House committee moves forward with rule changes proposed by OSDE

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — The House Administrative Rules Committee voted 7-3 on Tuesday to move forward with new rules proposed by the State Department of Education.

OSDE proposed 53 changes this legislative session. Three key adjustments raised concerns for some lawmakers. One rule change would tie a school’s academic performance to its accreditation.

"It's stacking the deck against schools with intention. My point would be it's all by design,” said Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, “Enough already. If we want to improve where are the resources to help us improve instead of leading with a hammer. This is unfair across the board and immoral."

Provenzano argued that linking high stakes testing to accreditation would hurt schools, not help, especially in districts with a high number of low income or special needs students.

“Our inboxes are full. Our phones lines are full. The visits to our office are full,” said Provenzano, “People are concerned about their schools being shut down.”

Committee chairman Rep. Gerrid Kendrix, R-Altus, said the idea that a school would shut down due to a ping on its accreditation was only a scare tactic.

"A deficiency does not put you in a bind. What it does is it opens up the awareness that there's a problem of some sort," said Kendrix, “That opens the possibility for resources to come from the state department.”

However, Provenzano who is a former educator said the new proposed rule would eventually shutter schools over time especially in rural districts.

One of OSDE’s proposed rules would ban state funding used for diversity, equity, and inclusion programs in schools. Another would make silent time for prayer at school mandatory.

"It brings in a lot of religious and moral language tied to that, and what the department is responsible for is teaching children," said Rep. Amanda Swope, D-Tulsa.

The two lone democratic lawmakers on the committee issued 11 amendments to the new rules, Tuesday. All of which failed before lawmakers voted to move forward with the new policies.

Hendrix did request one amendment to the new rules, taking out the “classical learning test” as part of the honors program. That amendment was approved 9-1.

He also said the 53 rules, proposed by the state, were fair, followed procedure, and had statutory authority.

The rules will now go to the House floor before going to the Senate side. If the measure stalls or fails it would go straight to Governor Kevin Stitt’s desk where he would be the one to decide if the new policies should be implemented.