Parents of children in failing public schools could soon have more education alternatives for their children.

Monday the Senate Education Committee passed Senate Bill 1669, which would allow Native American tribes to establish charter schools in Oklahoma and Tulsa counties. Current law allows the state’s largest public school districts and public universities to establish charter schools.

Claremore Senator Calls Graduation Coaches an Innovative Idea

State Senator Sean Burrage (D-Claremore) said today Senate Bill 1694, which will pair at-risk Oklahoma students with community mentors, passed unanimously out of the Senate Education Committee. The bill creates a graduation coach program within the Oklahoma State Department of Education that will assist in giving Oklahoma students valuable life tools and helping them stay on track to graduate.

The Senate Education Committee passed legislation Monday that would encourage school districts to include a special emphasis on autism as part of any professional development program on special education that may be provided to teachers in the district.

Senate Bill 1686 is authored by State Senator Mary Easley, D-Tulsa, and will now go to the full Senate for consideration.

Senator Easley said she is particularly passionate about this piece of legislation because autism personally touches her life every day through interaction with a special family member.

A bill that could save taxpayers thousands of dollars annually passed out of the Senate’s General Government Committee Monday.

Senate Bill 1507 by Senator Jay Paul Gumm, D-Durant, would require the hundreds of reports submitted by state agencies to legislative leaders be transmitted electronically. In addition, the measure would require agency budget requests and the governor’s annual budget to be transmitted electronically rather than through hard copies in the mail.

Oklahomans would have the option to purchase a license plate displaying the national motto of “In God We Trust” if a bill approved by the Senate Finance committee becomes law.

Senate Bill 1146, written by Senator Jay Paul Gumm of Durant, was okayed by the Senate Finance Committee Tuesday; the measure now moves to the full Senate.

Under the proposal, Oklahomans could purchase license tags for their vehicles that include a patriotic display and the national motto of “In God We Trust.”

The Senate Finance Committee has given unanimous support to legislation creating special license plates for Oklahomans who have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom. State Sen. Todd Lamb, R-Edmond, is author of Senate Bill 1138.

“Approximately 70 Oklahoma soldiers have died in Operation Iraqi Freedom. 5,500 Oklahoma Air and Army Guard have served two to three tours of duty…and approximately 21,182 active duty or reserve soldiers have served in Operation Iraqi Freedom,” Lamb said.

State Sen. Mary Easley says research shows that children learn better when they are physically active. For this reason, she has authored Senate Bill 1186, which passed the Senate Education Committee Monday, to encourage schools to integrate an additional hour of physical activity each week in addition to the hour of physical education already mandated by law.
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Accompanied by members of the Thorpe family, 2007 Jim Thorpe Award winner Antoine Cason was honored on the floor of the state Senate on Tuesday. The Senate unanimously approved Senate Resolution 53, recognizing and commending the standout cornerback from the University of Arizona.

As a senior, Cason was named first-team All American by the Walter Camp Football Foundation and the Football Writers Association of America and was selected first-team all PAC-10 Conference. Cason finished his Arizona career with 15 interceptions.

In an effort to stop the brain drain of aerospace engineers from the state, Sen. Mike Mazzei has proposed a $5,000, five-year tax credit for new engineering graduates who take jobs in Oklahoma. Senate Bill 1171 was approved by the Senate Finance Committee on Tuesday. Mazzei said Oklahoma companies are having a hard time filling those jobs, and it is only getting worse.

One state legislator is working to ensure that Oklahoma has more accurate and reliable graduation and dropout statistics so that officials can help more students stay in the classroom. State Sen. Kathleen Wilcoxson has authored Senate Bill 1634 requiring the state to use the high school graduation formula approved and accepted by the National Governor’s Association (NGA) and the governors of all 50 states. The same measure received approval from the Senate last year, but not the House.
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