Ceremonial signing held for five-day school bill

A ceremonial bill signing held at the state Capitol included Senate Bill 441, by Sen. Marty Quinn, which is aimed at moving more Oklahoma schools back to five-day school weeks.  The legislation was identified as Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat as a top agenda item during the 2019 session.

“As we work with Governor Stitt to make Oklahoma a top-ten state, we are focused on ensuring our public schools are part of that goal,” said Quinn, R-Claremore.  “This legislation will help restore Oklahoma’s national reputation in public education while allowing for reasonable exceptions for specific school districts to retain their alternative schedule in cases where they can demonstrate it is working well.”

The legislation takes effect on September 1, 2019 in order to allow the state board of Education time to promulgate rules and submit them for legislative review and approval prior to the 2021-2022 school year.

Under SB 441, beginning in the 2021-2022 school year, school districts will have three options.  They can meet for 180 days, for 1,080 hours with a minimum of 165 days, or 1,080 with no minimum number of days if districts are able to meet the minimum guidelines for school performance and cost savings that are being developed through the State Board of Education’s rule-making process.

Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, Gov. Kevin Stitt and Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, held a ceremonial bill signing at the state Capitol for Senate Bill 441 which is aimed at encouraging districts to return to a five-day school week.