The Oklahoma House appropriations and budget subcommittee on education passed several funding measures Monday, but none dealt with teacher pay raises.
One was a plan to potentially overhaul state funding for public schools. Senate Bill 261 calls for the formation of a task force to present recommendations for improving the state aid formula by the end of this year.
Rep. Dennis Casey said any time you change the formula, there will be winners and losers.
"Being a former superintendent, it definitely gives me some concerns," Casey said. "But I will say, I don't have any concerns with the aspect of being looked at, because if you don't look at it, then you never — it's always — everything's going to be the same."
The task force would be made up of six lawmakers, financial officers from four districts of varying sizes, school board and administrator association representatives and an appointee of the state superintendent.
A funding plan for teacher recruitment also moved forward. Lawmakers want the State Department of Education and State Regents for Higher Education to pursue a variety of recruitment strategies, including promoting teaching as a respected and desirable career and working with businesses to offer summer employment opportunities for teachers.
Rep. Ryan Martinez said $20 from a proposed new special license plate's fees would fund those efforts.
"It's just kind of one of those deals, depends on how many people want the license plate. So, I can't tell you how many people are going to go to their tag agents and say, 'I want this plate,'" Martinez said.
Senate Bill 14 authorizes the new plate, and Senate Bill 15 directs the portion of the license plate fees to a revolving fund for the recruitment efforts.
Another proposal would let charter schools pursue bond money. Senate Bill 359 allows charter schools to ask the school board of the district they’re located in to join in a bond election.
Rep. Michael Rogers said that allows communities to support charters without forcing districts into anything.
"Allow that district to make those decisions and allow those people to vote on that as a group," Rogers said. "I mean, they'll have to be part of that package. It'll be part of that voting package as well. If a school district has hesitation on that and believes that's not what's best for them, then they can definitely say, 'No. We'd rather just move on without you guys under our umbrella.'"
The charter schools’ request would need construction timelines and cost estimates. The school board would have 30 days to respond.
SB261, SB15 and SB359 now go to the House appropriations and budget committee.
