For Immediate Release: March 9, 2010

SENATE PASSES COFFEE CHARTER SCHOOL,
PERFORMANCE PAY BILLS

The Senate passed three significant education reform bills today. Senate Bills 1862, 2033 and 2083 by Senate President Pro Tem Glenn Coffee all received bipartisan support.

Students and parents in Oklahoma’s two largest cities will see the expansion of school choices with Senate Bill 1862. This legislation grants the mayors of the state’s two largest cities chartering authority, and removes the number of caps on allowed charter schools.

Coffee says charter schools will allow Oklahoma students to benefit from additional education options and success in academic performance that will move our education system forward.

“Today we moved one step closer to seeing the expansion of educational opportunities to Oklahoma students,” said Pro Tem Coffee. “Charter schools will provide yet another avenue that will help the next generation have a successful learning experience and be prepared to compete globally.”

Provisions of SB 1862 include:

• Allow municipalities with a population of 300,000 or more to sponsor/authorize charter schools;
• Remove the number of caps on charter schools;
• Allowing existing charter schools to participate in school board bond elections;
• Mandate the State Department of Education and the Department of Central Services publish a list of all vacant buildings owned by the state or school districts that may be suitable for charter schools, as is being done in Arizona, Delaware and South Carolina;
• Allow Native American tribes to authorize and sponsor charter schools;

Senate Bill 2033 allows school districts to institute a performance pay program. School districts may implement incentive pay plans for teachers, principals, and administrators who effectively increase achievement growth in their students and school. Additionally, Senate Bill 2083, which funds the performance pay program, passed the Senate. All three measures now head to the House for consideration.

For more information contact:
Sen. Coffee: 405-521-5636