We’re Going to Need New Rules, Please

I’m going to link to HJR 1045 and the committee vote announcement so you can see the documentation for yourself. Then I’m going to paste the entire 173 word bill which would overturn the adopted A-F Report Card rules.  It passed out of committee 10-1 today.

1st Session of the 54th Legislature (2013)

HOUSE JOINT

RESOLUTION 1045

By: Blackwell

AS INTRODUCED

A Joint Resolution disapproving a promulgated rule of the State Board of Education; and directing distribution.

WHEREAS, pursuant to Sections 250.2 and 308 of Title 75 of the Oklahoma Statutes, the Legislature reserves the right to designate the method for rule promulgation, establish policy, determine that a rule is not consistent with legislative intent and disapprove any rule or portion thereof at any time; and

WHEREAS, the promulgated rule of the State Board of Education codified as OAC 210:10-13-22 does not reflect the intent of the Oklahoma Legislature.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AND THE SENATE OF THE 1ST SESSION OF THE 54TH OKLAHOMA LEGISLATURE:

SECTION 1. The Legislature hereby disapproves the promulgated rule of the State Board of Education codified as OAC 210:10-13-22.

SECTION 2. The Secretary of State is directed to distribute copies of this resolution to the Governor, the State Board of Education, and the editor of “The Oklahoma Register”.

Being the skeptic that I am, let me pose three possible scenarios that would still be unappealing.

1. Oklahoma is simply following the playbook. Indiana did the same thing today. Last summer, Florida had to change the rules 12 hours after initial calculation last summer to keep the majority of districts from dropping a letter grade from the previous year. Perhaps the letter grades will go away. They are not absolutely necessary to the pervasive lie that public education is failing. There will still be an accountability system, though. Have no doubt.
2. New rules will be written. The State Board of Education, legislature, and governor will all heap praise upon the SDE for its responsiveness to the public. They won’t be very different. Superintendents and school boards will still complain. This time, the label of whiners will stick.
3. This bill looked great in committee, but it won’t survive the full legislature, or the governor will veto it. So far, the state party has done a good job of providing political cover for Superintendent Barresi. Privately, they admit to frustration with the way she has handled the Department, but that unease never lasts in public. If the state GOP has to protect Barresi to keep the SDE under their control, they will. Have no doubt.

Reports of Barresi’s response to today’s vote are slow to emerge. I think it was something like this.

About these ads