Interim Studies 2021: Tax Protests EMOs, Student Success, and More

By Dr. Jeanene Barnett, CCOSA Education Policy and Research Analyst

The work from interim studies can guide future legislation and reveal topics that interest leaders.

Any member of the House or Senate can request an interim study over legislative and policy issues. Sometimes, interim studies address issues that have been the subject of legislation that failed to pass in previous sessions but members desire more in-depth consideration.

A committee may devote anywhere from one hour to several full meetings to each study. Local and national experts may be invited to testify at interim study meetings. In the past few years, CCOSA members and staff have been asked to make presentations.

In the Senate, the President Pro Tempore approves the interim study requests and then assigns them to the appropriate standing committee. The committee chair then decides which studies will be heard and when. Of the 72 Senate interim studies, 14 are education-related.

In the House, the Speaker decides which studies to approve or disapprove. In some cases, House study requests on similar subjects are combined into a single study. Some studies may be considered jointly by the House and Senate. Of the 135 approved House interim studies in 2021, 43 are education-related.

Some Interim Studies to Watch

Wind/Oil/Gas Tax Protest: PROTEST Fund - finding a solution for Wind Ad Valorem that funds local schools when that funding is protested

(House 21-098 & House 21-009)

Rep. John Pfeiffer, R-Mulhall and Rep. Carl Newton, R-Woodward have the goal of bringing all the players to the table (Department of Education, Local Schools, and State Auditor's Office) to come up with a legislative solution so schools that depend on those wind ad valorem dollars can still. (Scheduled for Sept. 22)

Educational Management Organization

(House 21-013)

Rep. Shelia Dills, R-Tulsa, will review contractual agreements, including, but not limited to, competitive bidding and purchasing requirements. (Scheduled for Oct. 4)

Education post covid's effects on learning outcomes and possible solutions

(House 21-089; Senate 2021-58)

Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, will study how Covid has effected learning outcomes in Oklahoma students and what can be done to bring students back up to level. This study will look at K-12 and college freshman, where it is anticipated there will be remediation levels needed.

Study on teacher credentialing and certification

(House 21-093; Senate-59)

Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, and Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, will study innovative approaches to education human capital. Oklahoma, like most states, faces an acute teacher shortage. This study will look at how other states have attempted to address the teacher shortage through changes in certification law and/ or investing in programs aiming to reward highly effective teachers. This study will also encompass teacher certification and teacher quality.

Charter School Sponsors

(House 21-014)

Rep. Shelia Dills, R-Tulsa, will review contracts agreements and best practices for charter school sponsors. (Scheduled for Oct. 4) Comparing public, charter, online, and private schools

(Senate 2021-69)

Sen. Jessica Garvin, R-Duncan, will study graduation rates, attendance rates, school achievement, and student success, comparing between public, charter, online, and private schools.

Computer Science Education

(House 21-088)

Rep. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, will explain what computer science education looks like at the elementary, middle and high school levels.

CCOSA team members remain engaged with legislative issues, but we depend on our superintendents, principals and special services leaders to keep us informed of any local legislator conversations that may give us insight into the 2022 Legislative Session.

Please let us know if your legislator approaches you about presenting at or providing input for an interim study. We want to make sure that we credit our CCOSA members who are called upon as experts for the interim studies.

Each time that you tell your story, you build the credibility of Oklahoma education professionals. The more you build respectful relationships with your legislators, the easier it makes our jobs at the Capitol. ■