As we have all been following the recent and not-a-moment-too-soon completed 2014 session of the Oklahoma Legislature, the term “Action Alert” has been the short hand for a notice to let Oklahoma science teachers know when their interests and clients are at risk due to legislative actions. The current status of HB 3399, which is on the desk of the Governor, qualifies the bill to be connected to the term.
We are all waiting to hear what Governor Fallin plans to do with the bill. If signed, the resulting law is certain to result in the loss of the No Child Left Behind waiver granted to Oklahoma by the U.S. Department of Education, producing incredible upheaval in public schools across the state. The loss and/or re-direction of federal funding will place further stress on a state school system still struggling to deal with the massive budget cuts to education that began in 2008. Sanctions in NCLB also include possible loss of Principals, re-assignment of staff, and takeover of schools by the State Department of Education. There is no good reason for this to be allowed to occur.
HB 3399 also contains provisions that will politicize the process of establishing education standards to the point of making the process unworkable and unmanageable. Legislators have written provisions that are most likely unconstitutional in that they exceed the Legislature’s Constitutional authority and violate Oklahoma’s constitutional separation of powers. Science teachers are (or should be) especially concerned that members of the Legislature will use an enacted HB 3399 to inject their own bias and personal beliefs into curriculum areas. But science, rooted on the collection and interpretation of scientific data is not the only curriculum area at risk from this proposed law. Ask our Social Studies-teaching colleagues, who have been plagued with legislative meddling for years will mandated special days, weeks, or months with specified observances and required lessons. Professional educators, academic experts, and informed laypersons working in concert are the proper developers of curriculum, not untrained politicians willing and able to turn curriculum development into a political side-show.
As a national leader of the very association that inspired and sponsored the Common Core State Standards, Governor Fallin knows full well the misrepresentations that have been advanced by those who wish to dismantle the CCSS and she should rise above the distortions and political rhetoric to do what is right to develop Oklahoma’s College and Career-Ready future. The Oklahoma Science Teachers Association stands in support of the Common Core State Standards and against the unnecessary and likely unconstitutional intrusion of the Legislature into the curriculum development process.
Please call, email or fax Governor Fallin expressing your concerns and recommendations about HB3399.