OAESP Legislative Goals 2022-23

FUNDING: OAESP will

• Oppose any efforts to divert public funds to non-public schools.

• Support sustainable operational money to keep teacher salaries regionally competitive.

• Support funding a formalized induction programs for all new teachers, including emergency certified and alternative certified teachers.

• Support ensuring that state appropriated per-pupil funding reaches regionally competitive levels to achieve appropriate class sizes for all age levels.
• Provide funds for principal/teacher professional learning designed to equip educators to address the needs of our most challenging populations, including children in trauma, and to successfully implement state mandated initiatives.
• Support adequate funding to provide regionally competitive salaries for school support staff and paraprofessionals and their ongoing professional development.
• Support funding resources for alternative education that provides student support for behavioral and mental health in order to provide a safe environment for students to be successful.

ACADEMICS: OAESP will

• Promote grade-level appropriate student assessments aligned with current research and the Oklahoma Academic Standards.

• Protect and promote recess as a crucial and necessary component of a child's development. 

• Support a plan to sustain innovative learning initiatives implemented with recent investments of new money, provided during the pandemic. 

• Support broadband access for all students.

LOCAL CONCERNS: OAESP 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.

• Oppose the expansion of charter schools without input from local boards of education.