House Bill 1759 Confusing to School Districts

Monday, February 14th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

Thousands of teachers and education advocates are expected to rally at the state capitol Wednesday, urging lawmakers to "Put Education First." Members of the Oklahoma Education Coalition say that involves a number of issues including changing House Bill 1759, last year's controversial education funding law. The News on Six went to the Union district Monday to gauge 1759's impact on schools statewide.

The Union school district called staff back to school early last August to plan how to comply with nonfunded mandates ordered by House Bill 1759. Key components of the controversial law changed high school graduation requirements with the so-called ACT curriculum and set up a two-tier diploma system.

Union says its been forced to conform in some ways by actually lowering its standards.
â€œWeâ€™ve had to reschedule a lot of our students,â€ said Union Schools Superintendent Dr. Cathy Burden. â€œQuite a few of our teachers had to go back for extra and different certification. It has cost us about $45,000 worth of new textbook money."

Burden and other educators are seeking three main changes in 1759.

* They want local control returned to school districts.

* More flexibility in the courses they offer.

* Elimination of the dual diploma system.

Educators say the dual diploma requirement has set off chaos and confusion for this year's freshman class. The entire class had to change their schedules when school started.

â€œParents of 9th graders and parents of 8th graders are terribly confused about what it is they're expected to do,â€ Burden noted. â€œWe are actually unable to give them too many specific directions, because it's changing for school districts as well.â€

Because of new graduation requirements, Union decided to offer high school credit at the 8th grade level. Civics instructor Donna Garrison is one of several teachers who spent the last six months cramming to qualify for high school certification. "It was an incredible experience that I don't want to have to repeat,â€ Garrison said. â€œI didn't have time to go back to take the coursework that most people are allowed to take to prepare for these tests. It was draining."

While House Bill 1759 doesn't directly affect school athletics, coaches are concerned about its affect on another proposal on the table, moving all athletics to after school hours. Coaches say taking sports out of the school day will decrease participation, a key factor in drop out rates. "We feel when you go to an after school program, the marginal guys, the ones who aren't quite as committed as the rest drop out. Because if they donâ€™t have to come, they generally don't.â€

Burden says bills have already been filed to correct some problems. â€œI do think that everyone at the legislature now realizes that mistakes were made and they are willing to change those," she said. Educators hope the Wednesday rally moves that change forward.