Education Improvement Passes Senate
Schools on Needs Improvement List Given Options

Senator John Ford’s Senate Bill 268 passed the State Senate Tuesday with a 44-4 vote.

Senate Bill 268 requires that schools on the School Improvement List for four consecutive years implement alternatives to the way their schools are governed. Schools on this list have for a certain amount of time failed to meet the requirements of adequate yearly progress.

“Four years is long enough for a school to be on the School Improvement List,” said Ford, who chairs the Senate Education Committee. “Senate Bill 268 requires alternatives for schools to transform their education system and gives Oklahoma students the quality education they deserve.”

Under the provisions of SB 268, a school district board of education can implement one of the following alternatives:

• Reopen the school as a public charter school.

• Replace some or all of the school’s staff.

• Enter into a contract with an entity, such as a private management company, with a demonstrated record of effectiveness, to operate the public school.

• Turn operation of the school over to the State Board of Education.

• Implement other major restructuring of the school’s governance arrangement.

This bill also provides for the State Department of Education to assume control of the school in certain instances if the school remains on the School Improvement List.

For more information contact:
Sen. Ford's Office: 405-521-5634