Legislative Goals

CCOSA LEGISLATIVE GOALS 2021-22 

ACADEMICS:  CCOSA will

• Support a plan to sustain innovative academic student initiatives to support student learning beyond current federal investments.
• Promote grade-level appropriate student assessments aligned with current research and the Oklahoma Academic Standards.
• Support legislation to ensure a high quality, transparent, research-based model for virtual education if a district decides to offer virtual learning.

FUNDING:   CCOSA will

• Oppose any efforts to divert public funds to non-public schools.
• Oppose any attempts to reduce local funding streams through egregious tax protests and TIF’s approved without a vote from the majority of stakeholders.
• Support raising new recurring revenue that will provide a long term and sustainable funding plan for public schools and Career Technology Centers in Oklahoma.
• Support sustainable operational money to support regionally competitive teacher, including related service provider, pay and professional development, to lower class sizes, to support social and emotional needs of Oklahoma public school students by funding additional support staff, including but not limited to Level 2 paraprofessionals, additional academic and mental health counselors and behavior specialists, and to provide a safe environment for students to be successful.  
• Support modernizing transportation funds to schools to accurately reflect costs with additional funding.
• Support a full-time virtual student weight that more accurately reflects costs.
• Oppose unfunded mandates.

ACCOUNTABILITY:   CCOSA will

• Support the continued development and implementation of accountability measures that are research-based, multi-criteria indicators of student growth.
• Support increased accountability for charter schools and their sponsors to ensure high quality charter schools.

EMPLOYEES:  CCOSA will

• Support legislative changes to assist with solving the current teacher, related service provider, and support staff shortage by removing barriers, protecting benefits, and improving compensation for current, future and retired education employees.
• Support examining teacher and administrative preparation programs to reflect the changing needs of students.
• Support streamlining the development, training and mentoring of teachers.
• Support funding to keep teacher and related service provider salaries regionally competitive.
• Support revamping of the (state/federal) bus driver certification process to address the bus driver shortage by removing unnecessary barriers.

LOCAL CONCERNS:   CCOSA will

• Oppose any legislation that would remove educational decisions from locally elected Boards of Education.  
• Support legislation that will maintain student transfer decisions at the local level.
• Support the expansion of charter schools ONLY with the approval of the local board of education.

FEDERAL:  CCOSA will

• Recognize the important role the federal government stands to play in leveling the education playing field for all students, ensuring an appropriate Federal/State/Local balance, supporting students, families and special populations (for example  IDEA and Impact Aid funding), supporting personnel, strengthening district operations (reduce federal paperwork and provide flexibility), supporting students through appropriate curriculum and assessments, and enhancing district technology infrastructure and student data privacy.
• Support the expansion of E-rate funding to provide broadband access to all students.