Oklahoma Charter School Legislation

For all interested parties, here is a list of legislation being considered in both the House and Senate in Oklahoma for '05-'06 dealing with charter schools:
1.
hb1788_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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2.
sb501_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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3.
hb1943_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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4.
sb937_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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5.
sb762_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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6.
sb937_scr.rtf


Summary
Full


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7.
sb436_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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8.
hb1959_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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9.
hb1456_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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10.
hb2033_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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11.
hb1020_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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12.
sb670_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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13.
sb792_int.rtf


Summary
Full


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-->There is no doubt that the Oklahoma Charter School Act needs to be tweaked. Principally in two areas. The first is the type of potential sponsors of charters. This needs to be expanded at a minimum to include the Oklahoma State Department of Education and hopefully also institutions of higher education (they have a vested interest in quality "feeder" schools). The second in the way charter schools are funded. My opinion is that either the State Department of Education handles the finances and funding for all charter schools, or that they receive a distinct funding during budget time, much like the ballyhooed OSSM (Oklahoma School for Science & Mathematics) http://www.ossm.edu/.