By Associated Press
Oklahoma City, OK – OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) Gov. Brad Henry today vetoed legislation that would allow public schools to operate as charter schools free of many state school mandates.
Henry said that would turn back the clock on decades of education reforms.
The bill was supported by some school administrators and school boards who claimed it would have given them more local control. It was opposed by the Oklahoma Education Association, which said it could eliminate school librarians and counselors.
Henry says local school administrators could ignore rigorous state standards and create their own academic benchmarks and rules under the bill.
Bartlesville Sen. John Ford, one of the authors, said in spite of Henry's veto, he's hopeful for reform in Oklahoma's education system.
Copyright 2009 The Associated Press.