TULSA, Okla. — A new Oklahoma bill was introduced by State Representative Mickey Dollens which aims at State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
The proposed 'Do You Job Act' puts similar guidelines on the State Department of Education that they are putting on Oklahoma schools.
Dollens said with Walters' focus on school and district performances he proposes the state examine and fund OSDE based on its performance.
The bill is slated to receive an official number by mid-January and be voted on in February, according to Dollens.
Walters continues to speak out against Tulsa Public Schools and the district threatening the district's accreditation. Walters recently announced new guidelines and requirements for TPS which some school officials said are not achievable in the time allotted.
This bill may limit grants and funding given to OSDE if they do not meet the performance standard outlined in the legislation.
2 News spoke with Representative Dollens (D-Oklahoma City), who said this is an act of accountability.
I believe that accountability starts at the top. If State Superintendent Ryan Walters wants to tie a public school district's accreditation to their test performance, it is only fair that he be held to the same standard. The "Do Your Job Act" would establish a direct connection between Supt. Walters' pay and his performance outcomes on grant applications, transparency, and other relevant metrics.
Additionally, this act would transfer the authority over school accreditation and teacher certification from the state superintendent to the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is currently facing a series of challenges, including ongoing resignations of OSDE staff members and the recent resignation of the Secretary of Education.
Furthermore, more than 100 school districts have reported awaiting approval from OSDE regarding crucial federal funding dollars.
In light of these developments, it is the responsibility of the legislature to hold elected officials accountable. We must exercise our authority to safeguard public tax dollars and protect our public schools.
Walter's Director of Communication Dan Isett responded to 2 News's request for comment. He said this legislation is a waste of taxpayer money.
What a swing and a miss from Rep. Dollens and the Democrats. They are far more interested in protecting their union supporters than they are about turning Oklahoma schools around. Our kids deserve serious reforms to our schools carried out by serious people, it’s clear Rep. Dollens isn’t on that list. It’s shameful that Rep. Dollens plans to waste even more taxpayer money on legislation that doesn’t move the needle for our students.
This is a developing story.
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