Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-101.20 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-6-101.20
Teacher Due Process Act of 1990 - Short title
Status: in_force

Sections 75 through 85 of this act shall be known and may be

cited as the "Teacher Due Process Act of 1990".
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1210.211 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1210.211
Short title - 24/7 Tobacco-free Schools Act
Status: in_force

Sections 2 and 3 of this act shall be known and may be cited as

the "24/7 Tobacco-free Schools Act".
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-24-118 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-24-118
Respirators - School board to provide for certain
Status: in_force

teachers and students.

The school board of each school district in Oklahoma shall

provide respirators where needed in the opinion of the State Health

Department as approved by the National Safety Council in sufficient

numbers to protect teachers and students in industrial arts,

vocational training, technical training and chemistry classes using

or handling toxic materials or other substances which may cause

damage to the respiratory system and shall further direct that such

respirators be maintained in satisfactory working condition and are

located within easy access wherever such materials or substances are

used or stored.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 937
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1210.579 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1210.579
Rules
Status: in_force

The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules necessary to

implement this act.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-5-106 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-5-106
Governing body of school district
Status: in_force

A. The governing board of each school district in Oklahoma is

hereby designated and shall hereafter be known as the board of

education of such district. Except as otherwise provided in this

section, the superintendent of schools appointed and employed by the

board shall be the executive officer of the board and shall perform

duties as the board directs.

B. The board may contract with a superintendent for a term as

mutually agreed upon but not to exceed three (3) years beyond the

fiscal year in which the contract is approved by the board and

accepted by the superintendent. The contract shall include all

other terms and conditions as agreed upon in writing by the board

and the superintendent.

C. The boards of two or more school districts may contract with

one superintendent to serve as superintendent of the school

districts as provided in Section 4 of this act.

D. No board of a school district having average daily

membership (ADM) of fewer than five hundred (500) pupils shall be

prohibited from allowing a superintendent to serve simultaneously as

a principal.

E. The chief executive officer of the board of education of a

district in which a public developmental research school is

established shall be the director of the school appointed as

provided in Section 1210.577 of this title.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-821.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-821.1
Application of law
Status: in_force

The provisions of this act are applicable to all independent

school districts in which is included a city having a population of

not less than one hundred forty thousand (140,000) according to the

last Federal Census.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1210.568 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1210.568
Statewide system of alternative education programs -
Status: in_force

Implementation contingency - Verification of expenditure levels.

A. 1. Beginning with the first semester of the 1996-1997

school year, the State Board of Education shall implement a

statewide system of alternative education programs which shall be

phased-in within seven (7) years. The statewide system shall

include but not be limited to Alternative Approaches grant programs,

funded pursuant to Section 1210.561 of this title, and alternative

academies or alternative programs implemented pursuant to this

section.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1270

2. Beginning with the first semester of the 2020-2021 school

year, the State Board of Education shall implement a statewide

system of alternative education. The statewide system shall include

alternative education programs implemented pursuant to this section.

B. All school districts of this state serving students in

grades seven through twelve shall provide alternative education

programs that conform to the requirements of statutes and rules

applicable to alternative education. A program shall:

1. Allow class sizes and student/teacher ratios which are

conducive to effective learning for at-risk students;

2. Incorporate appropriate structure, curriculum, and

interaction and reinforcement strategies designed to provide

effective instruction;

3. Include an intake and screening process to determine

eligibility of students;

4. Demonstrate that teaching faculty are appropriately

certified teachers;

5. Demonstrate that teaching faculty have been selected on the

basis of a record of successful work with at-risk students or

personal and educational factors that qualify them for work with at-

risk students;

6. Reflect appropriate collaborative efforts with state

agencies and local agencies serving youth;

7. Provide courses that meet the academic curricula standards

adopted by the State Board of Education and additional remedial

courses;

8. Offer individualized instruction;

9. State clear and measurable program goals and objectives;

10. Include counseling and social services components;

11. Require a plan leading to graduation be developed for each

student in the program which will allow the student to participate

in graduation exercises at the sending school or district after

meeting the requirements of the school district as specified in the

individual graduation plan for that student; provided, the

graduation plan required by this paragraph shall not be separate

from the plan required by Section 1210.508-4 of this title;

12. Offer life skills instruction;

13. Provide opportunities for hands-on arts education to

students, including artist residency programs coordinated with the

Oklahoma Arts Council;

14. Provide a proposed annual budget;

15. Be appropriately designed to serve middle school, junior

high school and high school students in grades seven through twelve

who are most at risk of not completing a high school education for a

reason other than that identified in Section 13-101 of this title;

and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1271

16. Allow students in the alternative education program, who

otherwise meet all of the participation requirements, to participate

in vocational programs and extracurricular activities at the sending

school or district, including but not limited to athletics, band,

and clubs.

C. The alternative education program of a school district shall

be operational and serving students by September 1 of each school

year.

D. 1. Each alternative education program of a school district

shall receive funding based on the average daily membership (ADM) of

students served by an alternative education program in the prior

school year according to the annual statistical report conducted by

the State Department of Education. The per-student funding amount

shall be based on the funding available for the program each fiscal

year.

2. Of the funding available for alternative education programs

each fiscal year, the State Department of Education shall designate

up to fifteen percent (15%) for districts participating in

cooperative agreements for alternative education services, which

shall be allocated on a pro rata basis as an incentive to each

participating district. The incentive amount received by each

district for participating in a cooperative agreement shall not

exceed Six Thousand Dollars ($6,000.00) per fiscal year and shall be

in addition to the per-student funding amount required by paragraph

1 of this subsection. Any funds remaining after allocations

required by this paragraph are made shall be distributed to

districts in accordance with paragraph 1 of this subsection.

3. Statewide alternative education funding shall not be used to

supplant existing school district resources or to support programs

that do not meet all the criteria for the statewide alternative

education system.

E. All statewide alternative education funds received and

expended for students participating in an alternative education

program shall be reported to the State Department of Education by

major object codes and by program classifications pursuant to the

Oklahoma Cost Accounting System as adopted by the State Board of

Education pursuant to Section 5-135 of this title.

F. Elementary school districts, as defined in Section 5-103 of

this title, may request a waiver by May 15 of each year from the

State Board of Education from the requirements of this section to

implement and provide an alternative education program. Any request

for a waiver shall be accompanied by an assurance that the school

district does not have students in need of alternative education

services. If a school district is granted a waiver, no statewide

alternative education funding shall be allocated to the district.

G. 1. The State Board of Education shall:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1272

a. provide initial and ongoing training of personnel who

will educate at-risk populations through alternative

education programs,

b. provide technical assistance to school districts to

enhance the probability of success of their

alternative education programs,

c. evaluate state-funded alternative education programs,

d. report the evaluation results of state-funded

alternative education programs, and

e. provide in-depth program analysis and evaluation of

state-funded alternative education programs.

2. The State Board of Education may create an evaluation

schedule for effective and highly effective programs, requiring them

to be evaluated not less than once every three (3) years.

3. The State Board of Education may contract with a technical

assistance provider in order to meet the requirements of this

subsection.

4. The State Board of Education shall have the authority to

suspend funds for an alternative education program that does not

meet the requirements of subsection B of this section. Provided,

any school district under consideration for suspension of funds may

request a hearing before the Board with a review of the evaluation

prior to the Board's final determination.

H. All alternative education programs shall be subject to

statutes and rules applicable to alternative education, including

any exemptions from statutory or regulatory requirements authorized

by statutes or rule.

I. An alternative education program may be offered by an

individual school district or may be offered jointly by school

districts that have formed interlocal cooperative agreements

pursuant to Section 5-117b of this title. Any school district

submitting a plan for an alternative education program serving fewer

than ten students shall enter into a cooperative agreement with

another school district to jointly provide the program unless the

program has been granted a waiver from this requirement by the State

Board of Education. A school district participating in a

cooperative agreement shall be required to send its alternative

education funding allocation to the cooperative.

J. Any materials or equipment purchased by a school district

with revenue received for students participating in an alternative

education program shall be used only in or directly for the

alternative education program offered by the district or any

subsequent alternative education program offered to students

enrolled in that district. Such materials and equipment shall be

made available exclusively to alternative education students during

the hours that the alternative education program is operating;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1273

provided, the material or equipment may be used for other purposes

when the alternative education program is not operating.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-21-103 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-21-103
Private school license
Status: in_force

A. It shall be unlawful to establish, conduct, operate or

maintain a private school, to solicit or canvass for scholarships or

tuition to a private school, or to offer a program of education or

training unless a license granting state authorization to operate

such school has been issued by the Board and is in effect. A

private school shall be issued only one license, regardless of the

number of locations operated by such school.

B. Upon application for a license or renewal of a license, each

private school shall designate a main school location. Designation

of a main school and one or more branches should mirror the

designations used for federal funding or accreditation.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-14-140 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-14-140
Short title — Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech
Status: in_force

Assistance Act — Program creation — Eligibility — Application.

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma

National Guard CareerTech Assistance Act”.

B. As used in this act:

1. “Technology center school” means a technology center school

under the governance of the State Board of Career and Technology

Education;

2. “Eligible Guard member” means a current member of the

Oklahoma National Guard in good standing who has a high school

diploma or who has completed General Educational Development (GED)

requirements and who has enrolled in a technology center school; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 664

3. “Program” means the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech

Assistance Program established pursuant to the provisions of this

section.

C. 1. There is hereby created the Oklahoma National Guard

CareerTech Assistance Program to provide assistance to eligible

Guard members who enroll in a technology center school. Subject to

the availability of funds, the amount of assistance shall be

equivalent to the amount of tuition for a career and technology

program in which the eligible Guard member is enrolled leading to

certification or licensure, not to exceed a maximum of three (3)

years.

2. Assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be

granted without any limitation other than the amount of funds

available for the program and the number of eligible Guard members

who apply, subject to any cap established by the Military Department

of the State of Oklahoma.

3. Assistance allowed by this section shall not be allowed for

courses taken in excess of the requirements for completion of a

technology center school program leading to certification or

licensure.

D. Assistance provided pursuant to this section shall be

allocated to the technology center school from the Oklahoma National

Guard CareerTech Assistance Revolving Fund created pursuant to

Section 2 of this act.

E. To be eligible to apply for the program, an eligible Guard

member shall:

1. Have at least one (1) year remaining on his or her

enlistment contract at the beginning of any semester for which the

member applies for assistance pursuant to this section;

2. Agree in writing to complete his or her current service

obligation in the Oklahoma National Guard; and

3. Agree in writing to serve actively in good standing with the

Oklahoma National Guard for not less than twenty-four (24) months

after completion of the last semester for which the member receives

assistance pursuant to this section.

F. To retain eligibility for the program, an eligible Guard

member shall:

1. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory progress

according to standards of the technology center school in which the

member is enrolled;

2. Maintain the requirements for retention and completion as

established by the technology center school in which the member is

enrolled;

3. Maintain a minimum grade point of average of 2.0 on a 4.0

scale;

4. Maintain satisfactory participation in the Oklahoma National

Guard; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 665

5. Possess a Military Occupational Specialty (MOS) or Air Force

Specialty Code (AFSC) after his or her first semester.

G. An eligible Guard member seeking assistance pursuant to the

provisions of this section shall submit an application on a form

prescribed by the Military Department of the State of Oklahoma to

the Educational Service Office of the Military Department prior to

the semester for which assistance is sought. The eligible Guard

member’s Commander or his or her designee shall confirm a member’s

standing and eligibility to the technology center school in which

the student is enrolled. The Military Department may establish a

cap on the number of eligible Guard members allowed to participate

per semester per technology center school program.

H. The eligible Guard member’s Commander may deny an

application submitted by an eligible Guard member for continued

program assistance if he or she fails to comply with the provisions

of paragraph 1, 2, 3, 4, or 5 of subsection F of this section.

I. An eligible Guard member seeking assistance pursuant to this

section who is eligible for federal education benefits for

vocational training shall exhaust all such federal benefits, when

available, first.

J. An eligible Guard member who has received program assistance

pursuant to the provisions of this section and who fails to comply

with the provisions of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section

shall be required to repay an amount to be calculated as follows:

1. Determine the total amount of assistance provided pursuant

to the provisions of this section;

2. Divide the amount determined in paragraph 1 of this

subsection by twenty-four (24); and

3. Multiply the amount determined in paragraph 2 of this

subsection by the number of months the member did not fulfill the

requirements of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section.

Repayments shall be deposited into the Oklahoma National Guard

CareerTech Assistance Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 2

of this act.

K. An eligible Guard member who has received program assistance

pursuant to the provisions of this section and who fails to comply

with the provisions of paragraph 4 of subsection F of this section

due to hardship circumstances may request a waiver from repayment.

A waiver request shall be submitted in writing to the Adjutant

General.

L. By July 1 annually, the State Board of Career and Technology

Education shall notify the Adjutant General of the amount of funding

available in the Oklahoma National Guard CareerTech Assistance

Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act.

M. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall

promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act including

deadlines for submission of applications required by subsection G of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 666

this section. The Military Department of the State of Oklahoma

shall promulgate regulations pertaining to the application process

and the determination of eligibility for the program. The Board and

the Department shall coordinate the promulgation of rules and

regulations, respectively. The Adjutant General may promulgate

regulations to implement the provisions of this act.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-2261 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-2261
Review and assessment
Status: in_force

The State Regents and the State Board should cooperate in a

comprehensive review and assessment of the needs, status and

direction of vocational, technical and occupational education in

Oklahoma with the view of preparing a statewide plan for the

orderly, systematic and coordinated development of programs as

deemed necessary to meet the needs of the people of Oklahoma in this

field of education, which state plan should delineate between

educational programs to be offered at the secondary level and those

to be offered at the postsecondary level in order that any

unnecessary duplication or overlap existing will be eliminated and

that such will be avoided in the development of secondary-

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1363

postsecondary programs of vocational, technical and occupational

education in the future.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-19-114 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-19-114
Establishment and maintenance of automobile driver
Status: in_force

education - Course grading.

The school board of any school district maintaining a secondary

school, which includes any of the grades nine through twelve,

inclusive, may establish and maintain automobile driver education

for students that attend secondary public schools in that district.

Only students who are enrolled and passing in all of the core

curriculum courses appropriate for their grade levels shall be

allowed to enroll in driver education courses during the regular

school day.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-17-105.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-17-105.1
Unpaid accumulated contributions - Payment to
Status: in_force

beneficiary or estate.

In the event the total retirement payments made to a retired

member and the retired member’s joint annuitant, if any, are less

than the member’s accumulated contributions with interest as

credited at the time of retirement under Section 17-105 of this

title, the difference shall be paid to the member’s designated

beneficiary, or if no designated beneficiary survives, then to the

member’s estate. This provision shall apply to retired members

dying on or after July 1, 1979. After paying unpaid accumulated

contributions to any designated beneficiary or the member’s estate

pursuant to this section, the Teachers’ Retirement System of

Oklahoma is discharged and released from any and all liability,

obligation, and costs. The System is not required to inquire into

the truth of any matter specified in this section or into the

payment of any estate tax liability.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-14-116 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-14-116
Pilot multipurpose service center
Status: in_force

The Board shall establish a pilot multipurpose service center

for displaced homemakers in a suitable technology center school with

adequate facilities. The Board shall designate the technology

center school which is to serve as the pilot multipurpose service

center for displaced homemakers. The superintendent of the

designated technology center school shall hire the personnel and

administer the program for the pilot project. The superintendent is

authorized to contract with or make grants to private nonprofit

agencies or organizations to carry out the various programs of the

centers as enumerated in this act.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-14-136 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-14-136
Hydrogen energy courses
Status: in_force

A. The State Board of Career and Technology Education may

establish courses in the area of hydrogen energy. The courses may

include but are not limited to the following topics:

1. Hydrogen energy basics;

2. Hydrogen energy-related equipment manufacturing and

maintenance;

3. Hydrogen energy infrastructure; and

4. Hydrogen energy safety.

B. The State Board of Career and Technology Education may

consult the Oklahoma Department of Commerce and the Department of

Labor in establishing courses that meet the workforce needs of the

hydrogen energy sector in this state.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-2212 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-2212
Use of other funds - Bonds not obligation of State
Status: in_force

No provision of this act shall be construed to authorize the

pledging or use of revenue of existing buildings and facilities for

other than auxiliary enterprise and other self-liquidating buildings

and facilities nor shall any provisions of this act be construed to

authorize the pledging or use of any revolving funds. No bonds

issued under the authorization of this act shall ever become an

obligation or debt of the State of Oklahoma.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3230.2 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3230.2
Committee appointments – Compensation – Travel
Status: in_force

reimbursement.

A. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall

appoint members to the Oklahoma EPSCoR Advisory Committee that may

include:

1. Representatives of the state’s higher education

institutions;

2. Representatives of private research entities located in

Oklahoma;

3. Representatives of private business;

4. Residents of this state whose contribution will enhance the

goals of the Committee;

5. A representative of the Oklahoma Center for the Advancement

of Science and Technology; and

6. A representative from the pre-kindergarten through twelfth

grade education system.

B. The membership of the Committee shall also include:

1. One member of the Governor’s staff to be appointed by the

Governor;

2. One member of the Senate to be appointed by the President

Pro Tempore of the Senate; and

3. One member of the House of Representatives to be appointed

by the Speaker of the House of Representatives.

C. The State Regents shall ensure that the membership of the

Committee complies with requirements and guidelines of the

appropriate federal agencies.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1445

D. Members of the Committee shall not receive compensation for

serving on the Committee but may receive travel reimbursement as

follows:

1. Legislative members of the Committee may be reimbursed for

their necessary travel expenses incurred in the performance of their

duties in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma

Statutes from the legislative body in which they serve;

2. State agency employees who are members of the Committee

shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance

of their duties by their respective agencies in accordance with the

State Travel Reimbursement Act; and

3. All other Committee members may be reimbursed for travel

expenses incurred in the performance of their duties by the State

Regents in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1210.505 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1210.505
Short title
Status: in_force

Section 1210.505 et seq. of this title shall be known and may be

cited as the "Oklahoma School Testing Program Act".
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-11-105 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-11-105
Use of military equipment in school districts
Status: in_force

The governing board of each state educational institution and of

each school district in the State of Oklahoma shall have authority

to enter into contracts for the use of property and equipment for

military training purposes, and shall have authority to give, or

cause to be given, bonds or other security as may be required by

federal law or regulations of the Secretary of the Army, Navy or Air

Force, or other federal officer or agency, for the care and

safekeeping of such property and equipment, or for similar purposes;

and shall also have authority to make reimbursement for such

property and equipment. The cost of such bonds, security and

reimbursements shall be paid from funds available for the operation

of such institution or school district.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 594
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-13-101.2 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-13-101.2
Purpose of Program - Scholarship factors -
Status: in_force

Eligibility.

A. There is hereby created the Lindsey Nicole Henry

Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. The Lindsey

Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program is

established to provide a scholarship to a private school of choice

for students with special needs who meet at least one of the

criteria of subparagraph a, b, c, d, e, f, or g of paragraph 1 of

subsection B of this section. Scholarships shall be awarded

beginning with the 2010-2011 school year.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 606

B. The parent or legal guardian of a student with a special

need may exercise his or her parental option and request to have a

Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship awarded for the child to enroll in

and attend a private school in accordance with this section and the

scholarship shall be awarded if:

1. a. the student has an individualized education program

(IEP), an individualized service plan (ISP), or meets

the eligibility standards for special education

services in accordance with the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),

b. the student has had an individualized service plan

pursuant to Section 1-4-704 of Title 10A of the

Oklahoma Statutes any time prior to notifying the

State Department of Education of the intent to

participate in the program,

c. the student is a child of a member of the United

States Armed Forces who transfers to a school in this

state from out of state or from a foreign country

pursuant to a permanent change of station orders of

the parent,

d. the student was in out-of-home placement with the

Department of Human Services,

e. the student was adopted while in the permanent custody

of the Department of Human Services,

f. the student is enrolling or is enrolled in a school

that exclusively serves students experiencing

homelessness, or

g. the student was in out-of-home placement with the

Office of Juvenile Affairs; and

2. The parent or legal guardian has obtained acceptance for

admission of the student to a private school that is eligible for

the program as provided in subsection H of this section and has

notified the State Department of Education of the request for a

scholarship. Requests to participate in the program made after

December 1 shall be granted, but funding for scholarships requested

after December 1 shall not be available until the beginning of the

next school year. The request shall be through a communication

directly to the Department in a manner that creates a written or

electronic record of the request and the date of receipt of the

request. The Department shall notify the school district in which

the student is enrolled, if applicable, upon receipt of the request.

For purposes of continuity of educational choice, the scholarship

shall remain in force until the student enrolls in a public school,

graduates from high school, or reaches the age of twenty-two (22),

whichever occurs first. At any time, the parent or legal guardian

of the student may remove the student from the private school and

place the student in another private school that is eligible for the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 607

program as provided in subsection H of this section or place the

student in a public school.

C. A student shall be eligible for a scholarship if the parent

or legal guardian of the student made a request for a scholarship

for the 2010-2011 school year and the student transferred to an

eligible private school but was subsequently denied a scholarship

because the student did not have an IEP in effect on October 1,

2009, but did meet all other eligibility requirements as set forth

in the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with

Disabilities Program Act.

D. A student shall not be eligible for a Lindsey Nicole Henry

Scholarship if the student is not having regular and direct contact

with the private school teachers at the physical location of the

private school.

E. School districts shall notify the parent or legal guardian

of a public school student with a special need of all options

available pursuant to this section and inform the parent or legal

guardian of the availability of information about the program from

the State Department of Education through the toll-free telephone

number or website. The notification shall be provided with or

included in the copy of the "Parents Rights in Special Education:

Notice of Procedural Safeguards" document given to parents at least

annually or as otherwise required by law.

F. Upon acceptance of a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, the

parent or legal guardian shall assume full financial responsibility

for the education of the student including, but not limited to,

transportation to and from the private school.

G. If the parent or legal guardian requests a Lindsey Nicole

Henry Scholarship and the student is accepted by the private school

pending the availability of a space for the student, the parent or

legal guardian of the student shall notify the State Department of

Education before entering the private school and before December 1

in order to be eligible for the scholarship during the school year

when a space becomes available for the student in the private

school. If notification is made after December 1, payment of the

scholarship shall not begin until the next school year.

H. 1. To be eligible to participate in the Lindsey Nicole

Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, a private

school shall notify the State Department of Education of its intent

to participate. The notice shall specify the grade levels and

services that the private school has available for students with

special needs who are participating in the scholarship program. The

State Department of Education shall approve a private school as

eligible to participate in the scholarship program upon

determination that the private school:

a. meets the accreditation requirements set by the State

Board of Education or another accrediting association

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 608

approved by the State Board of Education. The State

Department of Education shall list on its website all

accrediting associations approved by the Board,

b. demonstrates fiscal soundness by having been in

operation for one (1) school year or providing the

State Department of Education with a statement by a

certified public accountant confirming that the

private school desiring to participate is insured and

the owner or owners have sufficient capital or credit

to operate the school for the upcoming year by serving

the number of students anticipated with expected

revenues from tuition and other sources that may be

reasonably expected. In lieu of a statement, a surety

bond or letter of credit for the amount equal to the

scholarship funds for any quarter may be filed with

the Department,

c. complies with the antidiscrimination provisions of 42

U.S.C., Section 2000d,

d. meets state and local health and safety laws and

codes,

e. will be academically accountable to the parent or

legal guardian for meeting the educational needs of

the student,

f. employs or contracts with teachers who hold

baccalaureate or higher degrees, or have at least

three (3) years of teaching experience in public or

private schools, or have special skills, knowledge, or

expertise that qualifies them to provide instruction

in subjects taught,

g. complies with all state laws relating to general

regulation of private schools, and

h. adheres to the tenets of its published disciplinary

procedures prior to the expulsion of a scholarship

student.

2. Upon approval of a private school, the State Department of

Education shall provide on its website all information and material

submitted by the private school with its application.

I. 1. Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program participants

shall comply with the following:

a. the parent or legal guardian shall select the private

school from the schools approved for eligibility

pursuant to subsection H of this section and apply for

the admission of the child,

b. the parent or legal guardian shall request the

scholarship no later than December 1 of the school

year during which the scholarship is requested,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 609

c. any student participating in the scholarship program

shall attend throughout the school year, unless

excused by the school for illness or other good cause,

and shall comply fully with the code of conduct for

the school,

d. the parent or legal guardian of a student who

qualifies pursuant to subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of

subsection B of this section shall agree to meet

annually with a representative of the private school

to identify the services necessary to support the

special needs of the student participating in the

scholarship program,

e. the parent or legal guardian shall fully comply with

the parental involvement requirements of the private

school, unless excused by the school for illness or

other good cause, and

f. upon issuance of a scholarship warrant, the parent or

legal guardian to whom the warrant is made shall

restrictively endorse the warrant to the private

school for deposit into the account of the private

school. The parent or legal guardian may not

designate any entity or individual associated with the

private school as the attorney in fact for the parent

or legal guardian to endorse a warrant. A parent or

legal guardian who fails to comply with this

subparagraph shall forfeit the scholarship.

2. A participant who fails to comply with this subsection

forfeits the scholarship.

J. Provisions governing payment of a Lindsey Nicole Henry

Scholarship shall be as follows:

1. The State Department of Education shall calculate the total

cost of all scholarships for all eligible students in the state.

The State Department of Education shall then reserve or retain from

the total amount appropriated to the State Board of Education for

State Aid purposes and any other revenue available for allocation

for State Aid purposes the total cost for all scholarship payments;

2. The maximum scholarship granted for an eligible student with

special needs shall be a calculated amount equivalent to the total

State Aid factors for the applicable school year multiplied by the

grade and disability weights for which the student is eligible for

the applicable school year. The disability weights used in

calculating the scholarship amount shall include all disability

weights which correspond to the disabilities included in the

multidisciplinary evaluation and eligibility group summary for the

student at the time the request for a scholarship is made by the

parent or legal guardian. The maximum scholarship amount shall be

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 610

calculated by the State Board of Education for each year the student

is participating in the scholarship program;

3. The amount of the scholarship shall be the amount calculated

in paragraph 2 of this subsection or the amount of tuition and fees

for the private school, whichever is less, minus up to two and one-

half percent (2 1/2%) of the scholarship amount which may be

retained by the State Department of Education as a fee for

administrative services rendered. If a private school does not

charge tuition, the amount of the scholarship shall be the amount

calculated in paragraph 2 of this subsection minus up to two and

one-half percent (2 1/2%) of the scholarship amount which may be

retained by the State Department of Education as a fee for

administrative services rendered. The amount of any assessment fee

required by the private school and the amount associated with

providing services and therapies to address the special needs of the

student may be paid from the total amount of the scholarship. The

amount of the scholarship shall be prorated to reflect the number of

days remaining in the current school year, if the scholarship

request is granted after the beginning of the school year;

4. The State Department of Education shall notify the private

school of the amount of the scholarship within ten (10) days after

receiving the request for a scholarship, when the total State Aid

factors have been determined for the current fiscal year. The

initial payment shall be made after the Department verifies

admission acceptance and enrollment. Quarterly payments shall be

made upon verification of continued enrollment and attendance at the

private school. Payment shall be made by the Department with an

individual warrant made payable to the parent or legal guardian of

the student and mailed by the Department to the private school that

the parent or legal guardian chooses. The parent or legal guardian

shall restrictively endorse the warrant to the private school for

deposit into the account of the private school;

5. The State Department of Education shall not be responsible

for any additional costs associated with special education and

related services incurred by the private school for the student

including the cost of teachers, equipment, material, and special

costs associated with the special education class;

6. The State Department of Education shall establish a toll-

free telephone number or website that provides parents or legal

guardians and private schools with information about the program;

7. The State Department of Education shall require an annual,

notarized, sworn compliance statement by participating private

schools certifying compliance with state laws and shall retain all

records received from a participating private school. The State

Department of Education shall post on its website the annual

compliance statement for each participating private school; and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 611

8. The State Department of Education shall cross-check the list

of participating scholarship students with the public school

enrollments prior to each scholarship payment to avoid duplication.

K. 1. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall

deny, suspend, or revoke the participation of a private school in

the scholarship program if it is determined that the private school

has failed to comply with the provisions of this section. However,

in instances in which the noncompliance is correctable within a

reasonable amount of time and in which the health, safety, or

welfare of the students is not threatened, the Superintendent may

issue a notice of noncompliance which shall provide the private

school with a time frame within which to provide evidence of

compliance prior to taking action to suspend or revoke participation

in the scholarship program.

2. If the Superintendent intends to deny, suspend, or revoke

the participation of a private school in the scholarship program,

the Department shall notify the private school of the proposed

action in writing by certified mail and regular mail to the private

school's address of record with the Department. The Department

shall also notify any parents or legal guardians of scholarship

students attending the private school. The notification shall

include the reasons for the proposed action and notice of the

timelines and procedures set forth in this subsection.

3. The private school that is adversely affected by the

proposed action shall have fifteen (15) days from receipt of the

notice of proposed action to file with the Department a request for

an administrative hearing proceeding pursuant to the Administrative

Procedures Act.

4. Upon receipt of a request for a hearing, the State Board of

Education shall commence a hearing within sixty (60) days after the

receipt of the formal written request and enter an order within

thirty (30) days after the hearing.

5. The Board may immediately suspend payment of scholarship

funds if it is determined that there is probable cause to believe

that there is an imminent threat to the health, safety, or welfare

of the students or fraudulent activity on the part of the private

school.

L. No liability shall arise on the part of the state, the State

Board of Education, the State Department of Education, or a school

district based on the award or use of any scholarship provided

through the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with

Disabilities Program.

M. The inclusion of private schools within options available to

public school students in Oklahoma shall not expand the regulatory

authority of the state or any school district to impose any

additional regulation of private schools beyond those reasonably

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 612

necessary to enforce the requirements expressly set forth in this

section.

N. If the State Department of Education determines that a

school district prior to August 26, 2011, has failed to comply with

the provisions of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students

with Disabilities Program Act and has failed to make full or partial

scholarship payments for eligible students, the Department shall

have authority to reduce the amount of State Aid allocated to the

school district or require the school district to make repayment to

the Department of State Aid allocations in an amount equal to the

amount of scholarship payments the school district failed to make.

The Department shall make payment to the parent or legal guardian in

the amount the school district failed to make in the manner as

provided for in subsection J of this section.

O. The State Department of Education shall annually prepare and

post on its website a report of Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships

for Students with Disabilities Program. The annual report shall

include, but not be limited to, the following information:

1. The total number and amount of scholarships awarded and

reported for each participating private school;

2. The total number of scholarships denied;

3. The total number and amount of scholarship payments

suspended for each participating private school; and

4. Data on participating students, disaggregated by years of

participation in the program, grade level, economically

disadvantaged status, racial and ethnic groups, and disability

category.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-11-103.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-11-103.1
American Sign Language - Teaching in public school
Status: in_force

American Sign Language is hereby recognized as a language art

and may be taught in the public schools of the state in educational

programs for both hearing and deaf students. American Sign Language

classes taught in the public schools may be counted by a public

school in fulfilling elective course offerings and shall be granted

the same credit as a foreign language. For the purposes of this

section, American Sign Language may be taught in the public schools

by any qualified teacher under the supervision of a certified

teacher.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-697.2 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-697.2
Physician Manpower Training Commission - Cost-sharing
Status: in_force

programs for internship and residency physician training.

The Health Care Workforce Training Commission is authorized to

establish and administer cost-sharing programs for internship and

residency physician training. The Commission shall provide for

state assistance by sharing the cost on a percentage basis, as may

be prescribed by law or as determined by the Commission, of the

salary, fringe benefits, training and program administration of the

interns and residents as may be arranged by contract for

reimbursement with an accredited and approved hospital and

accredited clinical programs throughout the state in cooperation

with the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine.

Such physician training institutions in the state shall serve as the

administrative agent for internship and residency programs which are

located in hospitals and clinical training programs throughout the

state. Such programs are affiliated with the institutions and

approved for funding by the Commission. The Commission shall

conduct the planning, coordination and selection of the training

programs to assure the effective and efficient operation of these

programs. Not less than seventy-five percent (75%) of the subsidy

for these programs shall be used in the training of primary health

care and family/general practice physicians for the rural and

medically underserved areas of the state. Provided that such

subsidy may be used for the primary purpose of increasing the total

number of residencies funded by this state, wherever located within

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1084

the state, during that period in which residency programs are being

established in rural areas; provided further, that as the residency

programs are established and accredited in rural hospitals,

residency positions in such programs shall be first provided for by

the Commission. The Commission shall present a report to the

Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and the

President Pro Tempore of the Senate within one (1) month of the

beginning of each regular legislative session on the operation of

the programs including the progress made in accomplishing the goals

of physician training as to type of specialties and workforce

placement of the kind necessary to provide adequate health care to

the people throughout this state. The subsidy to the participating

hospital, clinical situation or training institution per resident or

intern shall not exceed any maximum or minimum amount as may be

prescribed by law or as determined by the Commission. The actual

amount of subsidy for physician training program situations shall be

based upon a determination by the Commission of:

1. The type of primary care residency and internship programs

involved and being conducted;

2. The extent of reimbursement available through third-party

payers and all other sources; and

3. The program and salary costs incurred in the given training

situation.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3311.11 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3311.11
Council on Law Enforcement Education and Training –
Status: in_force

Rate for basic training – Repayment.

A. Any person or peace officer who desires to attend a basic

law enforcement academy conducted by the Council on Law Enforcement

Education and Training (CLEET) shall, within ninety (90) days of

hire and prior to CLEET admission, be required to score a minimum of

seventy percent (70%) on a reading and writing comprehension

examination approved by CLEET to assure the applicant can read and

write on a level necessary to perform the requirements of the CLEET

academy. Any person or any peace officer who desires to attend a

CLEET-approved reserve basic law enforcement academy shall, within

ninety (90) days of hire and prior to reserve basic law enforcement

academy admission, be required to score a minimum of seventy percent

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1504

(70%) on a reading and writing comprehension examination approved by

CLEET to assure the applicant can read and write at a level

necessary to perform the requirements of the reserve academy.

B. Beginning November 1, 2009, any person or peace officer who

desires to attend the basic law enforcement academy conducted by

CLEET shall, prior to admission, be required to provide proof of a

score of a minimum of seventy percent (70%) on a physical agility

test approved by CLEET to assure the applicant is in sufficient

physical condition to avoid unnecessary injury during the basic law

enforcement academy training.

C. 1. Beginning November 1, 2009, any person or peace officer,

upon employment by a law enforcement agency and prior to attending a

basic law enforcement academy conducted by CLEET, shall execute a

promissory note for academy training expenses payable to CLEET

whereby the person or peace officer promises to repay the note by

remaining within the law enforcement profession in the State of

Oklahoma in a position approved by rules and regulations of CLEET

for four (4) years following graduation from the basic law

enforcement academy.

2. A law enforcement agency previously approved by CLEET to

conduct a basic law enforcement academy may require any person or

peace officer to execute a promissory note for academy training

expenses payable to the law enforcement agency conducting the

training, whereby the person or peace officer promises to repay the

note by remaining with the law enforcement agency in a position

approved by the law enforcement agency for a period of time agreed

upon and under terms and conditions agreeable to both parties, not

to extend longer than four (4) years following graduation from the

basic law enforcement academy.

D. The amounts due pursuant to subsection C of this section

shall be reduced at a rate of Three Dollars ($3.00) per calendar day

beginning the first day after graduation from the basic law

enforcement academy and continuing until the end of one thousand

four hundred sixty (1,460) days. If for any reason a peace officer

leaves the employment of a law enforcement agency and does not

reemploy with an approved law enforcement agency within ninety (90)

days of the date of becoming inactive the obligation shall be

considered due. Upon default of the note, if no agreement for

payment or payment schedule has been agreed upon, the certification

of the peace officer shall be suspended. For purposes of repayment,

periods of time where a peace officer is inactive shall not be

included in the one-thousand-four-hundred-sixty-day employment

period.

E. The amount of a promissory note for academy training

expenses that is canceled under the provisions of this section shall

not be considered income for the purposes of Oklahoma State Income

Tax.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1505

F. The Director of CLEET may waive any or all promissory note

obligations for academy training expenses in instances where in the

sole opinion of the Director, a waiver is in the best interests of

law enforcement.

G. Violation of the provisions of subsection D of this section

or the terms of the promissory note for academy training expenses

entered into pursuant to paragraph 1 of subsection C of this section

shall give rise to a cause of action and suit may be commenced by

CLEET for and on behalf of the State of Oklahoma for restitution of

any and all sums plus interest at the statutory rate, costs and

reasonable attorney fees. All promissory notes for academy training

expenses, interest and fees collected pursuant to paragraph 1 of

subsection C of this section shall be deposited into the Peace

Officer Revolving Fund provided for in Section 3311.7 of this title.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to persons who

volunteer or are drafted into active military service subsequent to

receiving CLEET training at state expense.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-2-113 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-2-113
Campaign committee organization statements
Status: in_force

Each campaign committee shall file a statement of organization

with the Ethics Commission subject to the same requirements as set

forth for candidate committees for state office required to file

statements of organization under Rules of the Ethics Commission

promulgated pursuant to Section 3 of Article XXIX of the Oklahoma

Constitution including, but not limited to, time for filing and

contents.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-24-102 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-24-102
Pupils - Searches
Status: in_force

A. The superintendent, principal, teacher, or security

personnel of any public school in the State of Oklahoma, upon

reasonable suspicion, shall have the authority to detain and search

or authorize the search, of any pupil or property in the possession

of the pupil when the pupil is on any school premises, or while in

transit under the authority of the school, or while attending any

function sponsored or authorized by the school, for dangerous

weapons, controlled dangerous substances, as defined in the Uniform

Controlled Dangerous Substances Act, alcoholic beverages, as defined

in the Oklahoma Alcoholic Beverage Control Act, or for missing or

stolen property if the property is reasonably suspected to have been

taken from a pupil, a school employee or the school during school

activities. The search shall be conducted by a person of the same

sex as the person being searched and shall be witnessed by at least

one other authorized person, said person to be of the same sex if

practicable.

B. The extent of any search conducted pursuant to this section

shall be reasonably related to the objective of the search and not

excessively intrusive in light of the age and sex of the student and

the nature of the infraction. In no event shall a strip search of a

student be allowed. No student's clothing, except cold weather

outerwear, shoes, and hand and head coverings, except religious head

coverings, shall be removed prior to or during the conduct of any

warrantless search.

C. The superintendent, principal, teacher, or security

personnel searching or authorizing the search shall have authority

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 930

to detain the pupil to be searched and to preserve any dangerous

weapons, controlled dangerous substances, alcoholic beverages, or

missing or stolen property that might be in the pupil's possession

including the authority to authorize any other persons they deem

necessary to restrain such pupil or to preserve any dangerous

weapons, controlled dangerous substances, alcoholic beverages, or

missing or stolen property. Students found to be in possession of

such an item shall be subject to the provisions of Section 24-101.3

of this title.

D. Pupils shall not have any reasonable expectation of privacy

towards school administrators or teachers in the contents of a

school locker, desk, or other school property. School personnel

shall have access to school lockers, desks, and other school

property in order to properly supervise the welfare of pupils.

School lockers, desks, and other areas of school facilities may be

opened and examined by school officials at any time and no reason

shall be necessary for such search. Schools shall inform pupils in

the student discipline code that they have no reasonable expectation

of privacy rights towards school officials in school lockers, desks,

or other school property.

E. The superintendent may designate school personnel to

transport items preserved as provided for in subsection C of this

section from a school site to a centralized location within the

school district or to local law enforcement offices for lawful

disposal. While in transport, the designated school personnel shall

carry their school identification and a letter from the

superintendent confirming their authority to transport the items for

disposal. All items transported for disposal pursuant to this

subsection shall be transported in a locked container.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-14-125 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-14-125
Stringtown Correctional Center - Transfer of
Status: in_force

administration, supervision, and operation.

The administration, supervision, and operation of the Vocational

Training Program and School located at the Stringtown Correctional

Center is hereby transferred from the Department of Human Services

to the State Board of Career and Technology Education. All

property, records, and personnel of said center are hereby

transferred to the State Board of Career and Technology Education.Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 22
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-9-107 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-9-107
Rules of the road
Status: in_force

Each school bus shall be operated in conformity with all rules

of the road duly established by law and shall observe traffic

requirements for the route which it travels.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-2210 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-2210
Approval of bonds by Supreme Court
Status: in_force

The Board is authorized in its discretion to file an application

with the Supreme Court of Oklahoma for the approval of any series of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1359

bonds to be issued hereunder, and exclusive original jurisdiction is

hereby conferred upon the Supreme Court to hear and determine each

such application. It shall be the duty of the Court to give such

applications precedence over the other business of the Court and to

consider and pass upon the applications and any protests which may

be filed thereto as speedily as possible. Notice of the hearing on

each application shall be given by a notice published in a newspaper

of general circulation in the state that on a day named the Board

will ask the court to hear its application and approve the bonds.

Such notice shall inform all persons interested that they may file

protests against the issuance of the bonds and be present at the

hearing and contest the legality thereof. Such notice shall be

published one time not less than ten (10) days prior to the date

named for the hearing and the hearing may be adjourned from time to

time in the discretion of the Court. If the Court shall be

satisfied that the bonds have been properly authorized in accordance

with this act and that when issued they will constitute valid

obligations in accordance with their terms, the Court shall render

its written opinion approving the bonds and shall fix the time

within which a petition for rehearing may be filed. The decision of

the Court shall be a judicial determination of the validity of the

bonds, shall be conclusive as to the Board, its officers, and

agents, and thereafter the bonds so approved and the revenues

pledged to their payment shall be incontestable in any court in the

State of Oklahoma.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-4009 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-4009
Public funds, etc., may be invested in bonds
Status: in_force

Any bank, trust or insurance company organized under the laws of

Oklahoma may invest its capital, surplus and reserves in bonds

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1626

issued under the provisions of this article. The officers having

charge of any sinking fund or any other fund of the state or any

department, agency or institution thereof, including the various

funds established by Article 17 of the Oklahoma School Code, or any

county, city, town, or school district in the state, may invest such

funds in bonds issued under the provisions of this article at the

reasonable market value thereof. Such bonds are also approved as

collateral security for the deposit of any public funds and for the

investment of trust funds.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1210.199 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1210.199
Short title - Dustin Rhodes and Lindsay Steed CPR
Status: in_force

Training Act.

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Dustin

Rhodes and Lindsay Steed CPR Training Act".

B. Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, all students

enrolled in the public schools of this state shall receive

instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation and awareness of the

purpose of an automated external defibrillator, in accordance with

subsection C of this section, at least once between ninth grade and

graduation from high school. The instruction may be provided as a

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1185

part of any course. A school administrator may waive the curriculum

requirement required by this subsection for an eligible student who

has a disability. A student shall not be required to meet the

requirement of this subsection if a parent or guardian of the

student objects in writing. All students enrolled in a virtual

charter school in grades nine through twelve shall not be subject to

the requirements of this section. All students enrolled in physical

education classes in grades nine through twelve may receive

instruction in the techniques of the Heimlich maneuver.

C. The State Board of Education shall establish a procedure for

monitoring the requirements set forth in subsection B of this

section. Instruction in cardiopulmonary resuscitation shall

incorporate psychomotor skills training and shall be based upon an

instructional program which is nationally recognized and is based

upon the most current national evidence-based Emergency

Cardiovascular Care guidelines for cardiopulmonary resuscitation and

the use of an automated external defibrillator.

D. Each public school district board of education shall ensure

that a minimum of one certified teacher and one noncertified staff

member at each school site receives training in cardiopulmonary

resuscitation and the Heimlich maneuver each year.

E. School districts may use state funds allocated to the school

district for professional development to pay for or to reimburse

teachers and support personnel for training in the administration of

first aid and techniques of cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the

Heimlich maneuver.

F. Nothing in this section shall be construed to impose

liability on any school district or school district employee for

injury or death of any student, teacher, or other person resulting

from any cardiopulmonary or choking incident or to absolve any

school district or school employee of liability that might otherwise

exist under The Governmental Tort Claims Act.

G. For purposes of this section, "psychomotor skills" means the

use of hands-on practice to support cognitive learning.

H. A school district may use emergency medical technicians,

paramedics, police officers, firefighters, teachers, other school

employees or other similarly qualified individuals or organizations

to provide the instruction prescribed by this section. Two or more

school districts may enter into an interlocal or multidistrict

cooperative agreement for the purpose of jointly and comparatively

fulfilling the requirements of this section. Instruction provided

pursuant to this section is not required to result in certification

in cardiopulmonary resuscitation. If instruction is intended to

result in certification in cardiopulmonary resuscitation, the course

instructor shall be authorized by an instructional program which is

nationally recognized and is based upon the most current national

evidence-based Emergency Cardiovascular Care guidelines for

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1186

cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of an automated external

defibrillator or a similar nationally recognized association to

provide the instruction.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-26-103 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-26-103
Definitions
Status: in_force

The following words and phrases as used in Section 26-101 et

seq. of this title, unless a different meaning is clearly required

by the context, shall have the following meanings:

1. "Benefit" means any of the benefits which may be purchased

or are required to be purchased under the cafeteria plan;

2. "Cafeteria plan" means a benefit plan established pursuant

to 26 U.S.C. Section 125;

3. "Flexible benefit allowance" means amounts credited by the

school district for each school district employee for the purchase

of benefits under the cafeteria plan;

4. "Support personnel" means full-time employees of a school

district as determined by the standard period of labor which is

customarily understood to constitute full-time employment for the

type of services performed by the employees who are employed a

minimum of six (6) hours per day for a minimum of one hundred

seventy-two (172) days or a minimum of six (6) hours per day for a

minimum of one thousand thirty-two (1,032) hours per year and who

provide services not performed by certified personnel, which is

necessary for the efficient and satisfactory functioning of a school

district, and shall include cooks, janitors, maintenance personnel,

bus drivers, noncertified or nonregistered nurses, noncertified

librarians, and clerical employees of a school district but shall

not include adult education instructors or adult coordinators

employed by technology center school districts;

5. "Plan year" means the twelve-month period established by the

school district for the cafeteria plan;

6. "School district" means the public school districts and

technology center school districts of this state;

7. "School district employee" means certified or support

personnel as defined in Section 26-101 et seq. of this title.

Employees of an educational service provider contracted with a

school district pursuant to subsection G of Section 5-117 of this

title who perform functions that would otherwise be performed by a

school district employee shall be considered employees of a school

district for purposes of the Larry Dickerson Education Flexible

Benefits Allowance Act unless otherwise provided for in the contract

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 963

between the educational service provider and the contracting school

district;

8. "Certified personnel" means a certified person employed on a

full-time basis to serve as a teacher, principal, supervisor,

administrator, counselor, librarian, or certified or registered

nurse, but shall not mean a superintendent of a school district; and

9. "Self-insured" means a health care program in which the

school district funds the benefit plans from its own resources

without purchasing insurance and which may be administered by the

school district or by an outside administrator under contract with

the school district for administrative services. The State Board of

Education shall prepare by May 1st of each year a list of each

school district in the state that is self-insured and the number of

support personnel and the number of certified personnel that are

participating in each self-insured school district plan.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-101.22 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-6-101.22
Grounds for dismissal or nonreemployment
Status: in_force

A. Subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of

1990, a career teacher may be dismissed or not reemployed for:

1. Willful neglect of duty;

2. Repeated negligence in performance of duty;

3. Mental or physical abuse to a child;

4. Knowing and willful failure to report suspected child abuse

or neglect;

5. Incompetency;

6. Instructional ineffectiveness;

7. Unsatisfactory teaching performance;

8. Commission of an act of moral turpitude; or

9. Abandonment of contract.

B. Subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of

1990, a probationary teacher may be dismissed or not reemployed for

cause.

C. During the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter:

1. A career teacher who has received a district evaluation

rating of “ineffective” as measured pursuant to the Oklahoma Teacher

and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System (TLE) for two (2)

consecutive school years shall be dismissed or not reemployed on the

grounds of instructional ineffectiveness by the school district,

subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due Process Act of 1990.

However, the superintendent may recommend and the school district

board of education may approve continued employment of the teacher;

and

2. A career teacher who has received a district evaluation

rating of “needs improvement” or lower as measured pursuant to the

TLE for three (3) consecutive school years may be dismissed or not

reemployed on the grounds of instructional ineffectiveness by the

school district, subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due

Process Act of 1990.

D. During the 2017-2018 school year and thereafter:

1. A probationary teacher who has received a district

evaluation rating of “ineffective” as measured pursuant to the TLE

for two (2) consecutive school years may be dismissed or not

reemployed by the school district subject to the provisions of the

Teacher Due Process Act of 1990; and

2. A probationary teacher who has not attained career teacher

status within a four-year period may be dismissed or not reemployed

by the school district, subject to the provisions of the Teacher Due

Process Act of 1990.

E. A teacher shall be dismissed or not reemployed, unless a

presidential or gubernatorial pardon has been issued, if during the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 357

term of employment the teacher is convicted in this state, the

United States, or another state of:

1. Any sex offense subject to the Sex Offenders Registration

Act in this state or subject to another state’s or the federal sex

offender registration provisions;

2. Knowingly and willfully failing to report suspected abuse or

neglect of a child in violation of Section 1-2-101 of Title 10A of

the Oklahoma Statutes; or

3. Any felony offense.

F. A teacher may be dismissed, refused employment, or not

reemployed after a finding that such person has engaged in acts that

could form the basis of criminal charges sufficient to result in the

denial or revocation of a certificate for a reason set forth in

subparagraph a or b of paragraph 6 of Section 3-104 of this title.

G. As used in this section, “abandonment of contract” means the

failure of a teacher to report at the beginning of the contract term

or otherwise perform the duties of a contract of employment when the

teacher has accepted other employment or is performing work for

another employer that prevents the teacher from fulfilling the

obligations of the contract of employment.

H. A school district shall notify the State Board of Education

within ten (10) days of the dismissal or nonreemployment of a

probationary or career teacher for reasons outlined in subsection F

of this section.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-18-114.9 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-18-114.9
Reduction of teacher's salary and fringe benefit
Status: in_force

level from one school year to the next – Violation – Forfeiture and

withholding of State Aid – Filing of complaints.

A. If a teacher, as defined in Section 6-101.3 of this title,

is employed by the same school district for the next school year as

the preceding school year, the total compensation, consisting of

salary and fringe benefits, of the teacher shall not be decreased

the next school year unless the hours or the duties of the teacher

are reduced proportionately. Compensation shall not include one-

time incentive pay that is provided by the school district to a

teacher nor retention incentive pay for returning the next year.

B. Subject to the provisions of this section, any school

district that willfully reduces or has in years previous to

enactment of this section willfully reduced the compensation of a

teacher in violation of subsection A of this section shall forfeit

as a penalty a portion of its State Aid equal to the total amount

that the teacher was underpaid. If the teacher was underpaid for

more than one (1) school year, the amount forfeited shall equal the

cumulative amount that the teacher was underpaid. The amount to be

forfeited shall be deducted from the State Aid payment following

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 835

confirmation of the underpayment by the State Department of

Education.

C. In addition to the amount of State Aid forfeited as a

penalty pursuant to subsection B of this section, in order to ensure

that the teacher receives the full amount of unpaid compensation,

the State Department of Education shall withhold an amount which is

equal to the total amount that the teacher was underpaid from the

State Aid payment of the school district and pay the amount directly

to the teacher. The Board shall not withhold an amount for payment

to the teacher pursuant to the subsection if the teacher has

recovered the underpayment pursuant to judicial action.

D. Complaints filed with the State Board of Education pursuant

to this section may be based on alleged underpayments during fiscal

years that began:

1. On or after July 1, 2002; or

2. Before July 1, 2002, if the teacher filed an action to

recover the underpayment in a court of competent jurisdiction before

July 1, 2002.

E. Complaints filed with the State Board of Education alleging

underpayment during fiscal years that began on or after July 1,

2002, shall be filed within one (1) year of the end of the fiscal

year in which the underpayment is alleged to have occurred.

F. Filing a complaint with the State Board of Education

pursuant to this section shall not operate to prohibit a teacher

from filing an action for underpayment in a court of competent

jurisdiction or continuing to pursue an action for underpayment

pending in a court of competent jurisdiction on August 29, 2003.

G. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules

necessary to implement the provisions of this section. The rules

shall include, but not be limited to, procedures for a teacher to

file a complaint for violation of this section and the Department to

investigate the complaint.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-16-114a — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-16-114a
Textbook allocation and adjustment
Status: reserved

A. Based upon legislative appropriations, the State Board of

Education shall determine the textbook allocation to be distributed

to each school district in the state. Each year the textbook

allocation for each school district shall be calculated and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 700

distributed in July and adjusted in December. The initial

allocation shall be calculated based on the audited end-of-year

average daily attendance of the preceding school year multiplied by

Fifty-five Dollars ($55.00). The initial allocation shall be

calculated and distributed to each school district in July. The

December adjustment shall be calculated by multiplying the audited

first nine (9) weeks' average daily attendance for that current

school year by Fifty-five Dollars ($55.00) and subtracting from that

amount the amount of the initial allocation. The adjustment shall

be calculated in December and distributed to each eligible school

district no later than January 15. A school district shall receive

an adjustment only if the adjustment figure as calculated in this

section is greater than zero. The State Department of Education

shall retain from the total amount appropriated for textbooks not

less than one percent (1%) of the total amount to be used for the

purpose of making the adjustments. If the amount appropriated,

including the retained amount, is not sufficient to fully fund the

adjusted allocation, each school district eligible for an adjustment

shall receive a proportionate reduction in funding. Any unused

portion of the value of textbooks allowed to a school district shall

be cumulative and may be carried over by the school district to

subsequent fiscal years, in addition to the allocation it is

entitled to receive during that fiscal year.

B. A school district seeking flexibility in the use of state-

appropriated funding allocated pursuant to this section for

textbooks shall be required to demonstrate to the State Board of

Education that the textbooks and instructional materials used by the

district for the subject areas being considered in the current

textbook adoption cycle are current and appropriate for student

learning. Subject to the provisions of subsection E of Section 16-

111 of this title, a school district that has received textbook

funding flexibility approval from the Board may elect to expend any

monies allocated pursuant to this section for textbooks, including

any monies carried over as authorized pursuant to subsection A of

this section, for any purpose related to the support and maintenance

of the school district as determined by the board of education of

the school district.

C. All textbooks distributed to a school district that have

been destroyed by fire or other hazard shall be replaced by the

State Board of Education. The total cost of all additional

textbooks delivered to school districts to replace those destroyed

by fire or other hazard shall not exceed, for the entire state in

any fiscal year, the aggregate sum of One Hundred Thousand Dollars

($100,000.00), which sum shall be reserved for that purpose from any

appropriation made to carry out the provision of this section for

any fiscal year.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 701
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3-104.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3-104.1
Convicted persons not to receive certification for
Status: in_force

instructional, supervisory or administrative position.

No person shall receive a certificate for an instructional,

supervisory, or administrative position in an accredited school of

this state who has been convicted of a felony, any crime involving

moral turpitude, knowingly and willfully failing to report suspected

abuse or neglect of a child in violation of Section 1-2-101 of Title

10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, or a felony violation of the narcotic

laws of the United States or this state, provided the conviction was

entered within the preceding ten-year period.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-204.2 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-6-204.2
Education Leadership Oklahoma program
Status: in_force

A. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability

and the State Board of Education are authorized to establish the

Education Leadership Oklahoma program.

B. The purposes of the Education Leadership Oklahoma program

are to:

1. Provide teachers throughout the state information about

National Board certification and the Education Leadership Oklahoma

program services;

2. Provide technical assistance and National-Board-certified

mentors to all teachers seeking National Board certification upon

request;

3. Reward teachers who are seeking National Board certification

by awarding them a portion of the National Board certification cost

as provided in subsection D of this section; and

4. Provide recognition to National-Board-certified teachers.

C. To fulfill the objectives of the Education Leadership

Oklahoma Act, the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation shall:

1. Inform teachers of the Education Leadership Oklahoma program

and services it provides to teachers seeking National Board

certification, emphasizing recruiting efforts toward teachers at

high-poverty schools, schools identified as in need of improvement

and in districts with the lowest percentage of teachers who have

achieved National Board certification; and

2. Ensure that all teachers seeking National Board

certification receive adequate information regarding the level of

commitment required to acquire National Board certification.

D. The Commission shall select not more than one hundred

applicants to participate in the program each fiscal year for whom

the Commission shall pay up to One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars

($1,800.00) of the National Board certification cost.

E. The Commission shall promulgate rules establishing a process

for accepting applications for the Education Leadership Oklahoma

program and for providing to applicants selected for the program up-

front payment of the National Board certification cost. If a

selected applicant who receives the up-front payment does not

fulfill all submission requirements for National Board certification

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 467

as established by the certification vendor within the maximum

allowable time frame, the applicant will be required to repay the

full amount of the component fees paid on his or her behalf, the

applicant shall repay the Commission the full amount paid by the

Commission pursuant to subsection D of this section. Subject to the

availability of funding, all selected applicants who do not receive

an up-front payment and successfully complete National Board

certification shall be reimbursed by the Commission for the National

Board certification cost. The total amount of reimbursement paid by

the Commission shall not exceed One Thousand Eight Hundred Dollars

($1,800.00).

F. Subject to the availability of funding, all teachers seeking

initial National Board certification either through the Education

Leadership Oklahoma Scholarship program or paying their own way

shall be eligible to participate in Education Leadership Oklahoma

mentoring for up to three (3) years to assist them in meeting the

requirements of the National Board certification process, free of

charge.

G. Subject to district board of education policy or collective

bargaining agreement, additional professional leave days may be

granted to teachers seeking National Board certification for

National Board certification portfolio development. During the two

(2) days of the additional professional days granted to teachers for

National Board certification portfolio development, a substitute

teacher shall be provided by the school district at no cost to the

teacher.

H. 1. The State Board of Education shall provide to teachers

who attained National Board certification prior to June 30, 2013, a

bonus in the amount of Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00) annually

over a ten-year period, to be paid no later than January 31 each

year. The Board shall provide a bonus to any teacher who attains

National Board certification after June 30, 2013, if the teacher was

selected for the Education Leadership Oklahoma program before June

30, 2013, or the teacher has submitted an application for National

Board certification to the National Board for Professional Teaching

Standards before June 30, 2013.

2. The teachers eligible to receive the annual bonus as

provided for in paragraph 1 of this subsection shall receive the

annual bonus for the ten-year duration of their National Board

certification and so long as they are teaching in the classroom

full-time in an Oklahoma public school. No school or school

district shall be liable for payment of bonuses pursuant to this

section.

3. The bonus shall not be included in the calculation of the

teacher's salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory

minimum salary schedule or for purposes of compensating Oklahoma

Teachers' Retirement System contributions or benefits.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 468

4. Teachers eligible to receive the annual bonus as provided

for in paragraph 1 of this subsection shall not be eligible to

receive the additional salary increment for National Board

certification as set forth in the minimum salary schedule in Section

18-114.15 of this title.

5. Teachers who attain National Board certification after June

30, 2013, shall be eligible to receive the additional salary

increments for National Board certification as set forth in the

minimum salary schedule in Section 18-114.15 of this title.

6. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules for a

process by which a National-Board-certified teacher will verify

that:

a. the National Board certification has not lapsed,

b. the teacher is still a full-time teacher, and

c. for teachers eligible for the bonus, the teacher has

not exceeded the limit of annual bonus payments as

provided for in paragraph 1 of this subsection.

I. It is the intent of the Legislature that the Oklahoma State

Regents for Higher Education incorporate the National Board

certification portfolio development into all programs in education

leading to a master's level degree.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-5-127.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-5-127.1
Release of audit to public
Status: in_force

Except for audits requested by a prosecutorial agency, the

findings of an audit performed on any school district by any state

agency, or on behalf of or at the direction of any state agency,

shall be discussed with the members of the board of education and

the superintendent or a designee of the affected school district at

least fourteen (14) days prior to the release of the audit to the

public.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-11-103.16 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-11-103.16
Cursive handwriting instruction for third through
Status: in_force

fifth grades.

Beginning in the 2024-2025 school year, each school district and

charter school shall provide instruction in cursive handwriting for

students in the third through fifth grades. The instruction shall

be designed to enable students to demonstrate competency in reading

cursive and legibly writing in cursive by the end of fifth grade.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-13-124 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-13-124
General administration, supervision and monitoring of
Status: in_force

programs and activities receiving federal and state funds -

Continuation of certain existing services - Coordination of

financial resources - Restricted use of monies.

A. The State Department of Education is hereby designated as

the lead agency for general administration, supervision and

monitoring of programs and activities receiving federal funds under

Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and

state funds appropriated for early intervention services. To ensure

compliance with Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act (IDEA) and its implementing regulations, the State

Department of Education is authorized to monitor and enforce any

obligations imposed on agencies participating under Part C of the

IDEA.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 628

B. In accordance with Part C of the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the State Department of Education

shall administer the Interagency Coordinating Council for Early

Childhood Intervention which shall advise and assist the lead agency

in fulfillment of its responsibilities.

C. The State Department of Education, the State Department of

Health, the Department of Human Services, the Department of Mental

Health and Substance Abuse Services and other publicly funded

services shall continue to provide all services within their

respective statutory and constitutional responsibilities to the

eligible population except as otherwise provided in Section 13-101

of this title. State and local interagency agreements will

delineate responsibility for local and regional procedural

safeguards, provision of service and related issues. Funds provided

for implementation of the Oklahoma Early Intervention Act, Sections

13-121 through 13-129 of this title, shall not be used to satisfy a

financial commitment for services which would have been paid for or

provided by another public or private source, but shall be utilized

solely for the enactment of Part C of the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Oklahoma Early

Intervention Act. Such funds may be used whenever considered

necessary to prevent delay in the receipt of appropriate early

intervention services by the infant or toddler or family in a timely

fashion. Funds provided for implementation of the Oklahoma Early

Intervention Act may be used to pay the provider of services pending

reimbursement from the agency which has the ultimate responsibility.

D. Pursuant to the requirements of Part C of the Individuals

with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), all financial resources from

federal, state, local and private sources shall be coordinated to

fund early intervention services. In order to determine the most

effective utilization and achieve coordination, a joint funding plan

shall be submitted to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of

Representatives, and the Senate President Pro Tempore by the State

Department of Education, the State Department of Health, the

Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Services on or before October 1. The individual

components of such plan as they relate to individual agencies shall

be incorporated annually into each affected agency's budget request

in accordance with the provisions of Section 34.36 of Title 62 of

the Oklahoma Statutes. Such plan shall include, but not be limited

to:

1. Utilization of State Aid funds appropriated to the State

Board of Education for the purpose of providing early intervention

services or provided pursuant to the State Aid Formula for special

education services and related services to children with

disabilities;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 629

2. Publicly funded personnel and programs in the State

Department of Education, the State Department of Health, the

Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health andfederal and state funds - Continuation of certain existing services - Coordination of financialding early intervention

services or provided pursuant to the State Aid Formula for special

education services and related services to children with

disabilities;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 629

2. Publicly funded personnel and programs in the State

Department of Education, the State Department of Health, the

Department of Human Services and the Department of Mental Health and

Substance Abuse Services who are currently serving the eligible

population;

3. Feasibility of utilization of federal Title V funds;

4. Utilization of new state funds as may be appropriated by the

Legislature for fiscal year 1990 for the purpose of early

intervention, and of additional new funds needed to fully implement

early intervention services in accordance with the State of

Oklahoma's implementation of Part C of the Individuals with

Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);

5. Amendments to expansion of the Medicaid State Plan to

include early intervention services for eligible children utilizing

state funds designated for early intervention for the purpose of

matching federal funds;

6. Feasibility of application for federal funds appropriated

pursuant to P.L. 89-313; and

7. Utilization of funds received under Part C of the

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

E. The State Department of Education, the State Department of

Health, the Department of Human Services and the Department of

Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services shall be authorized to

transfer funds enumerated in subsection D of this section to the

Oklahoma Early Intervention Revolving Fund created in Section 13-

124.1 of this title to the extent that transfers of such funds are

authorized by and directed to the fund by the joint funding plan of

the Oklahoma Early Intervention Act or by state or federal law.

F. Monies appropriated to an affected agency and monies

identified in the joint funding plan for the purpose of providing

early intervention services shall be used by the agency exclusively

for the purpose of providing early intervention services.

G. For purposes of implementing the provisions of the Oklahoma

Early Intervention Act, the board of education of any school

district in this state may execute an agreement with a city/county

health department or county health department to share appropriate

facilities.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-2207 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-2207
Approval of bonds - Incontestability
Status: in_force

All bonds issued hereunder shall have on the backs thereof the

certificate required by Section 29 of Article X of the Constitution

of Oklahoma. Such bonds shall be submitted to the Attorney General

of Oklahoma for his examination and when such bonds have been

examined and certified as legal obligations by the Attorney General,

in accordance with such requirements as he may make, shall be

incontestable in any court in the State of Oklahoma unless suit

thereon shall be brought in a court having jurisdiction thereof

within thirty (30) days from the date of such approval. Bonds so

approved by the Attorney General shall be prima facie valid and

binding obligations according to their terms, and the only defense

which may be offered thereto in any suit instituted after such

thirty-day period shall have expired shall be forgery, fraud, or

violation of the Constitution.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1210.508H — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1210.508H
Literacy instructional team
Status: in_force

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1243

A. Beginning with the 2023-2024 school year, the State

Department of Education shall establish a three-year pilot program

to employ a literacy instructional team to support school districts

in implementation of the requirements of Section 1210.508C of this

title. The Department shall provide technical assistance for

literacy instruction, dyslexia, and related disorders, and serve as

a primary source of information and support for schools in

addressing the needs of students struggling with literacy, dyslexia,

and related disorders.

B. The Department shall employ a literacy instructional team

with team members who are placed regionally across the state. The

literacy instructional teams shall assist general education and

special education teachers in recognizing educational needs to

improve literacy outcomes for all students including those with

dyslexia or identified with the risk characteristics associated with

dyslexia. The role of the literacy instructional team shall also

include increasing professional awareness and instructional

competencies to meet the educational needs of all students including

those with dyslexia or identified with risk characteristics

associated with dyslexia. The Department shall prioritize supports

and interventions including enrollment in reading trainings and

professional development for schools which have the highest

percentage of students who do not demonstrate sufficient reading

skills as established by the State Board of Education.

C. Literacy instructional team members employed by the

Department shall have training in:

1. The science of how students learn to read including

phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary, comprehension,

writing, and language;

2. Foundation of multisensory, explicit, systematic, and

structured reading instruction;

3. Identification of and the appropriate interventions,

accommodations, and teaching techniques for struggling students;

4. The requirements of the Strong Readers Act;

5. Special education laws and procedures; and

6. Appropriate interventions, accommodations, and assistive

technology supports for students with dyslexia or a related

disorder.

D. The literacy instructional team members employed by the

Department shall report to the Program Director for Literacy at the

Department and have:

1. A minimum of five regional literacy leads, at least one who

shall be designated by the Department as a dyslexia specialist to

provide school districts with support and resources that are

necessary to assist students with dyslexia. The Department shall

give preference to educators applying for regional literacy lead

who:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1244

a. have an endorsement or certification as a certified

structured literacy dyslexia specialist or certified

academic language therapist,

b. are knowledgeable of multitiered systems of support,

and

c. have been trained in the identification of and

intervention for dyslexia and related disorders

including best practice interventions and treatment

models for dyslexia; and

2. A minimum of ten literacy specialists. The Department shall

give preference to educators applying for literacy specialist who:

a. have training in the science of reading,

b. are knowledgeable of multitiered systems of support,

and

c. have been trained in the identification of and

intervention for dyslexia and related disorders

including best practice interventions and treatment

models for dyslexia.

E. The State Department of Education shall electronically

submit a report to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the

Senate, and the Speaker of the House of Representatives by December

31, 2026, that includes an evaluation of the pilot program by school

districts, data on whether the program had an impact on increasing

the number of students who demonstrate proficiency in reading, and

recommendations for changes to the Strong Readers Act.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-628.16 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-628.16
East Central State College
Status: in_force

The State Regents should provide sufficient funds to East

Central State College to fully implement the new educational program

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1069

in Environmental Science recently approved by the State Regents for

operation at this institution and encourage the development of this

program to its full potential, consistent with House Concurrent

Resolution No. 1022 of the First Session of the Thirty-third

Oklahoma Legislature, relating to the designation of this college as

the media information center for education of this type for the

entire state system.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-14-102 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-14-102
Meetings - Teleconferencing
Status: in_force

The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall meet in

regular session once each month at least ten (10) months per year.

Special meetings may be called by the Chair or by a majority of the

members of the Board. Meetings of the Board may be held by

teleconferencing. Five members of the Board shall constitute a

quorum. No business may be transacted at any meeting unless a

quorum is present in person or through teleconferencing, and every

act of the Board shall be approved by a majority of the membership

of the Board. Each member of the Board shall receive necessary

traveling expenses while in the performance of duties as a member

pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-175 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-6-175
Renumbered as § 6-188 of this title by Laws 1995, c
Status: in_force

322, § 34, eff. July 1, 1995.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 410
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-24-156 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-24-156
Chase Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act
Status: in_force

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Chase

Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act”.

B. As used in the Chase Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention

Act, “athletic activity” means any sport sanctioned and offered in

grades seven through twelve by a school district.

C. The State Department of Health and the State Department of

Education shall jointly develop and post on their publicly

accessible websites guidelines and other relevant materials to

inform and educate students participating in or desiring to

participate in an athletic activity, their parents, and their

coaches about the nature and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest

including the risks associated with continuing to play or practice

after experiencing one or more symptoms of sudden cardiac arrest

including unexplained fainting, difficulty breathing, chest pains,

dizziness, and abnormal racing heart rate. In developing the

guidelines and materials, the State Department of Health and the

State Department of Education may utilize existing materials

developed by other entities or organizations.

D. A student participating in or desiring to participate in an

athletic activity and the student’s parent or guardian shall, each

school year and prior to participation by the student in an athletic

activity, sign and return to the student’s school an acknowledgement

of receipt and review of a sudden cardiac arrest symptoms and

warning signs information sheet jointly developed by the State

Department of Health and the State Department of Education.

E. A school may hold an informational meeting prior to the

start of each athletic season for all ages of competitors regarding

the symptoms and warning signs of sudden cardiac arrest. In

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 950

addition to students, parents, coaches, and other school officials,

informational meetings may include physicians, pediatric

cardiologists, and athletic trainers.

F. A student who collapses or faints without a concurrent head

injury while participating in an athletic activity shall be removed

by the coach from participation at that time.

G. A student removed or prevented from participating in an

athletic activity pursuant to subsection F of this section shall not

return to participation until the student is evaluated and cleared

for return to participation in writing by a health care provider as

defined in Section 3090.2 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

H. Once each year, a coach of an athletic activity, school

nurses, and athletic trainers shall complete:

1. The sudden cardiac arrest training course offered by a

provider approved by the State Department of Health; and

2. Training in first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and

use of an automated external defibrillator. The training shall

follow guidelines set by a nationally recognized, guidelines-based

organization focused on emergency cardiovascular care.

A coach of an athletic activity shall not coach the athletic

activity until the coach completes the training course required

under this subsection.

I. Each public school in this state shall develop a sudden

cardiac emergency response plan. The plan shall be formulated by a

school site administrator and presented to the school district board

of education. The plan shall:

1. Establish and provide for membership of a sudden cardiac

emergency response team for each school site. Each team shall

include a school site administrator;

2. Activate the team in response to a sudden cardiac arrest;

3. Implement automated external defibrillator (AED) placement

and routine maintenance within the school as needed and dictated by

the plan and in accordance with guidelines set by a nationally

recognized, guidelines-based organization focused on emergency

cardiovascular care. The plan shall provide for implementation of

clearly marked and easily accessible AED placement;

4. Provide for communication and dissemination of the plan

throughout the school campus;

5. Require the response team to practice the plan by conducting

periodic drills;

6. Provide for coordination with emergency medical service

providers that serve the area in which the school is located;

7. Address athletic events and athletic facilities at each

middle school and high school site provided:

a. an AED shall be placed at each athletic venue or be

accessible within one to three minutes of each venue

where athletic practices or competitions are held, or

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 951

b. a mobile AED device shall be on the premises in

accordance with guidelines set by a nationally

recognized, guidelines-based organization focused on

emergency cardiovascular care;

8. Provide for appropriate school staff to be trained in first

aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation, and the use of an AED in

accordance with guidelines set by a nationally recognized,

guidelines-based organization focused on emergency cardiovascular

care. The plan shall stipulate the appropriate staff to receive

training which shall include, but not be limited to, athletic

coaches, school nurses, and athletic trainers; and

9. Be reviewed by the school district board of education and

sudden cardiac emergency response team members and updated annually.

J. The sponsors of youth athletic activities not associated

with a school are encouraged to follow the guidance stated in the

Chase Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.

K. Nothing in the Chase Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention

Act shall be construed to create, establish, expand, reduce,

contract, or eliminate any civil liability on the part of any school

or school employee.

L. The State Board of Health and the State Board of Education

shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of the Chase

Morris Sudden Cardiac Arrest Prevention Act.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3-104.4 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3-104.4
Standards for accreditation
Status: in_force

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 131

A. The State Board of Education shall adopt standards for the

accreditation of the public schools in this state according to the

requirements of Section 3-104.3 et seq. of this title, to be

effective as set forth in Section 3-104.3 et seq. of this title.

The accreditation standards shall incorporate the curricular

standards established pursuant to Section 11-103.6 of this title.

The accreditation standards shall equal or exceed nationally

recognized accreditation standards to the extent that the standards

are consistent with an academic results oriented approach to

accreditation. The accreditation adopted by the State Board shall

encompass accreditation for elementary schools, middle schools,

junior high schools, and high schools. The accreditation standards

shall be made available for public inspection at the offices of the

State Department of Education.

B. Standards for accreditation adopted by the State Board of

Education shall include standards relating to the provision of

school counselors to the public school children of this state. The

State Board of Education shall require each local school district to

provide information regarding the number of counselors serving each

school site, the duties of all such counselors including all

administrative duties, the number of students served by each

counselor, and information regarding the number of counselors

employed per elementary school, middle school, junior high school

and high school.

C. 1. Except as otherwise provided, schools shall meet the

accreditation standards as a condition of continued accreditation.

Nothing herein shall be construed as preventing changes to the

adopted standards by the State Board of Education pursuant to the

Administrative Procedures Act.

2. The accreditation standards shall provide for deficiencies,

warnings, probation or nonaccredited status for schools that fail to

meet one or more of the standards.

3. The State Department of Education shall investigate a

complaint of failure to provide educational services or failure to

comply with accreditation standards within thirty (30) days of

receiving the complaint. If the State Department of Education

determines that a school has failed to comply with the accreditation

standards, the Department shall report the recommended deficiency,

warning, probation or nonaccredited accreditation status to the

State Board of Education within ninety (90) days. Before the State

Board of Education may change a school district's accreditation

status from a warning to probation, or from probation to non-

accredited based on a recommendation by the State Department of

Education as described in this paragraph, the school district shall

be given an opportunity to request a hearing before the State Board

of Education pursuant to the due process procedures adopted by the

Board as provided for in this subsection. The State Board of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 132

Education shall send the applicable school district notice of a

right to a hearing within ten (10) working days of receiving the

recommendations. The hearing shall be conducted by the State Board

of Education. All notices shall be sent by certified mail, with the

postmark used to determine the timeliness of the notice. If the

school district fails to request a hearing within ten (10) working

days of receipt of such notice, the district's right to a hearing

shall be waived.

4. If a school district does not request a due process hearing

within ten (10) working days notice from the Board, and the school

or school district does not take action to comply with the

accreditation standards within ninety (90) days after a report is

filed by the Department, the Board shall withdraw accreditation for

the school.

5. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules

regarding notice and hearing of accreditation status pursuant to

this section and in accordance with the Administrative Procedures

Act.

6. The State Board of Education accreditation rules shall

provide for warnings and for assistance to schools and school

districts whenever there is reason to believe a school is in danger

of losing its state accreditation.

D. If one or more school sites fail to receive accreditation as

required pursuant to this section or subsequently lose

accreditation, the State Board of Education shall close the school

and reassign the students to accredited schools within the district

or shall annex the district to one or more other districts in which

the students can be educated in accredited schools.

E. Standards for accreditation adopted by the State Board of

Education shall include standards relating to the provision of

educational services provided in partial hospitalization programs,

day treatment programs, day hospital programs, residential treatment

programs and emergency shelter programs for persons between the ages

of three (3) and twenty-one (21) years of age. The accreditation

standards shall apply to on-site and off-site educational services

provided by public school districts or state-accredited private

schools. Each school which is providing or is required to provide

educational services for students placed in a program as described

in this subsection shall be actively monitored by the State

Department of Education. The Department shall determine on an

ongoing basis if the educational program and services are in

compliance with the accreditation standards.

F. The State Board shall provide assistance to districts in

considering the possibility of meeting accreditation requirements

through the use of nontraditional means of instruction. The State

Board shall also assist districts in forming cooperatives and making

arrangements for the use of satellite instruction or other

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 133

instructional technologies to the extent that use of such

instructional means meets accreditation standards.

G. 1. Accreditation shall not be withdrawn from or denied nor

shall a penalty be assessed against a school or school district for

failing to meet the media materials and equipment standards, media

program expenditure standards and media personnel standards as set

forth in the accreditation standards adopted by the Board.

2. The provisions of paragraph 1 of this subsection shall cease

to be effective during the fiscal year which begins on the July 1

immediately succeeding the legislative session during which the

measure appropriating monies to the State Board of Education for the

financial support of public schools is enacted as law and such

appropriation amount is at least Fifty Million Dollars

($50,000,000.00) greater than the amount of money appropriated to

the State Board of Education for the financial support of public

schools for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2019, pursuant to

Chapter 146, O.S.L. 2018. Provided, the Fifty Million Dollars

($50,000,000.00) shall not include any amount of appropriations

dedicated for support or certified employee salary increases.

Accreditation shall not be withdrawn from or denied nor shall a

penalty be assessed against a school or school district for failing

to meet the media personnel standards as set forth in accreditation

standards adopted by the Board.

H. 1. The State Board shall not assess a financial penalty

against any school district which is given a deficiency in

accreditation status during any fiscal year as provided for in this

subsection.

2. Beginning with the fiscal year which begins July 1, 2021, if

the amount of money appropriated to the State Board of Education for

the financial support of public schools including funds apportioned

pursuant to Section 426 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes, is at

least One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00) greater than the

amount of money appropriated to the State Board of Education for the

financial support of public schools for the fiscal year ending June

30, 2019, pursuant to Chapter 146, O.S.L. 2018, a financial penalty

shall be assessed against any school districts that do not comply

with the class size limitations for kindergarten as provided for in

Section 18-113.2 of this title and class size limitations for grade

one as provided for in subsection A of Section 18-113.1 of this

title. Provided, the One Hundred Million Dollars ($100,000,000.00)

shall not include any amount of appropriations dedicated for support

or certified employee salary increases.

3. The State Department of Education shall submit a report on

statewide classroom sizes to the President Pro Tempore of the

Oklahoma State Senate and the Speaker of the Oklahoma House of

Representatives no later than January 1, 2022.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 134

I. Except as provided for in subsection J of this section,

beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, evaluations of schools to

determine whether they meet the accreditation standards set forth in

accordance with this section shall occur once every four (4) years

on a schedule adopted by the State Board of Education. The Board

may interrupt the evaluation schedule provided in this subsection

for reasons including a change in the superintendent of the school

district; determination that one or more school district board

members have not met the continuing education requirements as

defined by this title; determination that the school district

falsified information submitted to any public city, county, state or

federal official or agency; initiation of an investigation by the

Board or a law enforcement agency; or other determination by the

Board that standards for accreditation are not being met by the

school district. The schedule adopted by the Board shall allow for

school districts receiving no deficiencies for two (2) consecutive

years to be reviewed for accreditation less than annually.

Provided, however, that schools shall be evaluated annually for the

purposes of:

1. Local, state and federal funding;

2. Health and safety;

3. Certification requirements for teachers, principals and

superintendents;

4. School board governance, including instructional and

continuing education requirements for school board members; and

5. Any other requirements under state or federal law.

J. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, if a public school

receives a deficiency on its accreditation report, the public school

shall be evaluated annually to determine if it meets the

accreditation standards set forth in accordance with this section.

If the public school receives no deficiencies for two (2)

consecutive years, the public school shall be subject to the

evaluation timeline established in subsection I of this section.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3515 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3515
East Central University
Status: in_force

East Central State College, located at Ada, Oklahoma, is hereby

officially named and shall be designated in all future references as

"East Central University". Any reference in the statutes to East

Central Oklahoma State University shall be deemed a reference to

East Central University.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-5-113.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-5-113.1
Relation by consanguinity or affinity with school
Status: in_force

board member prohibited in employment or contracts - Exemptions -

Executive sessions of board - Collective bargaining agreements.

A. Except as otherwise provided in this section, no person may

be employed or put under contract by a school district if that

person is related to a member of the board of education of that

school district within the second degree of consanguinity or

affinity. A teacher or employee already under contract to or

otherwise employed by the school district at the time the

relationship is established may continue in said employment. Except

as otherwise provided, a board member already serving at the time

the relationship is established may serve out the term for which the

member was elected but shall not be eligible to be a candidate for

or serve successive terms of office for which the member may be

elected.

B. The provisions of this section shall not prevent a board

member from serving successive terms of office if otherwise eligible

under the provision of Section 5-113 of this title. No member of

the board of education who has resigned from the board before the

term of the person has expired may be reappointed to the board to

complete the remainder of the term if a teacher or employee related

to the resigned member of the board within the second degree of

consanguinity or affinity was put under contract or otherwise

employed by the school district after the board member resigned.

C. The provisions of this section shall not prevent a person

who is related to a member of the board of education within the

second degree of consanguinity or affinity from being employed by

the school district as a substitute teacher pursuant to the

provisions of Section 6-105 of this title or as a temporary

substitute support employee if the school district has an Average

Daily Membership (ADM) of less than five thousand (5,000).

D. The provisions of this section shall not prevent a person

who is related to a member of the board of education within the

second degree of consanguinity or affinity from being employed by

the school district if the school district has an Average Daily

Membership (ADM) of less than four hundred (400) and the board of

education has adopted a policy providing for such employment.

E. Any member of a board of education who is related to a

teacher or other employee of the district within the second degree

of consanguinity or affinity shall not attend or participate in any

regular or executive session of the board held to consider any

personnel matter or litigation relating to said teacher or employee.

The member may vote on collective bargaining agreements or the

renewal of contracts as a group if the vote is necessary to form a

quorum of the board of education members. If more than one member

of the board of education is related to a teacher or employee, only

the minimum number of those members which is necessary to form a

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 256

quorum shall be allowed to vote. Each board of education so

affected shall adopt a written policy establishing procedures on

when such a member may vote on the renewal of contracts or

collective bargaining agreements.

F. Any member of a board of education who violates the

provisions of this section shall be subject to the penalties

prescribed by Sections 485 and 486 of Title 21 of the Oklahoma

Statutes.employment or contracts - Exemptions - Executive sessions of board - Collective bargaining
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3312 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3312
University of Oklahoma College of Medicine Tulsa -
Status: in_force

Establishment.

A branch program of the School of Medicine of the University of

Oklahoma is hereby established in Tulsa County to be known as the

University of Oklahoma College of Medicine - Tulsa. The functions

and programs of study of the operation shall be determined by the

Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education in pursuance of Article

XIII-A of the Constitution of Oklahoma.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-5-149 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-5-149
School safety drills
Status: in_force

A. In addition to the four security drills required pursuant to

Section 5-148 of this title, all public schools shall conduct a

minimum of six safety drills as follows:

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 320

1. Two fire drills per school year. Each fire drill shall be

conducted within the first fifteen (15) days of each semester. The

fire drills shall include the sounding of a distinctive audible

signal designated as the fire alarm signal;

2. Two tornado drills per school year with at least one drill

being conducted in the months of September and March; and

3. The principal and superintendent of a public school district

shall utilize the remaining required safety drills in any manner

provided in this section or Section 5-148 of this title or by

developing a drill that is consistent with the risks assessed for

the appropriate facility or any recommendations submitted by the

Safe School Committee as authorized pursuant to Section 24-100.5 of

this title or any assisting fire or law enforcement department.

B. It shall be the duty of the principal, under the direction

of the superintendent of the school district, to conform to the

written plans and procedures adopted by the district as required by

Section 681 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes. All students and

teachers at the public schools shall participate.

C. Each public school district shall document each fire drill

in writing by public school site. The records for each fire drill

shall be preserved for at least three (3) years and made available

to the State Fire Marshal or the marshal's agent upon request. In

addition to the fire drill documentation provided in this

subsection, the school district shall document all other safety

drills in writing and by school site with a copy of the report

remaining at the school, a copy filed with the district

administrative office and a copy with the Oklahoma School Security

Institute as created by the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-820.12 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-820.12
Student athlete's right to cancel
Status: in_force

STUDENT ATHLETE'S RIGHT TO CANCEL.

A. A student athlete or, if the athlete is a minor, the parent

or guardian of the athlete may cancel an agency contract by giving

notice in a record of cancellation to the athlete agent not later

than fourteen (14) days after the contract is signed.

B. A student athlete or, if the athlete is a minor, the parent

or guardian of the athlete may not waive the right to cancel an

agency contract.

C. If a student athlete, parent or guardian cancels an agency

contract, the athlete, parent or guardian is not required to pay any

consideration under the contract or return any consideration

received from the athlete agent to influence the athlete to enter

into the contract.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-23-106 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-23-106
Powers of Authority
Status: in_force

The Authority is hereby authorized and empowered:

1. To accept, assume and control the television channels

assigned by the Federal Communications Commission to the State of

Oklahoma for educational purposes;

2. To adopt bylaws for the regulation of its affairs and the

conduct of its business;

3. To adopt an official seal and alter the same at pleasure;

4. To maintain an office at such place or places within the

state as it may designate;

5. To sue and be sued in its own name, plead and be impleaded;

provided, however, that any and all actions, at law or in equity,

against the Authority shall be brought in the county in which the

principal office of the Authority shall be located, or in the county

of the residence of the plaintiff, or in the county where the cause

of action arose;

6. To construct, maintain, repair and operate television

facilities which with their access connections are designated

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 901

ultimately to extend to and include all sections and areas of the

State of Oklahoma;

7. To issue revenue bonds of the Authority, payable solely from

dedicated revenues, for the purpose of paying all or any part of the

cost of needed facilities;

8. To fix and revise from time to time any necessary charges

for the use of any facilities;

9. To pay for the annual cost of the operation, maintenance and

repair of such facilities;

10. To pay as and when due the principal and interest on the

revenue certificates or bonds issued to pay for such facilities;

11. To accumulate and maintain such reserves as are provided

for in the resolution or trust indenture under which such bonds are

issued or secured;

12. To acquire, hold, or dispose of real and personal property

in the exercise of its powers and the performance of its duties

under this act;

13. To acquire in the name of the Authority by purchase or

otherwise, on such terms and conditions and in such manner as it may

deem proper, or by the exercise of the right of condemnation in

manner hereinafter provided, such public or private lands, rights-

of-way, property, rights, easements, and interests, as it may deem

necessary for carrying out the provisions of this article; and it is

the intent of the Legislature that all public property damaged in

carrying out the powers granted by this article shall be restored or

repaired and placed in its original condition as nearly as

practicable;

14. To designate, except as is provided for herein, the

locations; and to establish, limit and control such points of

ingress to and egress from each facility as may be necessary or

desirable in the judgment of the Authority to insure the proper

operation and maintenance of such facility;

15. To make and enter into all contracts and agreements

necessary or incidental to the performance of its duties and the

execution of its powers under this article, and to employ consulting

engineers, attorneys, accountants, construction and financial

experts, superintendents, managers, and such other employees and

agents as may be necessary in its judgment, and to fix their

compensation;

16. To receive appropriations from the State Legislature and

accept from any federal agency grants for or in aid of the

construction and operation of any project; provided, the acceptance

of such grants or appropriations will not reduce the amount of

federal aid for other education in this state; and to receive and

accept aid or contributions from any source of either money,

property, labor, or other things of value;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 902

17. To do any and all things necessary to comply with rules,

regulations, or requirements of the Federal Communications

Commission or any other federal agency administering any law enacted

by the Congress of the United States to aid or encourage education;

18. To do all things necessary or convenient to carry out the

powers expressly granted in this article.

It shall be unlawful for any member, officer, or employee of the

Authority to transact with the Authority, either directly or

indirectly, any business for profit of such member, officer, or

employee; and any person, firm or corporation knowingly

participating therein shall be equally liable for violation of this

provision.

The term “business for profit” shall include, but not be limited

to, the acceptance or payment of any fee, commission, gift or

consideration to such member, officer or employee.

Any person found guilty of violating any of the provisions of

this section shall be guilty of a Class D1 felony offense, and shall

be punishable by a fine of not less than Five Hundred Dollars

($500.00), and not more than Five Thousand Dollars ($5,000.00), or

by imprisonment as provided for in subsections B through F of

Section 20N of Title 21 of the Oklahoma Statutes, or by both such

fine and imprisonment.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-5-200 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-5-200
Contracting with an educational management organization
Status: in_force

– Disclosure of financial details – Binding contracts with teachers

and board of education.

A. As used in this section, “educational management

organization” means a for-profit or nonprofit organization that

receives public funds to provide administration and management

services for a charter school, statewide virtual charter school, or

traditional public school.

B. A charter school, virtual charter school, or public school

that contracts with an educational management organization shall use

the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS) to report the total

amount paid to an educational management organization pursuant to

the terms of the contract as well as actual itemized expenditure

information for the goods or services provided by the management

organization as defined by OCAS expenditure codes including the

total compensation package of the superintendent including the base

salary, insurance, retirement, and other fringe benefits.

C. Pursuant to Internal Revenue Service guidelines, any owner

of an educational management organization shall be required to

disclose to the governing board of the school, charter school, or

virtual charter school in a public meeting any ownership position in

any business that contracts or proposes to contract with the same

school that the educational management organization is managing.

D. Whenever any person shall enter into a contract with any

school district, public charter school, or virtual charter school in

the state to teach in the school, the contract shall be binding on

the teacher and on the board of education until the teacher legally

has been discharged from the teaching position or released by the

board of education from the contract. Except as provided in Section

5-106A of this title, until the teacher has been thus discharged or

released, the teacher shall not have authority to enter into a

contract with any other board of education in this state for the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 334

same time covered by the original contract. If upon written

complaint by the board of education of a school district, public

charter school, or virtual charter school any teacher is reported to

have failed to obey the terms of the contract previously made and to

have entered into a contract with another board of education without

having been released from the former contract except as provided in

Section 5-106A of this title, the teacher, upon being found to be

employed full-time for another public school at a hearing held

before the State Board of Education, shall have such teacher’s

certificate suspended for the remainder of the term for which the

contract was made.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-635 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-635
Security for home loan mortgages and notes - Transfer to
Status: in_force

Permanent School Fund.

It shall be the duty of the Commissioners of the Land Office and

all the officers of this State who have any control or management of

the fund paid to the Corporation Commissioners by the express

companies or other companies as refunds for overcharges, and

escheated to the State as provided in Chapter 10, Session Laws of

1913, the balance of which fund was, under Section 2, Chapter 194,

Session Laws of 1919, being Section 9475, Oklahoma Compiled Statutes

of 1921, placed by said Corporation Commissioners and other officers

of the state having control or management of said fund, in the hands

of the Commissioners of the Land Office, as a security and guarantee

fund of second mortgage and notes sold under said Chapter 194,

Session Laws of 1919, to place said fund to the credit of the

Permanent Common School Fund of the State of Oklahoma, as provided

by Article XI, Section 3, of the Constitution of the State of

Oklahoma, for escheats.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1072
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-2501 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-2501
Short title — Oklahoma Access and Achievement Act —
Status: in_force

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 77Creation of Oklahoma Access and Achievement Program — Eligibility.

A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the “Oklahoma

Access and Achievement Act”.

B. As used in this act:

1. “CTP program” means a degree, certificate, or nondegree

program that:

a. is offered by an institution of higher education or a

technology center school,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1376

b. is delivered to students physically attending the

institution of higher education or technology center

school,

c. is designed to support students with intellectual

disabilities who are seeking to continue academic,

career and technical, and independent living

instruction at an institution of higher education or

technology center school to prepare for gainful

employment,

d. includes an advising and curriculum structure,

e. requires students with intellectual disabilities to

participate on not less than a half-time basis as

determined by the institution of higher education or

technology center school, with participation focusing

on academic components and occurring through one or

more of the following activities:

(1) regular enrollment in credit-bearing courses with

nondisabled students offered by the institution

of higher education or technology center school,

(2) auditing or participating in courses with

nondisabled students offered by the institution

for higher education or technology center school

for which the student does not receive regular

academic credit,

(3) enrollment in noncredit-bearing, nondegree

courses with nondisabled students, or

(4) participation in internships or work-based

training in settings with nondisabled persons,

f. requires students with intellectual disabilities to be

socially and academically integrated with nondisabled

students to the maximum extent possible, and

g. is approved by the United States Department of

Education pursuant to Public Law 110-315, the Higher

Education Opportunity Act, as amended;

2. “Eligible student” means a student with an intellectual

disability who is eligible for the scholarship program;

3. “Scholarship program” means the Oklahoma Access and

Achievement Program;

4. “State educational institution” means an institution of

higher education or technology center school supported wholly or in

part by direct legislative appropriations that provides a CTP

program;

5. “State Regents” means the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education; and

6. “Student with an intellectual disability” means a student:

a. with a cognitive impairment, characterized by

significant limitations in intellectual and cognitive

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1377

functioning and adaptive behavior as expressed in

conceptual, social, and practical adaptive skills, and

b. who is currently or was formerly eligible for a free

appropriate public education under the Individuals

with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including a

student who was determined eligible for special

education or related services under IDEA but attended

a private school or was educated pursuant to the other

means of education exception provided for in

subsection A of Section 10-105 of Title 70 of the

Oklahoma Statutes.

C. There is hereby created a program to be known as the

Oklahoma Access and Achievement Program. The purpose of the program

is to provide an award to eligible students with intellectual

disabilities who are pursuing studies in this state at a CTP

program. The award shall be an amount equal to the nonguaranteed

resident tuition at an institution of higher education or the

tuition at a technology center school.

D. A student with an intellectual disability shall be eligible

for the Oklahoma Access and Achievement Program if the student:

1. Is a resident of this state or enrolled in a school district

located in this state that serves students who reside in both this

state and an adjacent state pursuant to a contract authorized by

Section 5-117.1 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

2. Is a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United

States. A student who is not a United States citizen or lawfully

present in the United States shall not be eligible to participate in

the scholarship program and qualify for an award;

3. Has graduated within the previous six (6) years from a

public high school accredited by the State Board of Education or a

private school, or has satisfactorily completed, within the previous

six (6) years, an educational program that was provided through a

means other than a public or private school;

4. Has secured admission to and enrolled in a CTP program at a

state educational institution that meets the requirements to be

eligible for federal student financial aid; and

5. Has established financial need according to the provisions

of Section 3 of this act and standards and provisions promulgated by

the State Regents.

E. To retain eligibility in the scholarship program, a student

with an intellectual disability shall:

1. Meet the requirements for retention and completion as

established by the state educational institution where the student

is enrolled;

2. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as required by the

CTP program criteria;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1378

3. Comply with the standards related to maintenance of

eligibility as promulgated by the State Regents; and

4. Refrain from conduct that leads to expulsion or suspension

of more than one semester from a state educational institution. A

student who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall

permanently lose eligibility for scholarship program benefits.

F. The State Regents shall promulgate rules relating to the

establishment and maintenance of eligibility under the scholarship

program.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-16-109 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-16-109
Right to reject bids - Failure to secure textbooks
Status: in_force

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 696

The State Textbook Committee shall have and reserve the right to

reject any and all bids, if said Committee be of the opinion that

any or all bids should, for any reason, be rejected; and in case it

fails, from among the proposals submitted, to select sufficient

books upon any of the branches of study provided for herein, it may

advertise for sealed bids under the same terms as before, and

proceed in its investigation in all respects as it did in the first

instance.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3204 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3204
State Regents - Body corporate - Official seal - officers
Status: in_force

- Terms - Powers and duties - Proceedings.

(a) The State Regents shall be a body corporate, and shall adopt

an official seal; and all contracts, official documents, awards,

degrees or other papers or instruments issued by the State Regents

and requiring the official signature of the State Regents shall have

the impression of such seal.

(b) The State Regents shall annually elect from its membership a

chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, and assistant secretary, each of

whom shall serve for a term of one (1) fiscal year. The chairman

shall be the presiding officer of the State Regents. He shall, on

behalf of the State Regents, subscribe the official name thereof,

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1414

and the secretary shall affix the official seal to all contracts,

official documents, awards, degrees or other papers or instruments

issued by the State Regents and requiring the official signature of

the State Regents. In the absence, disqualification or disability

of the chairman or secretary to act, the vice-chairman and assistant

secretary shall perform the duties of such respective officers. The

officers of the State Regents shall have such other powers and

perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the State Regents,

which shall also adopt such rules and regulations as it deems

necessary to govern its proceedings and the conduct of its business.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3-117.2 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3-117.2
School Finance Review Commission – Creation
Status: in_force

A. There is hereby created the School Finance Review Commission

consisting of:

1. A member appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the

Governor whose term shall begin not later than March 1, 2021;

2. A member appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the

Lieutenant Governor whose term shall begin not later than March 1,

2021;

3. A member appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the

Speaker of the House of Representatives whose term shall begin not

later than March 1, 2021;

4. A member appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the

Minority Leader of the House of Representatives whose term shall

begin not later than March 1, 2021;

5. A member appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the

President Pro Tempore of the Senate whose term shall begin not later

than March 1, 2021;

6. A member appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the

Minority Leader of the Senate whose term shall begin not later than

March 1, 2021;

7. The Executive Director of the Office of Educational Quality

and Accountability or his or her designee who is an employee of the

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 164

Office of Educational Quality and Accountability who shall be an ex

officio and nonvoting member; and

8. The State Superintendent or his or her designee who is an

employee of the State Department of Education who shall be an ex

officio and nonvoting member.

B. Thereafter persons shall be appointed by the appointing

authority for terms of four (4) years beginning on January 1, or

until the Commission expires. Any vacancy shall be filled by the

appointing authority for the remainder of the unexpired term.

C. No voting member shall be appointed to the Commission who at

the time of his or her appointment is an elected official. Any

person who is appointed to the Commission who subsequently becomes

an elected official during his or her term on the Commission shall

be required to vacate his or her position on the Commission.

D. The Educational Quality and Accountability Commission shall

provide staff and administrative support to the School Finance

Review Commission. The State Department of Education shall assist

the Educational Quality and Accountability Commission as needed in

providing staff and administrative support to the School Finance

Review Commission.

E. The Commission shall hold its meetings in compliance with

the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act.

F. No person appointed to the Commission shall be permitted to

receive travel reimbursement or compensation.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3206.2 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3206.2
Designation of course numbers
Status: in_force

All courses of study of the same subject matter, nature,

character and content, as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents

for Higher Education, and taught in state educational institutions

within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall be

designated by identical course numbers.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-5-117.5 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-5-117.5
Employee health insurance plans
Status: in_force

A. The board of education of each school district in this state

shall provide a health insurance plan for the employees of the

school district. School districts may obtain health and dental

insurance coverage as provided for in the State and Education

Employees Group Insurance Act or may obtain other health insurance

coverage. Any school district that does not participate in the

health and dental insurance plans offered through the State and

Education Employees Group Insurance Act shall obtain health

insurance coverage for the employees which provides open enrollment,

and provide for the continuation of health insurance coverage,

including supplemental Medicare insurance coverage, for those

district employees who retire from said district after September 30,

1991, with a vested benefit in the Teachers' Retirement System of

Oklahoma. A retired person who begins receiving benefits from the

Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma after September 30, 1991,

who retires from a school district that provides other health

insurance coverage, and who elects to continue said health insurance

coverage shall pay to the school district the premium rate for the

health insurance minus an amount equal to the premium rate of the

Medicare supplement or the amount determined pursuant to subsection

(4) of Section 1316.3 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes,

whichever is less, which shall be paid by the Teachers' Retirement

System of Oklahoma to the school district. The school district

shall remit to the health insurance coverage provider the total

premium due less any uncollected amounts payable from retired school

district employees or their qualified survivors.

B. A school district that participates in health insurance

coverage other than the health insurance plan offered by the State

and Education Employees Group Insurance Act shall not be required to

pay any portion of the premiums for the employees or the dependents

of the employees of said school district, except as may otherwise be

provided by law. Unless a school district negotiates an agreement

with its employees regarding health insurance pursuant to Sections

509.1 through 509.9 of this title, and to the extent that the

agreement provides for the members of the recognized bargaining

unit, a school district that participates in health insurance

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 273

coverage other than the health insurance plan offered by the State

and Education Employees Group Insurance Act is prohibited from

acquiring additional or supplemental health or dental insurance for

any board member, school superintendent or any other employee which

is not available to all employees of said district, and said school

district shall not pay a greater portion of the employee or

dependent premium for any health or dental insurance plan or plans

provided by said school district on behalf of any board member,

school superintendent or employee than that portion paid on behalf

of all participating employees of said district.

C. If a school district obtains health insurance coverage from

a source other than through the State and Education Employees Group

Insurance Act, the employees of the school district who would be

eligible to participate in the health and dental plans may require

the board of education of the school district to call an election to

allow said employees to vote as to whether the school district shall

participate in the health and dental insurance plans offered through

the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act. Upon the

filing with the board of education of a petition calling for such an

election which is signed by no less than thirty percent (30%) of the

eligible employees of the school district, the board of education

shall call an election for the purpose of determining whether the

school district shall participate in the health and dental insurance

plans offered through the State and Education Employees Group

Insurance Act. The election shall be held within thirty (30) days

of the filing of the petition. If a majority of those eligible

employees voting at the election vote to participate in the health

and dental insurance plans offered through the State and Education

Employees Group Insurance Act, the board of education of the school

district shall apply for such participation within thirty (30) days

of the election.

D. If a school district does not have any health insurance

coverage of the type required by this section, that school district

shall immediately be enrolled in the health and dental insurance

plans offered through the State and Education Employees Group

Insurance Act.

E. A carrier providing health insurance coverage for employees

of a school district health insurance group which replaces a

previous carrier for such school district employees shall provide

coverage for each retired employee who is receiving a benefit or

terminates employment with a vested benefit from the Teachers'

Retirement System of Oklahoma and who is enrolled in the health

insurance group by the previous carrier at the time the previous

carrier providing health insurance coverage is replaced.

Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, any

person who retires pursuant to the provisions of the Teachers'

Retirement System of Oklahoma prior to May 1, 1993, or terminates

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 274

service with a vested benefit, pursuant to the provisions of the

Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma prior to May 1, 1993, may

continue to participate in the health and dental plans authorized by

the provisions of the State and Education Employees Group Insurance

Act.

F. In the event a school district ceases to exist, the assets

and duties of said school district are transferred to one or more

other school districts, said other school district or districts do

not agree to employ all of the former employees of the school

district that is ceasing to exist, and said former employees who are

not being reemployed have rights under federal or state law to

continue group insurance coverage, the school district receiving all

or a portion of the assets and duties of the annexing school

district having the largest general fund revenue for the most recent

preceding fiscal year for which data is available shall provide

group insurance coverage to said former employees not being retained

during the period as required by law.

G. Any member of a district board of education who terminates

service on or after July 1, 2002, who has served ten (10) or more

years as a district board of education member in this state, and who

is participating at the time of termination in a health and/or

dental insurance plan offered by the school district, may elect upon

termination of such service to continue participation in the health

and/or dental insurance plan that the member was participating in at

the time of termination. The election provided in this subsection

shall be made within thirty (30) days from the date of the school

board member’s termination of service. The school board member

shall pay the full cost of the insurance premium for such after-

termination coverage at the rate and pursuant to the terms and

conditions of such health and/or dental plan.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3-129.4 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3-129.4
Empowerment plan considerations
Status: in_force

In considering or creating an empowerment plan each school

district board of education is encouraged to consider innovations in

the following areas:

1. Curriculum and academic standards and assessments;

2. Accountability measures, including, but not limited to,

expanding the use of a variety of accountability measures to more

accurately present a complete measure of student learning and

accomplishment. The accountability measures adopted may include,

but not be limited to:

a. use of graduation or exit examinations,

b. use of end-of-course examinations,

c. use of formative assessments which measure student

growth over time,

d. use of the Explore and Plan assessments,

e. measuring the percentage of students continuing into

higher education, and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 175

f. measuring the percentage of students simultaneously

obtaining a high school diploma and an associate’s

degree or a career and technical education

certificate;

3. Provision of services, including, but not limited to,

special education services, services for gifted and talented

students, services for limited English proficient students,

educational services for students at risk of academic failure,

expulsion, or dropping out; and support services provided by the

Department of Human Services or county social services agencies;

4. Teacher recruitment, training, preparation, and professional

development;

5. Teacher employment;

6. Performance expectations and evaluation procedures for

teachers and principals;

7. Compensation for teachers, principals, and other school

building personnel, including, but not limited to, performance pay

plans, total compensation plans, and other innovations with regard

to retirement and other benefits;

8. School governance and the roles, responsibilities, and

expectations of principals in empowered schools or schools within an

empowered school zone; and

9. Preparation and counseling of students for transition to

postsecondary education or the workforce.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3218.15 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3218.15
Reports submitted to U.S. Department of Education –
Status: in_force

Public inspection – Audits.

A. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall

maintain for public inspection, electronically or otherwise, all

reports submitted by the institutions in The Oklahoma State System

of Higher Education to the United States Department of Education

regarding each institution’s tuition and fees.

B. Each institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher

Education that receives federal funds shall submit the Integrated

Postsecondary Education Data System Report, or any successor report

with like data, annually to the United States Department of

Education reflecting the average annual tuition rates and mandatory

fees charged to its students.

C. Pursuant to the provisions of Section 3909 of Title 70 of

the Oklahoma State Statutes, each institution in The Oklahoma State

System of Higher Education shall conduct an independent third-party

audit concerning its financial statements and submit the audit to

the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the Oklahoma

State Auditor and Inspector, and shall assure that the audit is

available to the public.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1210.573 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1210.573
Establishment and institutional affiliation
Status: in_force

A developmental research school may be established by the State

Board of Education only for purposes of intervening to aid a school

in need of improvement as defined in Section 1210.541 of this title.

All developmental research schools shall be affiliated with a

college of education within an institution of The Oklahoma State

System of Higher Education and shall provide sequential instruction.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to prohibit the establishment

of a research and development school by an institution of higher

education for voluntary and limited attendance.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-21-105 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-21-105
Application for license or permit
Status: in_force

A. Applications for a private school license or a private

school solicitor's license shall:

1. Be filed with the Oklahoma Board of Private Vocational

Schools in the manner and upon forms from the Board or substantially

similar to forms implemented by the Board; and

2. Include but not be limited to the following disclosures:

a. the name, mailing address and telephone number of the

Board for the purposes of directing student complaints

to the Board, and

b. documentation of whether the proposed school will

provide only postsecondary education and training or

if a person who has not yet achieved a high school

diploma or its equivalency will be admitted and under

what specific circumstances.

B. Submissions to the Board shall be date-stamped as of the

date of the physical receipt when the office is open for business.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-27-102 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-27-102
School athletic association
Status: in_force

As used in the Oklahoma Extracurricular Activities

Accountability Act, a "school athletic association" means any

private organization or association which charges the school or

school district a membership fee, retains a portion of revenue

generated by the interscholastic activities or contests of the

member schools, and provides the coordination, supervision and

regulation of the interscholastic activities and contests of the

member schools.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-17-108.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-17-108.1
Contributions - Amount - Payment
Status: in_force

A. 1. Except as provided in paragraph 2 of this subsection,

the employer of any member of the Teachers' Retirement System of

Oklahoma shall make the following contributions to the System:

a. beginning July 1, 1998, through June 30, 1999, eleven

and one-half percent (11 1/2%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member,

b. beginning July 1, 1999, through June 30, 2000, four

and eight-tenths percent (4.8%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member,

c. beginning July 1, 2000, through June 30, 2001, five

and eight-tenths percent (5.8%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member,

d. beginning July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002, six and

eight-tenths percent (6.8%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member,

e. beginning July 1, 2002, through December 31, 2006,

seven and five-hundredths percent (7.05%) of the

regular annual compensation of the member not in

excess of any applicable maximum compensation level of

the member,

f. beginning January 1, 2007, through June 30, 2007,

seven and six-tenths percent (7.6%) of the regular

annual compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member,

g. beginning July 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007,

seven and eighty-five hundredths percent (7.85%) of

the regular annual compensation of the member not in

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 753

excess of any applicable maximum compensation level of

the member,

h. beginning January 1, 2008, through June 30, 2008,

eight and thirty-five hundredths percent (8.35%) of

the regular annual compensation of the member not in

excess of any applicable maximum compensation level of

the member,

i. beginning July 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008,

eight and five-tenths percent (8.5%) of the regular

annual compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member,

j. beginning January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009,

nine percent (9%) of the regular annual compensation

of the member not in excess of any applicable maximum

compensation level of the member,

k. beginning January 1, 2010, through June 30, 2010, nine

and five-tenths percent (9.5%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member,

and

l. beginning July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, and for

each fiscal year thereafter, nine and five-tenths

percent (9.5%) of the regular annual compensation of

the member not in excess of any applicable maximum

compensation level of the member.

The employer contribution rate increase that would otherwise be

effective, as provided by subparagraphs f, g, h, i, j, k and l of

this paragraph, shall not become effective as law unless funding

levels to each of the affected participating employers within the

System are increased so that the additional employer contribution

obligation is funded through an appropriation or transfer of monies

instead of requiring the additional employer contribution to be paid

for from existing budgetary resources of such participating

employers. The participating employers shall use any monies

specifically made available for purposes of making employer

contributions for such purpose and to the extent of the funds made

available for that purpose.

2. a. Beginning January 1, 2007, through December 31, 2007,

a participating employer that employs an employee of a

comprehensive university or a regional institution

offering a four-year degree program as designated or

authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education shall make contributions to the System with

respect to such employees at the rate of seven and

five-hundredths percent (7.05%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 754

b. Beginning January 1, 2008, through December 31, 2008,

a participating employer that employs an employee of a

comprehensive university or a regional institution

offering a four-year degree program as designated or

authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education shall make contributions to the System with

respect to such employees at the rate of seven and

fifty-five hundredths percent (7.55%) of the regular

annual compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member.

c. Beginning January 1, 2009, through December 31, 2009,

a participating employer that employs an employee of a

comprehensive university or a regional institution

offering a four-year degree program as designated or

authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education shall make contributions to the System with

respect to such employees at the rate of eight and

five hundredths percent (8.05%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member.

d. Beginning January 1, 2010, through June 30, 2010, a

participating employer that employs an employee of a

comprehensive university or a regional institution

offering a four-year degree program as designated or

authorized by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher

Education shall make contributions to the System with

respect to such employees at the rate of eight and

fifty-five hundredths percent (8.55%) of the regular

annual compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member.

e. Beginning July 1, 2010, through June 30, 2011, and for

each fiscal year thereafter, a participating employer

that employs an employee of a comprehensive university

or a regional institution offering a four-year degree

program as designated or authorized by the Oklahoma

State Regents for Higher Education shall make

contributions to the System with respect to such

employees at the rate of eight and fifty-five

hundredths percent (8.55%) of the regular annual

compensation of the member not in excess of any

applicable maximum compensation level of the member.

The employer contribution rate increase that would otherwise be

effective as provided by subparagraphs b, c, d and e of this

paragraph shall not become effective as law unless funding levels

are increased so that the additional employer contribution

obligation is funded through such an appropriation or transfer of

monies instead of requiring the additional employer contribution to

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 755

be paid for from existing budgetary resources of such participating

employers. The participating employers shall use any monies

specifically made available for purposes of making employer

contributions for such purpose and to the extent of the funds made

available for that purpose.

3. Any employer contribution paid to the System pursuant to

this subsection shall not be considered as salary, fringe benefit,

or total compensation due to members for the purpose of meeting any

legislative or contractual obligation of the employer.

B. For entities or institutions within The Oklahoma State

System of Higher Education, the contributions to the System shall be

made on regular annual compensation of a member who is an employee

of such entity or institution not to exceed the maximum compensation

level in effect for the member as prescribed by law.

C. Employers paying contributions to the System pursuant to

subsection A or B of this section shall receive credit for that

portion of the gross production tax on natural gas and/or casinghead

gas apportioned to the System pursuant to subsection 2 of Section

1004 of Title 68 of the Oklahoma Statutes in meeting the total

required employer contribution. On an annual basis, the Board of

Trustees of the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma shall

estimate the net additional cost required to be paid by the

contributing employers in order to meet the total employer

contribution as provided in subsection A or B of this section. The

Board of Trustees shall approve the amount of the additional

contribution required to be paid by contributing employers as a

percentage of total member salaries and fringe benefits for each

fiscal year ending June 30, no later than April 1 of the previous

fiscal year. In no event shall the additional contribution required

to be paid by the contributing employer under this subsection be

less than the contribution required under this subsection in the

prior year. In the event actual contributions do not equal the

required total contribution as provided in subsection A or B of this

section, the net difference between the actual contributions and the

required total contributions shall be determined and shall be

included in the amount of the additional contribution required to be

paid by contributing employers for the next fiscal year. All

contributing employers shall pay the same percentage of total member

salaries and fringe benefits during each fiscal year. The

provisions of this subsection shall terminate June 30, 1999.

D. Any school district, state college or university, State

Board of Education, State Board of Career and Technology Education,

or other state agency may, for and on behalf of any member of the

System, pay all or any portion of the contribution required by

Section 17-108 of this title. Provided, the contribution so paid by

any school district, state college or university, State Board of

Education, State Board of Career and Technology Education, or other

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 756

state agency shall be and remain subject to the withdrawal

provisions set forth under the System. Wherever the term

"contribution" is used, it shall be deemed to include contributions

paid for and on behalf of a member by a school district, state

college or university, State Board of Education, State Board of

Career and Technology Education, or other state agency.

E. All participating employers shall provide a complete record

of the total compensation paid to each employee, including any

person who is a retired member of the System, whether or not

employer and employee contributions are made with respect to such

compensation. The employer shall provide the report required by

this subsection on a monthly basis on a form or using such method as

the Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma may require and shall

provide a comprehensive annual report showing the correct

compensation, service credit and contributions for the prior fiscal

year. Each participating employer shall provide reasonable access

to its payroll records, records of contribution payments to the

System and all other records relevant to the participation of its

employees in the System, to the System, its employees or authorized

agents. A participating employer shall cooperate with auditors

retained by the System to audit its financial statements or

otherwise audit the financial operations of the System.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3309.1 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3309.1
Oklahoma Museum of Natural History
Status: in_force

A. The J. Willis Stovall Museum of the University of Oklahoma

located in Norman, Oklahoma, shall be redesignated the "Oklahoma

Museum of Natural History" and shall be under the direction and

supervision of the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.

B. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall be administered

by a Director who shall be appointed by the Board of Regents of the

University of Oklahoma. The Director may also hold an appointment

in an appropriate academic department of the University. The

Director has the power and duty to:

1. employ, appoint and fix the qualifications and duties of

such professional, technical and support personnel as shall be

necessary to implement the provisions of this act; 2. participate

in national and international research projects, professional

activities, and programs to broaden the horizons of Oklahomans by

documenting their cultural and natural heritage within its worldwide

context;

3. encourage the preservation and development of natural

resources and human cultural heritage;

4. act in cooperation with local, state and federal agencies or

duly authorized agents thereof in implementing the purposes of this

act; and

5. exercise all incidental powers which are necessary and

proper to carry out the purposes of this act.

C. The purposes of the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall

be to conduct scientific investigations to preserve and develop a

greater understanding and appreciation of natural resources and

human cultural heritage. This includes, but is not limited to,

biological, ecological, paleontological and selected geological

surveys, including indepth archaeological research, and ethnological

analyses. The museum shall collect and maintain a depository of

biological, archaeological, paleontological and selected geological

specimens and materials in sufficient numbers and quantities to

provide within the state and region a base for research on:

1. the variety, evolution, and conservation of wild species;

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1473

2. the composition, distribution, importance, and functioning

of natural ecosystems; and

3. the distribution of prehistoric and historic archaeological

sites.

D. Each institution, department, survey and agency in this

state may preserve and maintain biological, archaeological,

paleontological or selected geological specimens collected as part

of the normal research and monitoring duties of such institution,

department, survey and agency. Each institution may elect to

transfer specimens and collections in its possession that it no

longer wishes to maintain or preserve, thus providing an instate

repository for state collections that are no longer wanted by a

state institution.

E. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History is empowered to

accept, preserve, maintain, or dispose of these specimens and

materials in a manner which makes each collection and its

accompanying data available for research and use by the staff of the

museum and by cooperating institutions, departments, surveys,

agencies, and qualified independent researchers.

F. All such biological, archaeological, paleontological and

selected geological collections shall belong to the state with title

vested in the Board of Regents of the University of Oklahoma.

G. The collections of the Oklahoma Museum of Natural History

shall not only reflect the biological, cultural, paleontological and

selected geological history of the state but may also include

artifacts and specimens from throughout the world.

H. In collecting or otherwise acquiring these collections, the

museum shall comply with state laws and rules and except as

otherwise provided by law, all federal laws and rules concerning

wildlife, archaeology and agriculture. Any permits issued by other

state institutions, departments, surveys, and agencies for

collecting, and quarantine, of such wildlife and agriculture and

collecting such archaeology shall be granted for said museum for

research, study or collecting efforts on state lands or within state

jurisdiction if such collecting or quarantine does not pose a

significant threat to the survival of endangered wild species,

habitats, or ecosystems.

I. The museum shall develop exhibitions and conduct educational

programs which illustrate, interpret, and explain the natural

history of the state and region and bring a greater understanding of

our world to the people of Oklahoma. The museum shall disseminate

information of such programs through technical and popular

publications whose production shall be under the control and

jurisdiction of the Director. The museum shall also maintain a

library of publications pertaining to the work of the museum.

J. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall be housed in

buildings offering appropriate shelter to the artifacts and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 1474

specimens comprising such collections, while also offering

appropriate and adequate space for exhibition, collection, storage,

research, preparation, education and teaching activities.

K. The Oklahoma Museum of Natural History shall maintain a

full-time professional and support staff to ensure the continued

maintenance and study of the collections preserved in trust for the

people of Oklahoma.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-3-117.3 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-3-117.3
School Finance Review Commission – Duties
Status: in_force

A. The School Finance Review Commission shall conduct a review

of all matters related to school finance, including but not limited

to teacher compensation, benefits and administration costs.

B. The Commission shall submit a report of its findings to the

Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of

the House of Representatives no later than December 31, 2023, and

every subsequent four (4) years by December 31.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-101.48 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-6-101.48
Employees of business having contract with school -
Status: in_force

Conviction of sex offense or felony.

A. No person or business having a contract with a school or

school district to perform work on a full-time or part-time basis

that would otherwise be performed by school district employees shall

allow any employee to work on school premises if the employee is

convicted in this state, the United States or another state of any

felony offense unless ten (10) years has elapsed since the date of

the criminal conviction or the employee has received a presidential

or gubernatorial pardon for the criminal offense.

B. Every person or business performing services not subject to

subsection A of this section on the property of a school or school

district shall at the time of contracting be required to sign a

statement declaring that no employee working on school premises

under the authority of the business is currently registered or

required to register under the provisions of the Oklahoma Sex

Offenders Registration Act or the Mary Rippy Violent Crime Offenders

Registration Act. Compliance with this statute shall be required of

the person or private business, and there shall be no obligation

placed upon a school district to ascertain the truthfulness of the

affidavit.

C. A person or business having a written contract with a school

or school district to perform work on a full-time or part-time basis

that would otherwise be performed by school district employees may

conduct a felony search of the employees of the person or entity who

would be assigned that work through a request to the State Board of

Education in the same manner as a felony search is afforded school

districts by Section 5-142 of this title.
Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-1-113 — OK Code / Title 70 / Section 70-1-113
School district residency
Status: in_force

A. When used in this section, the residence of any child for

school purposes shall be:

1. The legal residence of the parents, guardian, or person

having legal custody.

Each school district board of education shall adopt a policy

establishing the requirements for student residency for that

district which provides for residence as described in this

paragraph. Within the discretion of each school district's board of

education, the policy may but is not required to allow for

establishment of residency by affidavit when an adult, whether a

relative or not, who does not fall within one of the categories

listed above, who holds legal residence in the school district, and

who has assumed permanent care and custody of the child files an

affidavit with the school district attesting that they have assumed

custody and the reasons for assuming custody. Any policy allowing

the establishment of residency by affidavit shall require the adult

who provides the affidavit to affirm in such affidavit that the

custody arrangement is permanent and that the adult contributes the

major degree of support to the child. If the school district policy

allows establishment of residency by affidavit, any person who

willfully makes a statement in the affidavit which the person knows

to be false shall, upon conviction, be guilty of a misdemeanor

punishable by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one

(1) year or a fine of not more than Five Hundred Dollars ($500.00)

or both such fine and imprisonment. Each school district shall

include in its policy on residency any documentation necessary for

the administration of the policy;

2. The foster family home, as defined in Section 1-1-105 of

Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, except a therapeutic foster

family home or a specialized foster home where a child is in

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 101

voluntary placement as defined in subsection D of this section, in

which the child has been placed:

a. by the person or agency having legal custody of the

child pursuant to a court order, or

b. by a state agency having legal custody of the child

pursuant to the provisions of Title 10A of the

Oklahoma Statutes.

Upon request of the foster parent, the residence of a child

in foster care for school purposes may be changed to the school

district in which the child resided prior to being placed in foster

care or the school district in which the previous foster family home

of the child is located;

3. Any orphanage or eleemosynary child care facility having

full-time care and custody;

4. Any eleemosynary child care facility in which a child is

placed by a parent or guardian for full-time residential care;

provided, the provision of this paragraph shall apply only to

children who attend a district school by joint agreement of the

school district and facility and who are not placed in the facility

through a state contract. For purposes of this paragraph,

"eleemosynary child care facility" means a facility:

a. where child care and services are provided, and

b. which is funded predominantly by benevolent or

charitable funds and is exempt from taxation pursuant

to the provisions of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal

Revenue Code, 26 U.S.C., Section 501(c)(3);

5. Any state-operated institution in which a child has been

placed by a parent or guardian or by a state agency having legal

custody of the child pursuant to the provisions of Title 10A or

Section 3-101 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes for care and

treatment due to a physical or mental condition of the child;

6. Any facility in which a child has been admitted and is

receiving on-site educational services as provided for in Section 3-

104.7 of this title;

7. The district in which a child who is entirely self-

supporting resides and attends school; or

8. A state-licensed children's emergency resource center or

state-operated emergency shelter.

B. No school district shall bear the cost of educating children

who are not residents of this state. A school district may furnish

educational services pursuant to contract as elsewhere provided by

law. A school district may furnish educational services pursuant to

a contract to children who do not reside in the United States of

America; provided, the children shall not be counted in the average

daily membership of the school district.

C. For the purpose of ensuring that a child placed in a

therapeutic foster family home, as defined in Section 1-1-105 of

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 102

Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes, receives an appropriate

education, no receiving school district shall be required to enroll

such a child if the enrollment would cause the proportion of

students in therapeutic foster family homes as compared to the

average daily membership of the receiving district for the preceding

school year to exceed two percent (2%). Children served by Head

Start may not be counted for the purpose of this paragraph unless

the child is on an individualized education program provided by the

school district. Any school district may enroll such students who

are outside the student's resident district in therapeutic foster

family home placements which exceed this limit if the school

determines it possesses the ability to provide such child an

appropriate education.

D. When a child does not meet the criteria for residency

provided in subsection A of this section and is placed in any of the

following entities which is out of the home of the child and not in

the school district in which the child legally resides:

1. A residential facility;

2. A treatment program or center, including the facility

operated pursuant to Section 485.1 of Title 63 of the Oklahoma

Statutes;

3. A therapeutic foster family home as defined in Section 1-1-

105 of Title 10A of the Oklahoma Statutes;

4. A specialized foster home, which is a specialized foster

home or an agency-contracted home under the supervision of and

certified as meeting the standards set by the Department of Human

Services and is funded through the Department of Human Services Home

and Community-Based Waiver Services Program; or

5. An acute psychiatric care facility,

the entity shall, if the child contends he or she resides in a

school district other than the district where the entity is located,

within eleven (11) days of admittance, notify the school district in

which the entity is located of the admittance.

For minors who are persons requiring psychiatric treatment as

defined by Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes, on-site educational

services shall be provided beginning on the eleventh day of

admission.

Upon provision of educational services to children pursuant to

the provisions of subsection F of this section, the receiving school

district shall receive the State Aid as defined in subsection C of

Section 18-110 of this title for those students.

Access to the due process procedure guaranteed to children with

disabilities shall be available to resolve disagreements about the

appropriateness of placements of children with disabilities.

E. The governing body of any state institution for children

operated pursuant to the provisions of Title 10A of the Oklahoma

Statutes or Section 3-101 of Title 43A of the Oklahoma Statutes and

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 103

the board of education of the school district in which the

institution is located or any other school district in the state

willing to provide necessary educational services may enter into a

contract whereby the district will maintain a school for the

children of the institution, in which event the residence of the

children for school purposes will be considered as being in the

district maintaining the school; provided, however, that upon

release from the school, a child shall be considered as a resident

of the originating school district for school purposes. The

governing body of the state institutions specified in this

subsection shall pay the costs for educating students placed in the

state institution less any amount of funds received for the students

by the school district contracting with the state institution to

provide necessary educational services.

F. 1. The school district in which an entity as described in

subsection D of this section exists to serve children in out-of-home

placements shall, upon request of the individual or agency operating

the entity, provide the educational services to which the children

in the entity are entitled subject to the limitations provided in

subsection C of this section. No person operating such an entity

may contract for the provision of educational services with any

school district other than the school district in which the entity

is located unless the school district in which the entity is located

agrees in writing to allow another school district to provide the

educational services or unless the person operating the entity

contracts with another school district for the provision of

educational services to be provided through remote Internet-based

courses. No person operating such an entity may contract for the

provision of educational services with more than one school

district.

2. Prior to location in a school district, the individual or

agency operating an entity described in subsection D of this section

which requires provision of educational services from the school

district shall notify the local board of education of its

anticipated educational needs. No school district shall be required

to provide educational services for students in the entity until at

least sixty (60) calendar days have elapsed from the time in which

the local board of education was initially notified of the need

unless the school district so agrees to provide the educational

services sooner. The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply

to therapeutic or specialized foster homes.

3. Educational services provided shall meet or exceed state

accreditation standards. No school district shall be responsible

for any expenses for students in an entity described in subsection D

of this section which are not directly related to the provision of

educational services. A school district shall not be obligated for

expenses of those students in an entity in the current school year

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools Page 104

for whom educational services are requested after the first nine (9)

weeks of the current school year for the district if educational

services are requested for twelve or more students than were served

in the first nine (9) weeks, unless the school district chooses to

provide educational services for the current school year. Contracts

and agreements for provision of educational services may allow for

the use of public and private sources of support which are available

to share the costs of educational services and of therapies,

treatments, or support services. Otherwise valid obligations to

provide or pay for such services, such as Medicaid, shall remain in

effect for children who are eligible for the services from sources

other than the school district.

4. Upon the request of any residential facility which has

contracted with the Office of Juvenile Affairs to provide either a

regimented juvenile training program or a high-impact wilderness

camp to a minimum of forty students who have been adjudicated, a

school district may contract for the facility to provide the

educational services to those students. Under a contract, the

facility shall operate in accordance with all applicable laws,

including compliance with Section 18-114.14 of this title. The

contract shall include the State Aid generated by the students, less

a fee for administrative services which may be retained by the

school district, not to exceed ten percent (10%) of the total on an

annual basis. The school district shall exercise supervision over

the educational program in the facility and bear all responsibility

for required educational reporting. The school district shall

maintain access to all educational records for students in the

facility, and shall provide for the appropriate academic credit and

diplomas. The school district shall be indemnified against any

actions or penalties on the part of the facility which result in

adversity for the school district.

G. Any question as to the place of residence of any child for

school purposes shall be decided pursuant to procedures utilized by

the State Department of Education.

H. The receiving district shall notify the district of

residence immediately upon finding that the student requires special

education and related services and the district of residence shall

participate in planning the Individualized Education Program (IEP)

for the student and in subsequent reviews of the program in

accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

(IDEA).