We are simply a group of parents who volunteer our time. This page is for public school advocates, and we reserve the right to remove any comments or commenters that undermine our mission to educate and inform. Oklahoma PLAC Legislative Goals 2022
STOP FURTHER PRIVATIZATION of PUBLIC EDUCATION
* Ensure all resources available for K - 12 education are focused on the constitutionally-required, free and appropriate public schools that choose all children
* Require consistent oversight, transparency and accountability for virtual, blended and brick & mortar charter schools that protect taxpayer money from fraud and abuse
* Prohibit the use of both non-profit and for-profit management companies in the running of charter schools
* Adjust the weights provided for students enrolled in 100% virtual learning to more closely match actual costs
RESPECT, RECRUIT & RETAIN EDUCATORS
* Ensure adequate investment in the funding formula to lower class sizes, increase salaries of certified and support staff, and provide necessities for classroom instruction
* Pass legislation that will incentivize teachers to stay in the profession such as loan forgiveness programs, extending required step increases through 35 years, making the cost of dependent insurance more affordable, and making teachers' dependents eligible for Oklahoma Promise
* Protect teachers' time to focus on teaching, rather than testing and data collection; ideas might include streamlining assessments for Reading Sufficiency Act, the Response to Intervention process with its three universal screenings perv year plus weekly progress monitoring assessments and frequent benchmark testing
* Promote legislation that protects academic freedom to teach the state curriculum in a way that honors children's rights to an accurate and honest education that reflects and respects their diverse cultures and communities
* Develop and fund a tuition-free pathway for paraprofessionals to earn professional teacher credentials
SAFE & SUPPORTIVE LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS
* Safeguard local control of duly elected school boards to establish policies that provide for safe and open schools
* Dedicate resources to mental health and behavioral support systems for children and their families to mitigate the impact of trauma
* Facilitate the implementation of a Community Schools model or similar models that coordinate wrap-around services for children and families to address their physical and mental health and social services needs
PROTECT & PROMOTE VOTING ACCESSIBILITY
* Support legislation that protects and promotes voting accessibility for all Oklahomans age 18 and older
* Increase voter registration and turnout for 2022 elections
INVEST IN INNOVATION
* Support choice and innovation within local public school district including virtual and blended learning, expanded curriculums, therapeutic programs, the arts and athletics
* Develop choice in pathways to post graduation careers through college prep and AP courses,, concurrent enrollment, vocational/technical programs, internships, mentorships and apprenticeships
* Support children's rights to an accurate and honest education that develops the critical thinking skills required to learn from the past, make sense of the present, and shape a better future for themselves and our country
