Latest news with #AdamPugh
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma lawmakers on the brink of making our struggling schools even worse
With less than a month to go in this year's legislative session, hope is running out that any concrete action will be taken to improve our state's public schools, which are among the worst in the nation. In fact, just the opposite may be happening. Legislators are on the brink of making our education crisis even worse. A bill backed by Senate Education Committee Chair Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, to give teachers another raise to help address our critical shortage is being shelved. More important to legislators, it seems, is making sure enough money is available for a small percentage cut in the state income-tax rate that won't be of much help to average Oklahomans. Instead of better pay to fix the problem of not having enough experienced teachers to go around, the Legislature is proposing in House Bill 2125 to expand an existing program to allow untrained instructors in pre-K through third-grade classrooms. These non-certified teachers are called "adjuncts," but a better name might be "babysitters," since they are unlikely to make a dent in our dismal math and reading scores. Superintendent Ryan Walters at the Oklahoma State Education Board meeting at the Oliver Hodge Building, Thursday, April 24, 2025. Districts like Oklahoma City Public Schools have a "grow your own" program to get more qualified teachers in classrooms. Those programs create a pathway to eventual college certification and training. But let's be clear: Pre-K through third-grade "adjuncts" are not like the part-time college professors who may not have a post-graduate degree but bring years of experiential learning to a college classroom. Instead, they are academically untrained to meet the learning needs of students who come from a variety of backgrounds. More: Youngest students in Oklahoma schools need qualified teachers — not beginners | Opinion Maybe the Legislature thinks curriculum changes proposed by state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters will help. Among other things, those changes require social studies teachers to emphasize more strongly how much of an influence the Bible was on those who established our nation in the 1700s. Teachers also will be required to give special attention to claims that the 2020 election was "stolen" from President Donald Trump. Both areas are purely subjective and require no formal training for instruction ― or some might argue, indoctrination. Senators could have had a voice in modifying Walters' plans, but chose not to vote on a proposal to reject the standards, allowing them to take effect. Oklahoma already has thousands of alternatively certified teachers in classrooms. What's needed are qualified, certified teachers well versed in how to help kids reach their full potential by third grade. Oklahoma's kids should always be our lawmakers' priority. They deserve a world-class education with highly certified teachers, not watered down instruction from inexperienced "adjuncts." Sadly, 2025 is turning out to be a year of inaction on the part of both Walters and the Legislature toward improving our schools. Oklahoma is still in a ditch labeled "49th in education." HB 2125 has not yet been heard in the Senate. We urge the Senate to reject the "adjunct" plan and seek a permanent, sustainable path that brings training and experience into classrooms so students can boast improved education outcomes. This editorial was written by William C. Wertz, and represents the position of The Oklahoman editorial board, which includes deputy opinion editor Wertz, opinion editor Clytie Bunyan and executive editor Ray Rivera. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma Legislature on track to make public schools worse | Editorial
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma House approves bills to accept Classic Learning Test, remove chronic absenteeism metric
Students walk in a line before entering the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Feb. 25. House lawmakers approved two bills on Tuesday regarding student absenteeism and college entrance exams. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Education policies that passed the Oklahoma House on Tuesday would remove chronic absenteeism from school evaluations and permit scores from a lesser-known college entrance exam to qualify for state-funded scholarships. Both measures now advance to the state Senate for consideration. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who leads the chamber's Education Committee, is the Senate author of both bills. House lawmakers spent almost an hour discussing legislation that would allow students to use scores from the Classic Learning Test when applying for the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship or the State Regents for Higher Education Academic Scholars Program. House Bill 1096 ultimately passed 74-15 along party lines. State law currently requires students who attend a non-state-accredited school or who are homeschooled to make at least a 22 on the ACT to qualify for Oklahoma's Promise. Those attending a state-accredited school don't face a test score requirement, but they must earn at least a 2.5 grade point average. The regents' Academic Scholars Program awards applicants who are National Merit Scholars, Presidential Scholars or who scored at least in the 95th percentile on the ACT. House Bill 1096 would change the ACT requirement to allow top performers on any 'nationally norm-referenced college entrance exam.' Multiple House Democrats debated against the bill, contending the Classic Learning Test doesn't meet the same academic rigor and anti-cheating measures as the ACT. Only six small private universities in Oklahoma accept the test, which places an emphasis on classical literature and historic texts. The bill's author, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, said HB 1096 would expand access to college scholarships. The legislation specifies students would have to take the Classic Learning Test in person at a testing center, which eliminates the exam's at-home option. 'This is not harming anybody,' Hasenbeck said while debating on the House floor. 'It is only giving more students more opportunities.' Another measure would delete the student absenteeism metric from the Oklahoma School Report Cards, which assign an A-F grade to each public school. The bill would replace chronic absenteeism with an opportunity for bonus points for giving students more time in the classroom. HB 1412 passed with bipartisan support in a 74-15 vote. The instructional time metric would award a school more points on the report cards if it exceeds the state-mandated minimums of 165 school days or 1,080 classroom hours. Chronic absenteeism grades the number of students who have missed 10% or more of the school year. Republican and Democrat authors of the bill said it was unfair to evaluate schools based on whether parents make sure their children have good attendance. 'We can all agree that chronic absenteeism has not been a good measure for accountability of schools,' one of the authors, Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, said in a statement. 'We have worked to find a new measurement that is something within the district's control and can provide an incentive for schools to get students in front of our state's amazing teachers even more.' If the bill is signed into law, the U.S. Department of Education would have to approve the change to the state report cards. The measure would take effect for the 2025-26 school year if the federal government agrees. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
11-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Oklahoma House approves bills to accept Classic Learning Test, remove chronic absenteeism metric
Students walk in a line before entering the Oklahoma State Capitol in Oklahoma City on Feb. 25. House lawmakers approved two bills on Tuesday regarding student absenteeism and college entrance exams. (Photo by Nuria Martinez-Keel/Oklahoma Voice) OKLAHOMA CITY — Education policies that passed the Oklahoma House on Tuesday would remove chronic absenteeism from school evaluations and permit scores from a lesser-known college entrance exam to qualify for state-funded scholarships. Both measures now advance to the state Senate for consideration. Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, who leads the chamber's Education Committee, is the Senate author of both bills. House lawmakers spent almost an hour discussing legislation that would allow students to use scores from the Classic Learning Test when applying for the Oklahoma's Promise scholarship or the State Regents for Higher Education Academic Scholars Program. House Bill 1096 ultimately passed 74-15 along party lines. State law currently requires students who attend a non-state-accredited school or who are homeschooled to make at least a 22 on the ACT to qualify for Oklahoma's Promise. Those attending a state-accredited school don't face a test score requirement, but they must earn at least a 2.5 grade point average. The regents' Academic Scholars Program awards applicants who are National Merit Scholars, Presidential Scholars or who scored at least in the 95th percentile on the ACT. House Bill 1096 would change the ACT requirement to allow top performers on any 'nationally norm-referenced college entrance exam.' Multiple House Democrats debated against the bill, contending the Classic Learning Test doesn't meet the same academic rigor and anti-cheating measures as the ACT. Only six small private universities in Oklahoma accept the test, which places an emphasis on classical literature and historic texts. The bill's author, Rep. Toni Hasenbeck, R-Elgin, said HB 1096 would expand access to college scholarships. The legislation specifies students would have to take the Classic Learning Test in person at a testing center, which eliminates the exam's at-home option. 'This is not harming anybody,' Hasenbeck said while debating on the House floor. 'It is only giving more students more opportunities.' Another measure would delete the student absenteeism metric from the Oklahoma School Report Cards, which assign an A-F grade to each public school. The bill would replace chronic absenteeism with an opportunity for bonus points for giving students more time in the classroom. HB 1412 passed with bipartisan support in a 74-15 vote. The instructional time metric would award a school more points on the report cards if it exceeds the state-mandated minimums of 165 school days or 1,080 classroom hours. Chronic absenteeism grades the number of students who have missed 10% or more of the school year. Republican and Democrat authors of the bill said it was unfair to evaluate schools based on whether parents make sure their children have good attendance. 'We can all agree that chronic absenteeism has not been a good measure for accountability of schools,' one of the authors, Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, said in a statement. 'We have worked to find a new measurement that is something within the district's control and can provide an incentive for schools to get students in front of our state's amazing teachers even more.' If the bill is signed into law, the U.S. Department of Education would have to approve the change to the state report cards. The measure would take effect for the 2025-26 school year if the federal government agrees. SUPPORT: YOU MAKE OUR WORK POSSIBLE SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
OKC Chamber hosts Gov. Stitt & Lawmakers March 12
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma's top leaders are set to speak at the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber's State Spotlight event. OKC Chamber leaders say the event is a premier policy discussion outlining legislative priorities and key initiatives shaping Oklahoma. Scissortail Park announce 2025 free concert line-ups Attendees can expect the following featured speakers: Governor Kevin Stitt Senator Adam Pugh, Chairman of the Senate Education Committee Senator Ally Seifried, Vice Chair of the Senate Education Committee Senator Kristen Thompson, Chairman of the Economic Development, Workforce and Tourism Committee According to Christy Gillenwater, President & CEO of the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, the discussion will focus on legislative efforts, education and workforce development initiatives. DETAILS: WHEN:March 12, 20258:00 a.m. – 9:30 a.m. WHERE:Embassy Suites by Hilton OKC NW3233 NW ExpresswayOklahoma City, OK 73112-4131 Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Oklahoma Legislature needs long-range plan to bridge education gaps
Oklahoma issued an all-time high of 4,676 emergency certifications for the 2023-24 school year. That is in stark contrast to the 32 emergency certifications issued for the 2011-12 school year. In addition, schools are also increasingly hiring adjunct teachers who have no certification whatsoever. Alternative and emergency teaching certifications require a bachelor's degree. This allows schools to hire individuals with only a high school diploma full time as adjunct teachers. When Oklahoma had the notorious distinction of having some of the worst bridges in the nation, the Legislature created a special long-range plan for funding. Twenty years after its adoption, Oklahoma has made significant improvements to the state's highway infrastructure due to an increase to its annual budget of more than $400 million. More: Slow down, Gov. Stitt. We need other things more than a tax cut | Opinion Why hasn't the Legislature created a similar long-range plan for improving its funding for education? Don't all students deserve to have a qualified teacher? Perhaps the answer is that most of the money expended for highways goes to private contractors who have an incentive and the resources to make campaign contributions to legislators, whereas education funding goes to public entities, which cannot. What the state needs is something like the Education Reform Act of 1990. It increased state funding to reduce class sizes, establish minimum teacher salaries, provide for teacher assistants, competency testing, college ready courses, and mandatory professional development. Senate Bill 201 by Sen. Adam Pugh is a good start and has already passed the Senate Education Committee. More: Oklahoma legislators should learn from decades of education reform | Opinion Over three decades ago, Oklahoma City discovered that being a low tax, low regulation state wasn't enough to attract business. To improve its standing, it passed MAPS. It's time the state came to the realization that it needs to make a major advance in our education system if we are serious about bringing business to the state. McGoodwin is a former deputy director of the Office of State Finance, now the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES). This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: We improved our roads; we can do the same for Okla. education | Opinion
