Capitol Talk

Oklahoma PTA will be watching several bills during the 2013 Oklahoma Legislative Session. Deadline for bills to be filed was (1/17/2013) and below are the bills that either support or oppose PTA resolutions and positions.

            TAKE ACTION NOW!!!    TAKE ACTION NOW!!!

On Monday April 1, 2013 SB1001 will be heard in the House Appropriations and Budget Common Education committee. We are urging you to write the legislators on this committee and ask them to vote NO!

Below are two examples of how to write the legislators concerning SB1001.

Sample Letter 1

Sample Letter 2

Talking Points on SB1001

SB1001 Press Release

House Appropriations and Budget Common Education committee members email

Issue: ACT Testing

HB 1621 sponsored by Rep. Ed Cannaday, District 15, which relates to the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act; requiring certain end-of instruction criterion-referenced tests to be correlated with the ACT tests; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

 And

HB 1038 sponsored by Rep. Dennis Casey, District 35 provides amendments which relates to curriculum requirements for high school graduation; expanding college preparatory/work ready curriculum unit requirements to include sets of competencies; modifying certain definition; modifying grades when certain credit can be awarded; adding sets of competencies language to certain math requirement; allowing other scheduling structures for enrollment requirements; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.  

Oklahoma PTA Position Statement

Issue: Guns and School Safety

HB 1062 sponsored by Rep. Mark McCullogh, district 30 would allow CLEET certified persons to carry handguns on school property; authorizing boards of education to allow and provide immunity from civil and criminal liability.

Oklahoma PTA Position Statement

Issue: Parent Empowerment Act (Parent Trigger)

SB 1001 sponsored by Senator David Holt, district 30, and Senator Jabar Schumate, district 11 would allow Oklahoma Charter Schools Act; authorizing certain school districts to sponsor charter schools by parents signing a petition with 52% to terminate administrators from failing schools.

 Oklahoma PTA Poistion Statement 

Issue: School Choice

HB 1027 sponsored by Rep. Mike Reynolds, district 91 would establish eligibility criteria for participation in opportunity scholarship program. This bill would allow a parent of a student to withdraw from program requiring public school districts to continue providing related services to certain students in certain circumstances; providing eligibility criteria for private schools participating in the program.

Oklahoma PTA Position Statement

Issue: Charter Schools 

 There are 14 bills for the 2013 Oklahoma Legislative session regarding Charter Schools.

Oklahoma PTA Position Statement

National PTA Provides Guidance on Charter School Position

On August 9, 2012, the National PTA Board of Directors voted to amend its 1995 Position Statement on Public Charter Schools. Last month, National PTA hosted a webinar (75 min.) for state PTA officers regarding the amended statement. The amended statement reflects National PTA’s diversifying membership and maintains rigorous quality standards for public charter school authorizing and operational activities.

>>Read Amended Statement