Charter School Choice
Does the state have charter schools?
Are for-profit charter schools or management companies allowed?
Is there a cap on the number of charter schools?
In counties with population under 500,000 the State Board of Education cannot sponsor more than five charter schools per year each year for the first 5 years after the effective date of this act, with not more than one charter school sponsored in a single school district per year (from 2010 to 2015).
Are charters required to provide transportation for any students?
Transportation shall be provided by the charter school in accordance with Sections 9-101 through 9-118 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes and only within the transportation boundaries of the school district in which the charter school is located.
Can charter schools employ uncertified teachers?
Charter must include description of personnel qualifications/certifications.
70-3-136.B. Rules and standards to be incorporated into charter
Virtual School Choice
Do state statutes allow for full-time virtual schools?
The Statewide Virtual Charter School Board “…authorize[s] and sponsor[s] statewide virtual charter schools in this state...”
Are virtual schools required to track attendance?
"It shall be the duty of each virtual charter school approved and sponsored by the Statewide Virtual School Board pursuant to the provisions of Section 3-145.3 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes to keep a full and complete record of the attendance of all students enrolled in the virtual charter school in one of the student information systems approved by the State Department of Education and locally selected by the virtual school from the approved list."
Do virtual schools have to comply with state teacher certification requirements?
The Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board's Virtual Charter School Authorization and Oversight Process states, "The Charter School agrees that all individuals employed to teach students shall hold a valid teaching certificate issued or recognized by the State Board of Education or other qualifying credentials as allowed by the Oklahoma Charter School Act."
Virtual Charter School Authorization and Oversight Process: 8.12.4 Instructional personnel.
Private School Choice
Does the state have voucher programs?
Oklahoma statutes allow for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program, a program that provides a scholarship to a private school of choice for students with disabilities.
70-13-101.2: Purpose of Program - Scholarship factors - Eligibility.
Does the state have educational expense tuition tax credits or deductions?
Can students use vouchers to attend religious schools?
Is there a cap on the number of students or private schools participating in voucher programs?
Are voucher students in private schools required to take any standardized tests?
Can private schools be removed from voucher programs based on performance?
"The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall deny, suspend, or revoke the participation of a private school in the scholarship program if it is determined that the private school has failed to comply with the provisions of this section."
70-13-101.2.K.1: Purpose of Program - Scholarship factors - Eligibility.
Are private schools in voucher programs required to provide transportation?
"Upon acceptance of a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, the parent or legal guardian shall assume full financial responsibility for the education of the student, including but not limited to transportation to and from the private school."
70-13-101.2.F.2: Purpose of Program - Scholarship factors - Eligibility.
Interdistrict School Choice
Does the state have interdistrict choice programs?
"On and after January 1, 2000, the transfer of a student from the district in which the student resides to another school district furnishing instruction in the grade the student is entitled to pursue shall be granted if the transfer has the approval of the board of education of the receiving district."
70-8-101.2. Transfer of student from residential school district.
Are receiving schools or districts required to provide transportation to any students?
We did not find mention of a transportation requirement. However: "Upon a request for a student transfer pursuant to the provisions of the Education Open Transfer Act, if the parent of the student requests that the receiving district provide transportation for the student, and if the receiving district grants the transfer, then the receiving district may provide such transportation only within the boundaries of the receiving school district. A receiving school district shall not cross school district boundaries to transport a kindergarten through eighth-grade student transferred pursuant to the Education Open Transfer Act except as otherwise authorized in Section 9-105 of this title."