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The FY23 Initial Flexible Benefit Allowance (FBA) allocation (Aug. 8) is now available on Single Sign-On under State Aid Management System (SAMS) Allocations. The initial allocation is based on the prior year (Jan. 1, 2022) audited Flexible Benefit Allowance counts using the current insurance rate of $615.90 through December 31, 2022, and the “new” rate of $640.28 starting January 1, 2023.
If you have questions, contact the Office of State Aid at state.aid@sde.ok.gov or (405) 521-3460.
The FY23 Initial Purchase of Textbooks allocation is now available on Single Sign-On under State Aid Management System (SAMS) Allocations.
Funding is appropriated from the current year General Revenue Fund and will be paid on a monthly basis.
If you have questions, contact the Office of State Aid at state.aid@sde.ok.gov or (405) 521-3460.
- As of Sept. 1, the fee for live-scan background checks will increase by $1.00 to $58.25. Checks or money orders for $57.25 will not be accepted after that date.
- School administrators and/or human resources personnel: Please do not submit any emergency certificate requests for the September State Board of Education meeting until Aug. 15.
If you have questions, contact Jeff Smith at jeff.smith@sde.ok.gov.
 View the OSDE Reporting Requirements Calendar for upcoming deadlines and reporting details.
OSDE is seeking educators to participate in the Oklahoma Personal Financial Literacy Curriculum Framework project.
Curriculum frameworks are sets of curricular resources developed by Oklahoma teachers to help educators translate the Oklahoma Academic Standards into classroom practice.
The project will focus on drafting guidance for teachers regarding the intent of individual standards and how teachers may support students as they progress in proficiency towards a particular standard. The framework will not serve as curriculum itself, rather examples of high quality instructional materials aligned to the Oklahoma Standards for Personal Financial Literacy.
Applications are now available for the project, which will include the development of detailed overviews of each standard, how students can show they are meeting the goals, how teachers can support students in meeting those goals and key understanding associated with each standard.
Educators interested in applying to be a curriculum framework writer for the Oklahoma Personal Financial Literacy Curriculum Framework project must complete this application no later than August 26 at 5 p.m.
Compensation will be provided to those selected to work on the project. Oklahoma educators selected for this project will be paid $600 per month for six months (total $3,600) for work to be completed from October 2022 to April 2023. This fee includes travel costs and other costs related to participating in the project.
Access the application here.
If you have questions, contact Brenda Beymer-Chapman at brenda.chapman@sde.ok.gov.
Registration for the Oklahoma Math Tutoring Corps is now open for Oklahoma students in grades 7, 8 or 9.
This high-dosage tutoring program provides 50-minute virtual tutoring sessions three times a week in groups of no more than four students. Schools can share this flyer at enrollment, open house or on their school website to encourage families to register their students.
Students must be registered by 5 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 9.
If you would personally like to recommend students for tutoring, complete this form.
If you have questions, contact Anthony Purcell at anthony.purcell@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-6575.
OSDE is excited to partner with the Oklahoma State Department of Health to provide a matching grant for school nurse salaries and benefits under Project 724: The Oklahoma School Nurse Corps. Districts are eligible to receive up to $27,500 per school nurse in matching funds, and each district may receive funding for one nurse per 750 students. In addition, districts may receive $5,000 for each new school nurse office to help cover startup costs.
School nurses serve a critical role in improving school health and ensuring student academic success when children’s cognitive development is at its peak. School nurses supported under the grant will receive targeted professional development as a member of the Oklahoma School Nurse Corps and advise OSDE on school nursing best practices for Oklahoma schools.
OSDE has a total of $7,940,000 in funding under Project 724, and funds will be made available to districts on a first come, first serve basis. Districts will have through June 30, 2023, to expend these funds.
Applications are now open and may be submitted in the Grants Management System via Single Sign-On.
For more information, view the Project 724 webpage.
Please direct any questions to Jennifer Lepard at jennifer.lepard@sde.ok.gov.
As we enter the 2022-23 school year, Oklahoma health officials continue to advise districts to report known cases of COVID-19 to the State Infection Reporting System (SIRS), a uniform reporting mechanism for schools that is accessible through Single Sign-On. All local health departments use this reporting mechanism to compile and track cases of COVID-19 in schools.
While instructions are available on Single Sign-On, the Oklahoma State Department of Health is offering refresher training sessions on the reporting tool, differences between lab reporting requirements (entering positive and negative results of tests conducted at schools) and case reporting. Links to live training sessions are provided below, and recordings will be posted on the Safe and Healthy Schools Professional Learning webpage and the Project 723 webpage.
COVID-19 State Infection Reporting System (SIRS) Refresher
Aug. 18, 1:30 p.m.
Join meeting
Aug. 23, 10 a.m.
Join meeting
All training sessions will be conducted by Dean Hupp of Hupp Information Technologies, Inc.
If you have questions, contact Jennifer Lepard at jennifer.lepard@sde.ok.gov or Chelsea Hunt at chelsea.hunt@sde.ok.gov.
Virtual teachers of grades 6-12 are invited to join a virtual professional learning community to develop the knowledge and skills necessary for creating a nurturing classroom climate, developing a shared classroom culture and building positive relationships in virtual environments.
The Virtual Teacher Networked Improvement Community (NIC) is a year-long professional learning experience open to virtual teachers of grades 6-12. Teachers will engage in 18 hours of job-embedded, sustained, data-driven, classroom-focused professional learning. This will occur through continuous improvement cycles in their classrooms where they will implement and refine high-leverage, evidence-based instructional strategies.
View more information here
Access the application here
Applications are due Aug. 18.
If you have questions, contact Karen Leonard at karen.leonard@sde.ok.gov.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is once again providing free COVID rapid test kits and PPE to schools for the 2022-23 school year. Initial supplies may be ordered by schools through OSDH’s BigCommerce website. Instructions and additional information for using the BigCommerce ordering portal may be found here.
Once all existing supplies are exhausted, OSDH will shift to using the McKesson Online Supply Manager for school test kit and PPE orders. Links for two live training sessions on the McKesson platform are provided below. In addition, these training sessions will be recorded and posted on the Safe and Healthy Schools Professional Learning webpage and the Project 723 webpage.
McKesson Supply Manager Training for Oklahoma K-12 Schools
Aug. 24, 1:30-3 p.m.
Join meeting
Aug. 25, 10-11:30 a.m.
Join meeting
If you have questions, contact Jennifer Lepard at jennifer.lepard@sde.ok.gov or Chelsea Hunt at chelsea.hunt@sde.ok.gov.
The State Systemic Improvement Plan (SSIP) is intended to support Oklahoma’s ATSI (Additional Targeted Support and Improvement) school sites. At this time, consideration has been made to accommodate the need for ATSI schools to access certain resources; however, your school may access sequenced professional development and instructional coaching opportunities during cohort 2, which is scheduled for a later date.
View a SSIP-Part B overview video
View the SSIP webpage
Apart from sequenced professional development and instructional coaching, all schools now have access to the SSIP universal support tier of resources. These resources including continuous additions and updates to the tools and protocols contained within to support the following:
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Evidence-Based Practices: Protocols explicitly describing methods to use with students, plus resources and video supports
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Continuous School Improvement: Tools and templates to build effective procedures at the school level
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Sustainable Teaming: Tools and templates to build effective grade-level and site teams
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Data-Driven Decision Making: Protocols and tools to effectively use data to support student outcomes
Access these supports via the OSDEConnect platform under "Universal Supports through the SSIP-Part B."
If you have questions, contact Alexa Hudak at alexa.hudak@sde.ok.gov.
Following review and revision by educators and stakeholders across the state in 2021, the new Oklahoma Academic Standards for World Languages (OAS-WLOE) are now available for educators to begin implementing.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted to approve the 2021 OAS-WLOE on March 10, 2022. Following this approval, the standards were submitted to the Oklahoma State Legislature for their consideration. With the legislative session complete, the final approved version of the OAS-WLOE is now available for download.
Download the Oklahoma Academic Standards for World Languages here.
If you have questions, contact Cathleen Skinner at cathleen.skinner@sde.ok.gov.
The Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) is seeking guidance from communities across the state regarding innovative ideas for investing in rural health. Schools play a central role in Oklahoma communities, and district input is critical as TSET determines how future investments can best meet local needs.
TSET listening and idea sessions are being held in six Oklahoma communities. Sessions are open to the public and seating is limited. RSVP to attend here.
Guymon
Listening session: Aug. 15, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Idea session: Aug. 22, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: Guymon Public Library, 1718 N. Oklahoma St.
Woodward
Listening session: Aug. 15, 3:30-5 p.m.
Idea session: Aug. 22, 3:30-5 p.m.
Location: High Plains Technology Center, 3921 34th St., Room 201 A/B
Elk City
Listening session: Aug. 16, 3-5 p.m.
Idea session: Aug. 23, 3-5 p.m.
Location: Western Technology Center, 301 Western Dr.
McAlester
Listening session: Aug. 17, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Idea session: Aug. 24, 10 a.m.-12 p.m.
Location: Pittsburg County Health Dept., 1400 College Ave., Michael Echelle Room
Idabel
Listening session: Aug. 17, 3:30-5 p.m.
Idea session: Aug. 24, 3:30-5 p.m.
Location: Kiamichi Technology Center, 3205 NE Lincoln Rd.
Pawhuska
Listening session: Aug. 18, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Idea session: Aug. 25, 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Location: Pawhuska Community Center: 520 Lynn Ave.
If you have questions or would like additional information, contact Jennifer Lepard at jennifer.lepard@sde.ok.gov.
The Oklahoma Dept. of Transportation (ODOT) is hosting a job fair in Oklahoma City on Sept. 2. If your district transportation department is interested in having a booth to recruit and hire potential school bus drivers, register using the link below.
ODOT Transportation Job Fair
Sept. 2, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Embassy Suites by Hilton Oklahoma City, 741 N. Phillips Ave.
Register here
If you do not have a BigCommerce account, use this link to create an account. Once your account is active, you may order PPE.
You may choose to have the PPE mailed directly to your school site or you may pick it up in Oklahoma City.
If you have questions, email ppeorders@health.ok.gov.
A number of new education laws will take effect on Aug. 25.
View bill summaries below. Extensive summaries for these bills can be found in the 2022 Red Banner Book.
HB2046 – Creates the Higher Education Institution Local Funding Act to allow boards of 2-year colleges to adopt a resolution to organize a funding district and levy a property tax millage. It prohibits a higher education funding district from including the territory or levy of any CareerTech district and requires an election to be held in November of even-numbered years and pass with 60% majority to secure approval. Any resulting operational millage rate revenue may be used for employee salaries and benefits, utility costs, books, classroom supplies, physical plants, HVAC, motor vehicles, etc. It prohibits revenue from being used to compete with an existing CareerTech district that is contiguous or near the higher education funding district. Lastly, it prohibits the State Regents for Higher Education from taking higher education funding district revenue into consideration when allocating state appropriations. Effective August 25, 2022.
HB2926 – Requires each institution of higher education in the state system to make available on its website an electronic link to the Oklahoma State Regents Employment Outcomes Dashboard and directs the dashboard to include at a minimum, employment data of graduates from state institutions, wages and earnings for each major and degree offered by the institution, employment outcomes by county and industry code and a supplemental link to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Occupational Outlook Handbook. Effective August 25, 2022.
SB1579 – Allows a local school board to approve a request from a district employee for a leave of absence to serve as an officer, director, trustee, or agent of a national, statewide, or school district employee association, with board approval specifying definitive beginning and end dates for the absence. Requires the requesting employee to provide the district superintendent proof of election and the term of office with the association. The leave of absence will be without pay, and the employee on leave will not be entitled to maintain any benefits granted by the district, advance on the minimum salary schedule, accrue sick or personal leave, accumulate service credit with the Teachers’ Retirement System, or access office space at the district. Any association that fails to comply with these provisions will be prohibited from representing district employees. Effective August 25, 2022.
New Legislation Impacting Oklahoma Public Schools
While the 2022 legislative session is now behind us, its impact on schools, teachers and communities is only beginning. This year’s session marked a return to convention with a number of new laws (approximately 400).
While the 2020 session produced far fewer laws due to the arrival of COVID, the 2021 session saw a record high of 583 new laws resulting from the backlog of policy initiatives from the prior year’s truncated proceedings. Although 2022 had fewer pandemic-specific bills, many looked to address perennial areas of concern exacerbated by COVID, such as the teacher shortage and student mental health.
For example, to help facilitate teachers’ path to the classroom, H.B. 3658 eliminates the requirement that teacher candidates pass the general education (OGET) portion of the teacher competency examination to become certified. Additionally, H.B. 3564 creates a higher education scholarship to incentivize college students to enter the teaching profession and stay in the profession for at least five years, offering up to $25,500 in scholarships and incentive payments. To support mental health, H.B. 4106 requires each school district to develop a protocol for responding to students in mental health crisis, created in partnership with local mental health treatment providers.
To help keep track of these new laws and many others, the Oklahoma State Department of Education is excited to provide the 8th Annual Red Banner Book. Like previous editions, this book is not intended to be all-inclusive nor serve as legal advice, but it offers a general overview of this year’s new laws and legislative actions affecting public education.
If you have questions, contact Nat Barrack at nat.barrack@sde.ok.gov.
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