Sharp files bills to increase accountability of state’s charter schools

OKLAHOMA CITY Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, filed two bills Friday to continue his efforts to improve administrative and financial accountability of Oklahomas virtual and brick-and-mortar charter schools.

As legislators, its our job to ensure Oklahomans tax dollars are spent efficiently, Sharp said. We must demand the same accountability of our state public charter schools as we do from any other state agency. These changes will help ensure our virtual and brick-and-mortar charter schools are utilizing state funds legally and providing a high-quality education for Oklahomas youth thats resulting in high performance.

SB 1099 would require sponsors of brick-and-mortar charter schools to provide additional oversight of charters. It requires a sponsor to review at least annually a schools State Aid allocations, compliance with the school hours/days requirements, student testing performance, itemized expenditures with a management organization, the cost of administrative services, the teacher salary schedule, the certification status of teachers and whether teachers are employed by the charter school or a management organization.

SB 1100 would require the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to provide the same additional oversight of virtual charter schools.

Both bills can be considered in February when the 2020 legislative session begins.