OASA Legislative Goals 2021-22
1. Funding
FUNDING: OASA 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 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 additional academic and mental health counselors, 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.
2. Accountability
3. Academics
ACADEMICS: OASA will
- Support a plan to sustain innovative academic student initiatives to support student learning beyond current federal investments.
- Support equal access to post-secondary institutional choice for concurrent enrollment coursework for all Oklahoma 9th-12th grade students as determined by local education partnerships, including access to Career Technology Centers programs.
- Support a partnership with higher education that allows certified school teachers to teach “0” level coursework that could count as concurrent enrollment for students.
- Support expanding opportunities and flexibility for enrollment options for early college high schools for all students.
4. Employees
EMPLOYEES: OASA will
- Support legislative changes to assist with solving the current teacher 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 salaries regionally competitive.
- Support revamping of the (state/federal) bus driver certification process to address the bus driver shortage by removing unnecessary barriers.
5. Local Concerns
LOCAL CONCERNS: OASA 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.
6. Federal
FEDERAL: OASA 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.