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The U.S. Department of Education recently approved OSDE's accountability waiver request for the 2020-21 academic year. Therefore, the Office of Accountability will not be calculating or reporting accountability indicators found within the “Indicators” tab on the Oklahoma School Report Cards website. However, OSDE must still publish certain SY 2020-21 data regarding state summative assessment participation rates and proficiency rates.
As a result, the Assessment Correction Window will open Monday, June 21 in the Accountability Reporting application on Single Sign-On. During the Assessment Correction Window, districts are asked to review assessment records for students in grades 3-8 and 11, and all students who participated in the Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP), Oklahoma Alternate Assessment Program (OAAP) and College- and Career-Readiness Assessment (CCRA) program.
We strongly encourage district staff to engage with this review process, as the Assessment Correction Window serves as the only opportunity to review SY 2020-21 student-level assessment data.
The Assessment Correction Window will close July 9 at 5 p.m.
For assistance with this upcoming correction window, attend an informational webinar tomorrow, June 16. Register by clicking on a preferred time slot below.
10 a.m. session
11:30 a.m. session
1 p.m. session
Download a step-by-step guidance document for reviewing student data.
Thank you for your partnership in ensuring the highest quality data, which will allow meaningful interpretations by district and school staff.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Accountability at accountability@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-5169.
Connect Every Oklahoma Student Everywhere with ECF dollars
The American Rescue Plan includes the creation of the Emergency Connectivity Fund (ECF) for broadband internet service and equipment to support remote learning. This new funding will be distributed through the federal E-rate program. In addition to broadband internet connectivity, ECF will cover hotspot, router and modem hardware, and “connected devices” like laptops or tablets.
The application will open soon.
Due to the anticipated high demand for the ECF program, districts should plan to seek funding as quickly as possible.
Learn more about ECF and view FAQs ahead of the filing window.
Funds for Learning is hosting a webinar June 23 at 10 a.m. to walk through the ECF process. Register here.
The 2020-21 TLE Qualitative Report closes this Friday. Professional Learning (PL) Focus information is required of all certified educators with the exception of district superintendents. Educators who are exempt from the qualitative component of the evaluation and those in districts receiving the TLE Qualitative Waiver for 2020-21 are still required to report an annual PL Focus component.
If you have questions, contact Jaycie Smith at jaycie.smith@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-0282.
The Districtwide Student Needs Assessment is now open in Single Sign-On.
This report collects information regarding GPA, attendance, promotion and suspension data for all students in grades 6-12. Note: This report should include information on ALL students, not just those in alternative education programs.
Information collected for this report should be used to determine at-risk student needs while also serving as a resource in the development of your district's Alternative Education Implementation Plan.
All districts are required to complete this report, which is due June 30.
If you have questions, contact Petra Woodard at petra.woodard@sde.ok.gov.
The SY21 Alternative Education End-of-Year Data Survey is now open for districts to complete. This report is completed annually to gather enrollment, engagement and graduation data specifically pertaining to students served in an alternative education program setting.
One survey per program must be completed by alternative education directors or administrators. Results should be shared with district leadership, program staff and sending schools (if participating in a coop).
Complete the survey here.
The survey is due June 30.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Alternative Education at alternativeed@sde.ok.gov.
The Language Instruction for English Learners and Immigrant Students Annual Performance Report is now open on Single Sign-On. All LEAs are required to complete this report by July 16.
View an instructional webinar on how to complete the report.
If you have questions, contact Thomas Kirk at thomas.kirk@sde.ok.gov.
Note: The technical glitches affecting this report have been fixed.
All districts that receive Title I, Part D, Subpart 1 or 2 funds must complete the Title I, Part D End-of-Year Report on Single Sign-On. The report is due July 16.
If you have questions, contact Thomas Kirk at thomas.kirk@sde.ok.gov.
The Office of Federal Programs invites LEAs to participate in a discussion about American Rescue Plan requirements.
The discussion will be held via Zoom tomorrow, 9-10 a.m.
Register here
If you have questions, contact the Office of Federal Programs at (405) 521-2846.
The College and Career Readiness webinar series explores best practices for career development, work-based learning, industry engagement, academic counseling and much more. School administrators, teachers, counselors, college and career advisors and work-based learning coordinators are encouraged to attend.
College and Career Readiness Webinars
Thursday, 10-11 a.m.
Topic: Youth Programs sponsored by Oklahoma's Electric Cooperatives
Virtual Speaker: Stacy Howeth, Oklahoma Electric Cooperatives
Register for the 10 a.m. webinar series here.
Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Topic: High School to College – Graduating Career Ready
Virtual Speaker: Shannon Schwaebler, Northeastern State University
Register for the 11:30 a.m. webinar series here.
Thursday, 1-2 p.m.
Topic: Build My Future OKC – Virtual Resources & Connections
Virtual Speaker: Christy Howell, Marla E. Cloos and Elisa Mc Alister, Professional Women of Central Oklahoma Home Builders' Association.
Register for the 1 p.m. webinar series here.
Once registered, participants will receive a confirmation email and have access to all sessions in the chosen time slot. The complete series will be recorded and archived on okedge.com.
For questions, contact Chelsea Hunt at chelsea.hunt@sde.ok.gov.
 The Oklahoma Information Sharing and Analysis Center (OK-ISAC) was established as a multi-agency effort to address the rise of cyber threats to Oklahoma. The main objective of this program is to mitigate cybersecurity risks by providing real-time monitoring, vulnerability identification, incident response and threat intelligence to its members and partners. The goal of OK-ISAC is to enhance information sharing across Oklahoma and improve cyber resilience at all levels of participation.
School districts are invited to join OK-ISAC, which allows members to be proactive against cyberattacks with curated threat intel feeds from several sources.
Benefits of membership:
- Allows proactive responses against cyberattacks with curated threat intel feeds from several sources
- Access to a platform that encourages member-to-member collaboration
- A secure online repository for sharing threat intelligence with members
- Participation in conferences, workshops and tabletop exercises
- Support efforts to develop a cyber workforce by partnering with higher education
- Develop and maintain relationships with industry partners
- Learn best practices and how to establish a culture of cybersecurity and compliance
For more information, email okisac@omes.ok.gov.
A number of new education laws are now in effect. View bill language below.
HB 1014: Makes all records in the State Department of Health’s possession concerning any person who has participated in a public health investigation or who may have any communicable or noncommunicable disease, which is required to be reported by law, confidential records of the department and outside the scope of the Oklahoma Open Records Act. These records may be released pursuant to existing allowances, so long as the release is in accordance with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996. Additionally, students who have contracted a communicable disease will be prohibited from attending a private or public school, with enforcement responsibility placed with the school, rather than the teacher. Clarifies that a student may return to school with permission from the local county health department or State Department of Health. Now in effect.
HB 1059: Removes provisions currently allowing commercial learner permit holders to take CDL knowledge and skills tests without training, reconciling state statute with federal law set to go into effect in 2022. The measure also authorizes local tag agencies to issue renewals, replacements, change of addresses and downgrades of REAL ID compliant and non-compliant Class A, B or C licenses to increase efficiency and convenience. It authorizes agents to review identification documents for REAL ID compliant and non-compliant CDL’s. The bill further allows agents to issue a REAL ID compliant and non-compliant ID card to a customer even if their license is expired or suspended as long as they have an existing DPS driver license file. Prior to this change, the requesting party needed a valid unexpired license to get an ID from an agent. Third Party Examiners (non-DPS CDL examiners) will be allowed to test anyone with a CDL permit whereas currently they can only administer drive tests to their own students. Lastly, the bill removes the cap on fees designated examiners may charge to administer a Class D skills test. Now in effect.
HB 1569: Creates the Oklahoma Play to Learn Act, allowing early childhood educators to employ play-based learning techniques and school districts to provide related professional development. States that school districts may not prohibit a teacher from using play-based learning in early childhood education. The State Board of Education is tasked with developing guidelines for the professional development programs. Now in effect.
HB 1715: Repeals the requirement that students must pass the 8th grade English Language Arts (ELA) test to receive their driver’s permit. Now in effect.
HB 1796: Allows the State Board of Education in consultation with the Commission for Education Quality and Accountability to grant subject area examination exceptions for initial teacher certification in a field that does not require an advanced degree if the candidate already has an advanced degree in a subject substantially comparable to the content assessed in the examination. This exception previously only existed for alternatively certified teachers. Now in effect.
HB 1875: Prohibits an educational agency or institution that is not the primary custodian of student directory information of attending students from releasing or selling any student directory information unless otherwise allowed by the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) or state statute. Now in effect.
HB 1876: Clarifies that personal information of current and former public employees, teachers and other school staff, including home addresses, home phone numbers, Social Security numbers, private email addresses and mobile numbers are not open to public inspection or disclosure, with the exception of public records created using a private email address or mobile phone. Now in effect.
HB 1968: Eliminates duplicative annual school expenditures report for Gifted and Talented (GT) programs that must be provided to OSDE by August 1. Now in effect.
HB 2465: Permits the Department of Public Safety to approve and enter into agreements with local school districts, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education or institutions of higher education to act as approved written examination proctors with regard to any original Class A, B, C or D driver license. Now in effect.
HB 2890: Waives the general fund balance penalty for all school districts in fiscal years 2020 through 2023, clarifying the intent of the waiver established in HB 2078. Now in effect.
SB 48: Creates the Student Athlete Name, Image and Likeness Rights Act and the Revised Uniform Athlete Agents Act to repeal and replace the Uniform Athlete Agents Act. Creates new definitions for “athlete agent” and “student athlete” as well as adding requirements to the signing of an agency contract and providing greater flexibility to student athletes when choosing between a professional draft or the continuation of their college education. Student athletes include those participating in interscholastic sports while representing public schools and are authorized to earn income by use of their name, image and likeness once enrolled in a postsecondary institution. Additionally, the bill provides that an educational institution or student athlete will have grounds for legal action against any athlete agent who adversely impacts the institution or athlete by violating the provisions of the Act. Now in effect.
SB 128: Creates the Seizure-Safe Schools Act, requiring each school site with a student who is known to have a seizure disorder, to have at least one employee who has training to administer or assist with self-administration of seizure medication and recognize symptoms of seizures and take steps to respond by Jan. 1, 2022. The State Board of Education may develop rules to assist in the development and implementation of the program. Lastly, school employees who take actions in compliance with the act are exempt from disciplinary proceedings and will have immunity from civil liability. Now in effect.
SB 229: Creates the Redbud School Funding Act, directing roughly $38.5 million medical marijuana excise tax revenues to be deposited in the State Public Common School Building Equalization Fund to be distributed to Eligible Charter Schools and school districts in fiscal year 2022. Beginning fiscal year 2023 and for all subsequent years, directs a maximum of 3/4s of medical marijuana sales tax revenue received in the preceding fiscal year to be deposited in the State Public Common School Building Equalization Fund to be distributed to Eligible Charter Schools and school districts. Eligible charter schools include those not sponsored by the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board and that provide in-person or blended instruction to at least 2/3s of enrolled students as the primary means of instructional service delivery. The bill defines “blended instruction” as a combination of brick-and-mortar and virtual learning environments that require participating students to engage in at least one unit or set of competencies at a physical school building, which is the equivalent of one hour per day for each instructional day in the school year. The amount to be distributed is calculated by dividing the amount of building funds plus 25% of the total amount of county four-mill levy funds received by districts in the prior year by the Average Daily Membership (ADM) in each district. Allocations will be made to bring each district below the state average per ADM up to that amount. Should medical marijuana tax revenue be insufficient to cover the full amount needed, an additional apportionment will be made from the medical marijuana sales tax. The bill allows the Department of Education to retain 1/2 of 1% to administer the Fund. Directs any money apportioned to the Fund to be included in the determination of whether or not the funding requirement has been met in order to enforce class size requirements in kindergarten and first grade. The bill also clarifies that charter schools are only eligible to receive State Aid, federal funds and any other state-appropriated revenue, grants or other aid for which they are eligible; directs charter ADA to be calculated separately from the ADA of sponsoring districts for the purpose funding; and requires charter schools to receive all state appropriated and federal funding directly. Now in effect.
SB 347: Prohibits municipalities and political subdivisions from holding elections on the second Tuesday of December 2021, the second Tuesday of January 2022, or the first Tuesday of March 2022, for the offices of U.S. Representative, State Senator, State Representative and County Commission districts. Following the reapportionment of these districts the State Election Board will need time to property implement new voting precincts. The second Tuesday of June of odd-numbered years is exempt from this prohibition for the purpose of holding a special election to fill a vacancy in any county, school district, technology center school district, municipality, fire protection district or other political subdivision authorized to call elections. Now in effect.
SB 403: Makes it unlawful for any person(s) to interfere with or disrupt the business or public meetings of a political subdivision. Now in effect.
SB 783: Enacts significant reforms to Oklahoma’s school transfer statutes, namely, revising the guidelines for accepting and denying student transfers, limiting students to a maximum of two out-of-district transfers per school year, requiring school districts to list enrollment capacities on their websites and to report transfer approvals and denials to the State Department of Education, which must in turn post the information on its website and share it with OEQA. The bill creates a two-level appeal process for transfer denials, beginning with local school boards and ending with the State Board of Education. Lastly, the state’s emergency transfer law is repealed. The bill’s provisions are contingent on the enactment of H.B. 2078. The revised transfer provisions and requirements will take effect beginning on January 1, 2022. Now in effect.
SB 809: Adds campus police officers, including school resource officers, to the list of officers entitled to receive the continued custody and possession of the sidearm and badge upon retirement due to length of service, beginning November 1, 2021. Additionally, allows compensatory time and annual leave of state agency employees that accrued or expired during the COVID-19 state of emergency to carry over to the end of the fiscal year following the year in which the emergency declaration ended. Now in effect.
SB 1033: Creates “grandfather” provisions to ensure a retail marijuana dispensary established on or after June 26, 2018 will not be in jeopardy of losing its license in the event that a school building came to be located within 1,000 feet of the dispensary at a later date. Clarifies that the distance between a dispensary or disposal facility and a school is to be measured from the nearest school door to the front door of the facility. Creates a mechanism for municipal governments to object to a dispensary’s continued licensure upon determining that the dispensary violated the required setback distance from a school. Makes numerous changes related to bolstering enforcement of existing marijuana laws while establishing licensing requirements for publicly traded companies. Lastly, requires OSDH to contract with the Tax Commission (OTC) to collect the 7 percent tax on retail medical marijuana sales with OTC retaining 1.5 percent of gross proceeds to cover related administrated costs. Now in effect.
SB 1057: Authorizes motor license agents to issue REAL ID compliant driver licenses and allows for issuance of licenses that are valid for either four or eight years. Amends language created by HB1059 (2021) to allow the Department of Public Safety (DPS) to enter into agreements with local school districts, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, or institutions of higher education to act as approved written examination proctors for written examinations relating to driver licenses, effectively aligning the statute with the provisions of HB2465 (2021). Now in effect.
Supporting Students Through the Pandemic & Beyond
 "Ready Together Oklahoma: An Action Plan for Supporting Students Through the Pandemic & Beyond" includes initiatives to bolster accelerated learning, strengthen instruction and address social-emotional issues due to disruptions caused by COVID-19.
View resources and strategies at https://readytogether.sde.ok.gov/.
 OSDE’s annual summer education conference, EngageOK on the Road, has once again been transformed into EngageOK in the Cloud.
Mark your calendars for June 21-23 and join us for free online professional development. This three-day conference will feature a variety of breakout sessions via Zoom.
Register today to secure your spot. Registering will allow you to access conference details and receive event-specific communication before, during and after the event.
View the conference agenda and other details at http://engage.ok.gov/in-the-cloud/.
 The 2022 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year application is now available.
NEW: Traditionally, the Oklahoma Teacher of the Year is selected from a pool of district Teachers of the Year who apply and participate in a comprehensive selection process. Because some districts do not select a district-level Teacher of the Year, amazing educators may never have an opportunity for well-deserved recognition at the state level.
To ensure every exceptional Oklahoma educator is eligible for this prestigious award, one teacher of the year winner from every school site in Oklahoma can submit an application for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year.
Please encourage your local teachers to apply.
Download the 2022 Teacher of the Year applications packet and learn more at https://sde.ok.gov/oklahoma-teacher-year.
Applications are due August 31.
If you have questions, contact Justin Newton at justin.newton@sde.ok.gov.
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