1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 58th Legislature (2022)
3 HOUSE BILL 3655 By: Sterling
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 11-103.6, which relates to subject matter
8 standards; including agricultural power and
technology in fine arts curriculum; adding
9 agricultural power and technology in arts core
curriculum; and providing an effective date.
10
11
12
13 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
14 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 11-103.6, is
15 amended to read as follows:
16 Section 11-103.6 A. 1. The State Board of Education shall
17 adopt subject matter standards for instruction of students in the
18 public schools of this state that are necessary to ensure there is
19 attainment of desired levels of competencies in a variety of areas
20 to include language, mathematics, science, social studies and
21 communication.
22 2. School districts shall develop and implement curriculum,
23 courses and instruction in order to ensure that students meet the
24
Req. No. 9319 Page 1
1 skills and competencies as set forth in this section and in the
2 subject matter standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
3 3. All students shall gain literacy at the elementary and
4 secondary levels. Students shall develop skills in reading,
5 writing, speaking, computing and critical thinking. For purposes of
6 this section, critical thinking means a manner of analytical
7 thinking which is logical and uses linear factual analysis to reach
8 a conclusion. They also shall learn about cultures and environments
9 - their own and those of others with whom they share the earth.
10 Students, therefore, shall study social studies, literature,
11 languages, the arts, mathematics and science. Such curricula shall
12 provide for the teaching of a hands-on career exploration program in
13 cooperation with technology center schools.
14 4. The subject matter standards shall be designed to teach the
15 competencies for which students shall be tested as provided in
16 Section 1210.508 of this title, and shall be designed to prepare all
17 students for active citizenship, employment and/or successful
18 completion of postsecondary education without the need for remedial
19 coursework at the postsecondary level.
20 5. The subject matter standards shall be designed with rigor as
21 defined in paragraph 3 of subsection G of this section.
22 6. The subject matter standards for English Language Arts shall
23 give Classic Literature and nonfiction literature equal
24
Req. No. 9319 Page 2
1 consideration to other literature. In addition, emphasis shall be
2 given to the study of complete works of literature.
3 7. At a minimum, the subject matter standards for mathematics
4 shall require mastery of the standard algorithms in mathematics,
5 which is the most logical, efficient way of solving a problem that
6 consistently works, and for students to attain fluency in Euclidian
7 geometry.
8 8. The subject matter standards for history, social studies and
9 United States Government shall include study of important historical
10 documents, including the United States Constitution, Declaration of
11 Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers and other
12 documents with significant history and heritage of the United
13 States, and the content of the United States naturalization test,
14 with an emphasis on the specific content of the test and the ideas
15 and concepts it references. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school
16 year, the United States naturalization test shall be administered in
17 accordance with subsection F of this section.
18 9. The subject matter standards for United States Government
19 shall include an emphasis on civics, the structure and relationship
20 between the national, state, county and local governments and
21 simulations of the democratic process. For the purposes of this
22 section, "civics" means the study of the rights and duties of
23 Oklahoma and United States citizens and of how those governments
24 work.
Req. No. 9319 Page 3
1 B. Subject to the provisions of subsection C of this section,
2 in order to graduate from a public high school accredited by the
3 State Board of Education with a standard diploma, students shall
4 complete the following college preparatory/work ready curriculum
5 units or sets of competencies at the secondary level:
6 1. Four units or sets of competencies of English to include
7 Grammar, Composition, Literature, or any English course approved for
8 college admission requirements;
9 2. Three units or sets of competencies of mathematics, limited
10 to Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Math Analysis,
11 Calculus, Advanced Placement Statistics, or any mathematics course
12 with content and/or rigor above Algebra I and approved for college
13 admission requirements;
14 3. Three units or sets of competencies of laboratory science
15 approved for college admission requirements, including one unit or
16 set of competencies of life science, meeting the standards for
17 Biology I; one unit or set of competencies of physical science,
18 meeting the standards for Physical Science, Chemistry or Physics;
19 and one unit or set of competencies from the domains of physical
20 science, life science or earth and space science such that the
21 content and rigor is above Biology I or Physical Science;
22 4. Three units or sets of competencies of history and
23 citizenship skills, including one unit of American History, one-half
24 unit of Oklahoma History, one-half unit of United States Government
Req. No. 9319 Page 4
1 and one unit from the subjects of History, Government, Geography,
2 Economics, Civics, or non-Western culture and approved for college
3 admission requirements;
4 5. Two units or sets of competencies of the same foreign or
5 non-English language or two units of computer technology approved
6 for college admission requirements, whether taught at a high school
7 or a technology center school, including computer programming,
8 hardware, and business computer applications, such as word
9 processing, databases, spreadsheets, and graphics, excluding
10 keyboarding or typing courses;
11 6. One additional unit or set of competencies selected from
12 paragraphs 1 through 5 of this subsection or career and technology
13 education courses, concurrently enrolled courses, Advanced Placement
14 courses or International Baccalaureate courses approved for college
15 admission requirements; and
16 7. One unit or set of competencies of fine arts, such as music,
17 art, or drama, or one unit or set of competencies of speech, or one
18 unit or set of competencies of agricultural power and technology
19 offered by a career and technology education program.
20 C. In lieu of the requirements of subsection B of this section
21 which requires a college preparatory/work ready curriculum, a
22 student may enroll in the core curriculum as provided in subsection
23 D of this section upon written approval of the parent or legal
24 guardian of the student. For students under the age of eighteen
Req. No. 9319 Page 5
1 (18) school districts shall require a parent or legal guardian of
2 the student to meet with a designee of the school prior to
3 enrollment in the core curriculum. The State Department of
4 Education shall develop and distribute to school districts a form
5 suitable for this purpose, which shall include information on the
6 benefits to students of completing the college preparatory/work
7 ready curriculum as provided for in subsection B of this section.
8 D. For those students subject to the requirements of subsection
9 C of this section, in order to graduate from a public high school
10 accredited by the State Board of Education with a standard diploma,
11 students shall complete the following core curriculum units or sets
12 of competencies at the secondary level:
13 1. Language Arts – Four units or sets of competencies, to
14 consist of one unit or set of competencies of grammar and
15 composition, and three units or sets of competencies which may
16 include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
17 a. American Literature,
18 b. English Literature,
19 c. World Literature,
20 d. Advanced English Courses, or
21 e. other English courses with content and/or rigor equal
22 to or above grammar and composition;
23 2. Mathematics – Three units or sets of competencies, to
24 consist of one unit or set of competencies of Algebra I or Algebra I
Req. No. 9319 Page 6
1 taught in a contextual methodology, and two units or sets of
2 competencies which may include, but are not limited to, the
3 following courses:
4 a. Algebra II,
5 b. Geometry or Geometry taught in a contextual
6 methodology,
7 c. Trigonometry,
8 d. Math Analysis or Precalculus,
9 e. Calculus,
10 f. Statistics and/or Probability,
11 g. Computer Science or acceptance and successful
12 completion of one (1) year of a full-time, three-hour
13 career and technology program leading to an industry
14 credential/certificate or college credit. The State
15 Board of Career and Technology Education shall
16 promulgate rules to define the provisions of this act
17 related to the accepted industry-valued credentials
18 which are industry-endorsed or industry-aligned. The
19 list of accepted industry-valued credentials shall be
20 reviewed annually and updated at least every three (3)
21 years by the Board,
22 h. (1) contextual mathematics courses which enhance
23 technology preparation, or
24
Req. No. 9319 Page 7
1 (2) a science, technology, engineering and math
2 (STEM) block course meeting the requirements for
3 course competencies listed in paragraph 2 of
4 subsection B of this section, whether taught at
5 a:
6 (a) comprehensive high school, or
7 (b) technology center school when taken in the
8 tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade, taught by
9 a certified teacher, and approved by the
10 State Board of Education and the independent
11 district board of education,
12 i. mathematics courses taught at a technology center
13 school by a teacher certified in the secondary subject
14 area when taken in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth
15 grade upon approval of the State Board of Education
16 and the independent district board of education, or
17 j. any other mathematics course with content and/or rigor
18 equal to or above Algebra I;
19 3. Science – Three units or sets of competencies, to consist of
20 one unit or set of competencies of Biology I or Biology I taught in
21 a contextual methodology, and two units or sets of competencies in
22 the areas of life, physical, or earth science or technology which
23 may include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
24 a. Chemistry I,
Req. No. 9319 Page 8
1 b. Physics,
2 c. Biology II,
3 d. Chemistry II,
4 e. Physical Science,
5 f. Earth Science,
6 g. Botany,
7 h. Zoology,
8 i. Physiology,
9 j. Astronomy,
10 k. Applied Biology/Chemistry,
11 l. Applied Physics,
12 m. Principles of Technology,
13 n. qualified agricultural education courses,
14 o. (1) contextual science courses which enhance
15 technology preparation, or
16 (2) a science, technology, engineering and math
17 (STEM) block course meeting the requirements for
18 course competencies listed in paragraph 3 of
19 subsection B of this section, whether taught at
20 a:
21 (a) comprehensive high school, or
22 (b) technology center school when taken in the
23 tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade, taught by
24 a certified teacher, and approved by the
Req. No. 9319 Page 9
1 State Board of Education and the independent
2 district board of education,
3 p. science courses taught at a technology center school
4 by a teacher certified in the secondary subject area
5 when taken in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade
6 upon approval of the State Board of Education and the
7 independent district board of education, or
8 q. other science courses with content and/or rigor equal
9 to or above Biology I;
10 4. Social Studies – Three units or sets of competencies, to
11 consist of one unit or set of competencies of United States History,
12 one-half to one unit or set of competencies of United States
13 Government, one-half unit or set of competencies of Oklahoma
14 History, and one-half to one unit or set of competencies which may
15 include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
16 a. World History,
17 b. Geography,
18 c. Economics,
19 d. Anthropology, or
20 e. other social studies courses with content and/or rigor
21 equal to or above United States History, United States
22 Government, and Oklahoma History;
23
24
Req. No. 9319 Page 10
1 5. Arts – One unit or set of competencies which may include,
2 but is not limited to, courses in Visual Arts and, General Music, or
3 agricultural power and technology; and
4 6. Computer Education or World Language - One unit or set of
5 competencies of computer technology, whether taught at a high school
6 or a technology center school, including computer programming,
7 hardware and business computer applications, such as word
8 processing, databases, spreadsheets and graphics, excluding
9 keyboarding or typing courses, or one unit or set of competencies of
10 foreign or non-English language.
11 E. 1. In addition to the curriculum requirements of either
12 subsection B or D of this section, in order to graduate from a
13 public high school accredited by the State Board of Education
14 students shall complete the requirements for a personal financial
15 literacy passport as set forth in the Passport to Financial Literacy
16 Act and any additional course requirements or recommended elective
17 courses as may be established by the State Board of Education and
18 the district school board. School districts shall strongly
19 encourage students to complete two units or sets of competencies of
20 foreign languages and two units or sets of competencies of physical
21 and health education.
22 2. No student shall receive credit for high school graduation
23 more than once for completion of the same unit or set of
24 competencies to satisfy the curriculum requirements of this section.
Req. No. 9319 Page 11
1 3. A school district shall not be required to offer every
2 course listed in subsections B and D of this section, but shall
3 offer sufficient courses to allow a student to meet the graduation
4 requirements during the secondary grade years of the student.
5 F. 1. In addition to the curriculum requirements of either
6 subsection B or D of this section, beginning with ninth graders in
7 the 2021-22 school year, in order to graduate from a public high
8 school accredited by the State Board of Education, students shall
9 pass the United States naturalization test pursuant to the
10 provisions of this subsection.
11 2. School districts shall offer the United States
12 naturalization test to students at least once per school year,
13 beginning as early as eighth grade at the discretion of the school
14 district; provided, any student may retake the exam upon request,
15 and as often as desired, until earning a passing score. For