Education Proposals Head To Oklahoma Governor's Desk

NewsOn6.com

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Two Republican-sponsored proposals to change Oklahoma's education system have been given final legislative approval and are heading to the governor's desk.

The Senate on Monday approved a bill that would end so-called "social promotion" by preventing third graders from advancing to the next grade if they haven't learned to read. The author of the bill, Sen. Clark Jolley, says the current system allows too many students to "slip through the cracks."

The other bill approved in the House would create a system for issuing letter grades to schools so that parents and students can easily see how their schools are performing. The grades, "A" to "F," would be based on student performance on state tests.

The grades would be:

• "A" - schools making excellent progress
• "B" - schools making above average progress
• "C" - schools making satisfactory progress
• "D" - schools making less than satisfactory progress
• "F" - schools failing to make adequate progress

"This legislation will make it easier for poorer-performing schools to duplicate the strategies of their successful counterparts, benefiting students all across Oklahoma," State Rep. Lee Denney said. "All Oklahoma children deserve access to a quality education, and this bill will help make that possible."

Both bills now head to Republican Gov. Mary Fallin for consideration.

The Associated Press contributed to this story