoma Tax Commission. For

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1 8 fiscal year 2023 and each subsequent fiscal year, if such

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1 9 appropriated funds are insufficient to fund the redbud school

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2 0 grants, then an additional apportionment of funds shall be made from

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2 1 sales tax collections as provided by subsection D of Section 1353 of

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2 2 Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes. If both funds are insufficient,

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2 3 the Department shall promulgate rules to permit a decrease to the

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    Req. No. 763                                                Page 19
1 baseline local funding per student to the highest amount allowed

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2 with the funding available.

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3   3. As used in this section, "eligible charter school" shall

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4 mean a charter school which is sponsored pursuant to the provisions

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5 of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act. Provided, however, eligible

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6 charter school shall not include a statewide virtual charter school

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7 sponsored by the Statewide Charter School Board but shall only

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8 include those which provide in-person or blended instruction, as

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9 provided by Section 1-111 of this title, to not less than two-thirds

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1 0 (2/3) of students as the primary means of instructional service

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1 1 delivery.

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12  4. The Department shall develop a program to acknowledge the

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1 3 redbud school grant recipients and shall include elected members of

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1 4 the House of Representatives and Senate who represent the school

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1 5 districts and eligible charter schools.

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16  5. The Department shall create a dedicated page on its website

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1 7 listing annual redbud school grant recipients, amount awarded to

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1 8 each recipient, and other pertinent information about the Redbud

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1 9 School Funding Act.

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20  6. The Department shall provide the chair Chair of the House

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2 1 Appropriations and Budget Committee and the chair Chair of the

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2 2 Senate Appropriations Committee no later than February 1 of each

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2 3 year with an estimate of the upcoming year's redbud school grant

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2 4 allocation as prescribed by this section.

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    Req. No. 763                               Page 20
1   SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.

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2   SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation

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3 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby

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4 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and

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5 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

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    Req. No. 763                                             Page 21
Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.