1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
3 HOUSE BILL 1441 By: Provenzano
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Sections 6-192 and 6-194, as amended by Section 1,
8 Chapter 211, O.S.L. 2022 (70 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section
6-194), which relate to professional development;
9 requiring digital program to be completed at a
frequency determined by the board of education;
10 deleting outdated language; authorizing completion of
certain programs at a frequency determined by the
11 board; modifying frequency of child abuse training;
altering frequency of dyslexia and dysgraphia
12 program; establishing maximum amount of mandatory
professional development and training in a five-year
13 period; requiring teachers to maintain certain
documentation; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-
14 194.3, which relates to student mental health
training for teachers; modifying frequency of
15 training; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-195, which
relates to teacher induction programs; authorizing
16 board to establish frequency for training; amending
70 O.S. 2021, Section 11-103.6j, which relates to
17 workplace safety training curriculum; requiring board
to determine frequency of training; amending 70 O.S.
18 2021, Section 24-100.4, which relates to the School
Safety and Bullying Prevention Act; altering
19 frequency of bullying prevention training; amending
70 O.S. 2021, Section 24-100.7, which relates to
20 suicide awareness and prevention; adjusting frequency
of training; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.229-
21 5, which relates to substance abuse programs;
modifying frequency of teacher training; providing an
22 effective date; and declaring an emergency.
23
24
Req. No. 6097 Page 1
1 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
2 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-192, is
3 amended to read as follows:
4 Section 6-192. A. It is hereby declared to be the intent of
5 the Legislature to establish a professional development procedure
6 whereby all teachers in the state continue their education beyond
7 initial certification by the state to ensure that the children of
8 the state are taught by professional educators, fully prepared in
9 their areas of expertise. Furthermore, such professional
10 development procedure shall provide alternative means of education,
11 including one or more of the following: In-service programs, higher
12 education courses, or other alternative means of education designed
13 to help teachers enrich their professional abilities.
14 B. The professional development procedure shall include digital
15 teaching and learning standards to enhance content delivery to
16 students and improve student achievement. A local school district
17 board of education shall require a program for teachers which shall
18 emphasize the importance of digital teaching and learning standards.
19 The program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is
20 employed by a school district, and then at a frequency as determined
21 by the local board of education.
22 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-194, as
23 amended by Section 1, Chapter 211, O.S.L. 2022 (70 O.S. Supp. 2022,
24 Section 6-194), is amended to read as follows:
Req. No. 6097 Page 2
1 Section 6-194. A. The district boards of education of this
2 state shall establish professional development programs for the
3 certified teachers and administrators of the district. Programs
4 shall be adopted by each board based upon recommendations of a
5 professional development committee appointed by the board of
6 education for the district. For the fiscal years ending June 30,
7 2011, and June 30, 2012, a school district board of education may
8 elect not to adopt and offer a professional development program for
9 certified teachers and administrators of the district. If a school
10 district elects not to adopt and offer a professional development
11 program, the district may expend any monies allocated for
12 professional development for any purpose related to the support and
13 maintenance of the school district as determined by the board of
14 education of the school district.
15 B. Each professional development committee shall include
16 classroom teachers, administrators, school counselors or licensed
17 mental health providers, and parents, guardians or custodians of
18 children in the school district and shall consult with a higher
19 education faculty. A majority of the members of the professional
20 development committee shall be composed of classroom teachers. The
21 teacher members shall be selected by a designated administrator of
22 the school district from a list of names submitted by the teachers
23 in the school district. The members selected shall be subject to
24 the approval of a majority vote of the teachers in the district.
Req. No. 6097 Page 3
1 C. In developing program recommendations, each professional
2 development committee shall annually utilize a data-driven approach
3 to analyze student data and determine district and school
4 professional development needs. The professional development
5 programs adopted shall be directed toward development of
6 competencies and instructional strategies in the core curriculum
7 areas for the following goals:
8 1. Increasing the academic performance data scores for the
9 district and each school site;
10 2. Closing achievement gaps among student subgroups;
11 3. Increasing student achievement as demonstrated on state-
12 mandated tests and the ACT;
13 4. Increasing high school graduation rates; and
14 5. Decreasing college remediation rates.
15 Each program may also include components on classroom management
16 and student discipline strategies, outreach to parents, guardians or
17 custodians of students, special education, and racial and ethnic
18 education, which all personnel defined as teachers in Section 1-116
19 of this title shall be required to complete on a periodic basis at a
20 frequency as determined by the board of education. The State Board
21 of Education shall provide guidelines to assist school districts in
22 developing and implementing racial and ethnic education components
23 into professional development programs.
24
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1 D. At a minimum of once an academic year a A program shall be
2 offered which includes the following information shall be completed
3 the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school district,
4 and then once every fifth academic year:
5 1. Training on recognition of child abuse and neglect;
6 2. Recognition of child sexual abuse;
7 3. Proper reporting of suspected abuse; and
8 4. Available resources.
9 E. One time per year, beginning in the 2009-2010 school year,
10 training in the area of autism shall be offered and all resident
11 teachers of students in early childhood programs through grade three
12 shall be required to complete the autism training during the
13 resident year and at least one time every three (3) years
14 thereafter. All other teachers and education support professionals
15 of students in early childhood programs through grade three shall be
16 required to complete the autism training at least one time every
17 three (3) years. The autism training shall include a minimum
18 awareness of the characteristics of autistic children, resources
19 available and an introduction to positive behavior supports to
20 challenging behavior. Each adopted program shall allow school
21 counselors to receive at least one-third (1/3) of the hours or
22 credit required each year through programs or courses specifically
23 designed for school counselors.
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1 Districts are authorized to utilize any means for professional
2 development that is not prohibited by law including, but not limited
3 to, professional development provided by the district, any state
4 agency, institution of higher education, or any private entity.
5 F. One time per year, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, a
6 A dyslexia awareness program shall be offered completed the first
7 year a certified teacher is employed by a school district, and then
8 once every fifth academic year. Beginning in the 2023-2024 school
9 year, the program shall include information and training in
10 dysgraphia. At a minimum, the program shall include:
11 1. Training in awareness of dyslexia characteristics in
12 students;
13 2. Training in effective classroom instruction to meet the
14 needs of students with dyslexia; and
15 3. Available dyslexia resources for teachers, students and
16 parents.
17 G. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, each
18 certified teacher in this state shall be required by the district
19 board of education to meet the professional development requirements
20 established by the board, or established through the negotiation
21 process. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, the
22 professional development requirements established by each board of
23 education shall require every teacher to annually complete a minimum
24 number of the total number of points required to maintain
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1 employment; provided, no more than a total of one hundred fifty
2 (150) hours of local, state, or federal professional development or
3 training shall be required for classroom teachers during any five-
4 year period. Failure of any teacher to meet district board of
5 education professional development requirements may be grounds for
6 nonrenewal of such teacher's contract by the board. Such failure
7 may also be grounds for nonconsideration of salary increments
8 affecting the teacher. For the fiscal years ending June 30, 2011,
9 and June 30, 2012, a certified teacher shall not be required to
10 complete any points of the total number of professional development
11 points required. Provided, a teacher may elect to complete some or
12 all of the minimum number of points required for the two (2) fiscal
13 years and any points completed shall be counted toward the total
14 number of points required to maintain employment. If a teacher does
15 not complete some or all of the minimum number of points required
16 for one (1) or both fiscal years, the total number of points
17 required to maintain employment shall be adjusted and reduced by the
18 number of points not completed. Teachers shall maintain written
19 documentation of all their completed professional development.
20 H. Each district shall annually submit a report to the State
21 Department of Education on the district level professional
22 development needs, activities completed, expenditures, and results
23 achieved for each school year by each goal as provided in subsection
24 C of this section. If a school district elects not to adopt and
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1 offer a professional development program as provided for in
2 subsection A of this section, the district shall not be required to
3 submit an annual report as required pursuant to this subsection but
4 shall report to the State Department of Education its election not
5 to offer a program and all professional development activities
6 completed by teachers and administrators of the school district.
7 I. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department shall
8 develop an online system for reporting as required in subsection H
9 of this section. The Department shall also make such information
10 available on its website.
11 SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-194.3, is
12 amended to read as follows:
13 Section 6-194.3 A. The State Department of Education and the
14 Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, in
15 consultation with school district superintendents and school
16 district boards of education, shall develop and make available to
17 school districts information, training, and resources to help school
18 employees recognize and address the mental health needs of students.
19 A local school district board of education shall require a training
20 program for teachers which shall emphasize the importance of
21 recognizing and addressing the mental health needs of students. The
22 program shall be completed the first year a certified teacher is
23 employed by a school district, and then once every third fifth
24 academic year.
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1 B. The information made available to school districts shall
2 include, but not be limited to:
3 1. Information about the services provided by community-based
4 organizations related to mental health, substance abuse, and trauma;
5 2. Information about the impact trauma and adverse childhood
6 experiences can have on a student's ability to learn;
7 3. The availability of mental health evaluation and treatment
8 available by telemedicine; and
9 4. Information about evidence-based strategies for prevention
10 of at-risk behaviors.
11 SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-195, is
12 amended to read as follows:
13 Section 6-195. A. As funds are available, the State Department
14 of Education in consultation with the Office of Educational Quality
15 and Accountability shall administer an induction program for
16 teachers which shall be approved by the State Board of Education.
17 Beginning with the 2015-2016 school year, each school district shall
18 participate in the induction program. The program shall include,
19 but not be limited to:
20 1. Guidance to school districts for successful induction
21 programs;
22 2. Training for school districts to include the selection,
23 function and duties of mentors; and
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1 3. Resources for appropriate professional development, support,
2 mentorship and coaching for the inductee and mentors.
3 B. The induction program training shall be completed at a
4 frequency as determined by the board of education.
5 C. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules for
6 administration of the induction program.
7 SECTION 5. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 11-103.6j,
8 is amended to read as follows:
9 Section 11-103.6j A. The State Department of Education, in
10 collaboration with the Oklahoma Department of Labor, shall make
11 available to school districts information regarding workplace safety
12 training for grades seven through twelve. Such information shall
13 include the Oklahoma Department of Labor's "Youth @ Work Talking
14 Safety: A Safety and Health Curriculum for Young Workers".
15 B. The State Department of Education shall encourage school
16 districts to inform grade-seven through -twelve teachers about the
17 importance of incorporating workplace safety training in their
18 curriculum.
19 C. A local school district board of education shall require a
20 program for seventh-grade through twelfth-grade teachers which shall
21 emphasize the importance of incorporating workplace safety training
22 into curriculum. The program shall be completed the first year a
23 certified teacher is employed by a school district, and then at a
24 frequency as determined by the local board.
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1 D. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules to
2 implement the provisions of this act.
3 SECTION 6. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 24-100.4, is
4 amended to read as follows:
5 Section 24-100.4 A. Each school district board of education
6 shall adopt a policy for the discipline of all children attending
7 public school in that district, and for the investigation of
8 reported incidents of bullying. The policy shall provide options
9 for the discipline of the students and shall define standards of
10 conduct to which students are expected to conform. The policy
11 shall:
12 1. Specifically address bullying by students at school and by
13 electronic communication, if the communication is specifically
14 directed at students or school personnel and concerns bullying at
15 school;
16 2. Contain a procedure for reporting an act of bullying to a
17 school official or law enforcement agency, including a provision
18 that permits a person to report an act anonymously. No formal
19 disciplinary action shall be taken solely on the basis of an
20 anonymous report;
21 3. Contain a requirement that any school employee that has
22 reliable information that would lead a reasonable person to suspect
23