SB0441 was signed into law by Governor Stitt. POE will be gathering comments & recommendations from members to pass onto the State Department of Education and legislators so they can make better-informed decisions when creating these guidelines. We want to ensure the guidelines set forth are realistic and attainable. If you would like to give us your feedback regarding the cost-saving and academic requirements for 4-day schools, please send them to
SB0441 requires public schools to be in session, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, for not less than 1,080 hours with a minimum of 165 days of instruction if a district board of education adopts a school-hours policy and notifies the State Board of Education prior to October 15 of the applicable school year or for not less than 1,080 hours if a district board of education adopts a school-hours policy, notifies the State Board of Education prior to October 15 of the applicable school year and meets the requirements established by the State Board of Education. It permits a school district board of education, beginning with the 2021-2022 school year, to adopt a 1,080 school-hours policy only if it meets or exceeds the minimum guidelines for student performance and school district cost savings established by the State Board of Education. The bill requires the State Board of Education to promulgate rules, subject to approval by the Legislature, establishing the minimum guidelines for student performance and school district cost savings. It provides it does not prohibit the Oklahoma School for the Blind or the Oklahoma School for the Deaf from adopting an alternative school-hours policy if the Oklahoma School for the Blind or the Oklahoma School for the Deaf notifies and receives approval from the State Board of Education prior to October 15 of the applicable school year.
Click here for the Oklahoma News4 article.