Bill would force more districts to return to five-day week
Two bills backed by Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat cleared a committee Tuesday, including one that would force more Oklahoma school districts to return to five-day school weeks.
The Senate Education Committee voted 11-6 for the bill by Sen. Marty Quinn, R-Claremore, which calls for all public schools to be in session for no less than 180 days. Currently, schools are to be in session for 1,080 hours.
According to the state Education Department, 92 of Oklahoma's more than 500 districts are currently operating on four-day school weeks.
The bill provides exemptions if local schools can demonstrate four-day weeks aren't adversely impacting student achievement and four-day weeks actually save the local district money.
Treat, R-Oklahoma City, said five-day weeks are best for families, adding that four-day weeks have hurt Oklahoma's reputation nationally and impaired the state's ability to recruit new employers and jobs.
“Members, obviously as leader of the Senate Republican caucus, this is part of our agenda,” Treat said. “We took it seriously when we made our agenda because the focus of education should be the child, and the parameters for exemptions are based on the child.
“We have a chance to take a stand here today. We have a chance to say that we believe a five-day school week is in the benefit of the child.”
State schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister supports fiveday school weeks and does not believe shorter school weeks are in the best interest of kids in the long run, said Steffie Corcoran, Education Department spokeswoman.
“There are a number of related bills, and we look forward to working with the Legislature to most effectively address concerns,” Corcoran said.
Senate Bill 901 by Treat to expand the Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship program to include homeless children, passed by a 10-7 margin. The existing program offers school vouchers to disabled children already attending a public school.
“Currently there's one school designated for homeless children, but this envisions other schools wanting to open for that same purpose,” he said.
“This bill is for any school that forms or is currently in existence for the exclusive education of the most vulnerable children in our education system — the homeless children.”
Both bills now head to the Senate floor.