EducationOK HouseOK Senate

State Chamber Applauds Possible Charter School Expansion

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Students Will Benefit From More Charter Schools
Bills to bring more accountability to charter schools, expand to statewide

Oklahoma City (March 10, 2015) – Charter schools would be allowed statewide under a pair of bills approved today in the Oklahoma Legislature. HB 1696 by Rep. Lee Denney and SB 782 by Sen. Clark Jolley both would lift the restriction that keeps charter schools confined to Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. The bills also bring more accountability to the charter school process.

“There is no reason that students in the two largest counties in the state should be the only ones that have an opportunity to attend a charter school,” said State Chamber Vice President of Government Affairs Jennifer Lepard. “If the goal is to provide the best education possible for our children, why limit where charter schools can be created?”

In addition to expanding charter schools statewide, the bills also increase accountability for all charter schools. The bills would make it difficult for a charter school to continue to operate if it fell within the bottom five percent of schools by school grade.

“Education is an important economic development issue in our state and we need a variety of public school options that allow for every student to succeed and thrive,” said Oklahoma Educated Workforce Initiative Executive Director Jennifer Monies. “We need an education system that allows for varying interests and career paths and helps every student find their dream job. These bills will hopefully give all Oklahoma students and parents access to high quality schools.”

HB 1696 passed 61-32 this morning while SB 782 passed 27-18 this evening. Both bills now go to the opposite chamber for consideration.

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