In order to be an effective legislator, elected officials rely on constituent input. Ongoing communication is key for public representatives to know and understand how voters feel about particular issues.
This toolkit seeks not only to provide tips on effective advocacy at the state capitol building but also in your hometowns with community members, business owners, city council, faith leaders and community volunteers.
• The Oklahoma State School Boards Association supports the local board’s authority in retaining autonomy over local matters including consolidation and exercising the authority of their roles and responsibilities as defined in the School Laws of Oklahoma.
• Oppose the use of vouchers masquerading as tax credits and/or incentives as a method of funding non-public education.
• Build on the progress of investing in our public schools through a long-term funding plan to bring state per-student expenditures to the regional average, equipping schools with the tools and resources to improve student achievement and produce college and career-ready students.
• Create a long-term funding plan for career and technology centers to ensure expanded educational opportunities for every student.
• Work with the state Department of Education to ensure the accountability system includes multiple researched-based indicators of student growth and school effectiveness.
• Create and fund the Oklahoma Aerospace Technology Center to create employment opportunities for Oklahoma students and meet the workforce needs of the aerospace and defense industries.
• Amend the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act to allow public bodies to enter into executive session for the purpose of self-evaluation of the public body.
• Standardize the date school board members would begin a new term following annual elections so that all new terms for school board members would begin following the April general election date.
• Study and make recommendations for funding virtual education for all schools.
• Examine ways to reduce the teacher shortage crisis, including but not limited to the pathways to teacher certification.
The OSSBA Legislative Goals make the OSSBA’s Legislative Agenda for the upcoming year and also set the OSSBA policy. These goals are voted on during our annual summer conference at Delegate Assembly by school board members. These particular goals were adopted on August 24, 2019. These goals are formed using submissions made by school board members to the Government Relations Committee of the OSSBA, who then present them at Delegate Assembly for adoption. These goals serve as a reference for you as a school board member to know what OSSBA stands for, as well as serves as a roadmap for your OSSBA staff in their work every day for school boards at the OSSBA.
