New changes to proposed rules could save state's only recognized alternative virtual school
Proposed rules changes that supporters of the state’s only recognized alternative virtual charter school said would have effectively shut the school down apparently have been amended before being reviewed formally by the Oklahoma State Board of Education.
Consideration of the proposed changes was listed on the posted agenda for Thursday’s board meeting. However, a section of the document listing the changes appeared to be revised, striking out portions that — if approved by the board — would have required students to be “physically present, in person, and on-site in the alternative education program."
The proposed rule required on-side attendance "for a minimum of 4 hours and 12 minutes a day or 756 hours in a 165-day calendar” and a certified teacher to be “physically present, in-person, and be present in the Alt Ed classroom for all program hours identified in the alternative education plan.”
According to a rule impact statement posted on the department’s website, the purpose of the proposed changes is “to update the alternative education rules in order to improve the quality of alternative education, comply with best practices for alternative education, and comply with 2019 updates to the governing statute that the State Department of Education has not previously addressed in rules.”
The board was scheduled to vote on the proposed changes, with some of the requirements crossed out, on Thursday.
An Oklahoma State Department of Education spokesman did not immediately respond to questions about the new alterations in the change proposal.
Students, parents and teachers spoke on how Insight School of Oklahoma changed their lives
The initial set of proposed rules changes first appeared on the state Education Department website in early November. On Nov. 9, a public relations agency distributed a release to media on behalf of Insight School of Oklahoma, which offers classes for grades 6-12. Also known as ISOK, the Midwest City-based school said it serves more than 1,150 students in unique situations, including teen parents, students recovering from addiction, students who have been expelled from other schools, students with special needs and students with jobs who require flexible schedules.
A Nov. 15 public hearing about the proposed rule changes drew a full house to a board meeting room inside the Oliver Hodge Building, which houses the state Education Department. Only two of the 27 speakers said they supported changing the rules to require on-site class attendance. Supporters of the school and students who attend ISOK told attorney Bryan Cleveland — the only department employee who sat at the board table — about how the school and its unique educational offerings had positively affected their lives.
After the new revisions became public Wednesday, ISOK's head of school, Jennifer Wilkinson, issued a statement saying: “Parents deserve the right to choose the best learning environment for their child, and the revisions to the proposed rules protect their rights. Insight School of Oklahoma appreciates all our students, families, staff and other school choice advocates who spoke out against the original proposed rules."
She added: “We appreciate the Department of Education and State Board of Education for listening to these voices, protecting our school, and ensuring public virtual schools can continue to serve students as alternative education programs. Now we can return our focus to our top priority — providing quality education to our students and families.”
This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Insight School of Oklahoma may be spared by school rule changes
