SECTION 210:10-1-22. Guidelines for nontraditional public schools

(a)   Purpose. Oklahoma law authorizes certain public school entities that are exempt from many of the statutory and regulatory requirements that apply to traditional public schools, but are not classified or operated as charter schools. This section lays out guidelines for "conversion schools" and "partnership schools", two types of nontraditional public schools authorized by state law.

(b)   Conversion schools. Pursuant to 70 O.S. § 3-132(E), "conversion school" means a school site created by converting all or part of a traditional public school in order to access any or all flexibilities afforded to a charter school. Unlike a charter school, a conversion school is administered by the school district board of education rather than an independent governing board, and the school district itself retains the features of a traditional public school district. A conversion school is subject to all school accreditation requirements that apply to charter schools.

(1)   Conversion plan requirements. A school district that wishes to convert one or more school sites to access flexibilities available to charter schools is required by the authorizing statute to prepare a conversion plan that includes all of the following features:

(A)   A mission statement for the conversion school(s);

(B)   A description including, but not limited to, the organizational structure of the school(s);

(C)   A description of the facility and location of the conversion school(s);

(D)   A description of the grades served;

(E)   An outline of criteria designed to measure effectiveness of the conversion school(s);

(F)   A demonstration of support for the conversion school(s) from residents of the school district which may include, but is not limited to, a survey of the school district residents or a petition signed by residents of the school district;

(G)   Documentation that one or more representatives of the school district pursuing the conversion of a school have completed charter school training as set forth in 70 O.S. § 3-134(A);

(H)   Unless otherwise authorized by law or regulation, a description of the academic program aligned with state standards;

(I)   A description of the instructional design of the conversion school(s), including the type of learning environment, class size and structure, curriculum overview, and teaching methods;

(J)   The plan for using internal and external assessments to measure and report student progress;

(K)   The plans for identifying and successfully serving students with disabilities, students who are English language learners, and students who are academically behind;

(L)   A description of co-curricular or extracurricular programs and how they will be funded and delivered;

(M)   The student discipline policies for the conversion school(s), including those for special education students;

(N)   An organizational chart that clearly presents the organizational structure of the conversion school(s), including lines of authority and reporting between the board of education, staff, any related bodies such as advisory bodies or parent and teacher councils, and any external organizations that will play a role in managing the school;

(O)   A clear description of the roles and responsibilities for the board of education, the leadership and management team(s) for the conversion school(s), and any other entities shown in the organizational chart;

(P)   The leadership and teacher employment policies for the conversion school(s);

(Q)   Proposed governing policies;

(R)   Explanations of any partnerships or contractual partnerships central to the operations or mission of the conversion school(s); and

(S)   A requirement that the conversion school(s) follow the requirements of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

(2)   Public availability of the conversion plan. In addition to the statutory requirements listed in (b)(1), the conversion plan must explain in clear language how the features and/or operations of the school(s) proposed for conversion will differ from a traditional public school. The conversion plan and all supporting documents listed in (b)(1) that are not incorporated as part of the conversion plan, as well as any policies unique to the conversion site, shall be in writing and shall be available to the public pursuant to the requirements of the Oklahoma Open Records Act. In addition to making a print copy of the conversion plan available to the public upon request, a school district that wishes to pursue the conversion of one or more school sites shall make the conversion plan available in electronic form on any general website maintained by the school district, and if applicable, on the specific website or web page of any school in the district that would be affected by the conversion if the plan is approved. All votes of a board of education to consider a conversion plan shall be held in an open public session.

(3)   Submission of an approved conversion plan to the State Department of Education. In addition to the statutory requirement for a board of education that approves a school conversion plan to notify the State Board of Education, upon approval of a school conversion plan by the local school board, the school district shall notify the State Department of Education Office of Accreditation and provide a copy of the approved plan. Approved school conversion plans will be made available on the State Department of Education website in the same manner as other public documents.

(c)   Partnership schools. Pursuant to 70 O.S. § 5-117(G), the board of education of a school district with an average daily membership (ADA) of thirty thousand (30,000) or more, which is located in whole or part in a county with a population of five hundred thousand (500,000) or more, may contract with a public or private nonsectarian entity for that entity to provide educational and administrative services for one or more schools within the school district. A school that receives educational and/or administrative services by contract with a nonsectarian entity may be referred to as a "partnership school." A partnership school is subject to all school accreditation requirements that apply to charter schools. Any contract for educational and/or administrative services to a partnership school shall be available upon request under the Oklahoma Open Records Act. Upon adoption of any contract for educational and/or administrative services to a partnership school, the school district board of education shall provide a copy of the contract to the State Department of Education Office of Accreditation.

[Source: Added at 36 Ok Reg 737, eff 7-25-19]