STATE OF OKLAHOMA

1st Session of the 52nd Legislature (2009)

SENATE BILL 657	By:	Paddack

AS INTRODUCED

An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2001, Section 14-103.1, which relates to technology center school dropout recovery grants; increasing dropout recovery programs contingent on funds; requiring approval of Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education; specifying certain cooperative funding effort; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1.     AMENDATORY     70 O.S. 2001, Section 14-103.1, is amended to read as follows:
Section 14-103.1  A.  Contingent upon the provision of appropriated funds, the State Board of Career and Technology Education is authorized to award one or more competitive grants for dropout recovery programs to technology center school districts.  The grant awards shall be made to technology center school districts serving school districts that do not have intensive dropout prevention programs and that have the greatest need for dropout prevention and recovery as reflected in reports of the Office of Accountability.  The Dropout Recovery Grants shall emphasize dropout recovery, shall be in addition to any existing alternative education programs, and shall meet the criteria applicable to Alternative Education Academy Grants as set forth in subsection A B of Section 1210.563 1210.568 of this title.
B.  The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall provide or contract for technical assistance from appropriated funds.  The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall provide or contract for in-depth program analysis and evaluation of grant-funded programs to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education and the Legislature no later than November 1 following the end of the school year in which one or more programs were implemented and funded through Dropout Recovery Grants.
C.  Programs funded through Dropout Recovery Grants shall be subject to the funding cycle and limitations applicable to Alternative Education Academy Grants as set out in subsection C D of Section 1210.563 1210.568 of this title.
D.  By September 15 of each school year, all revenue received and expended for students participating in Dropout Recovery Grant programs created in subsection A of this section shall be reported to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
E.  The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate rules as necessary to administer the Dropout Recovery Grants and the process by which the grant funding shall be allocated.
F.  By September 1, 1995, the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall prepare and submit to the Legislature and the Governor a proposed statewide plan, including a statement of needed funding, for the provision of vocational and technical education to students in grades six through twelve who have been identified by school districts in their needs assessments as being at risk of not completing a high school education for a reason other than that identified in Section 13-101 of this title, and who would benefit from vocational and technical education.  The plan shall include the availability of technology education courses to the identified students, an outreach effort to students in grades eleven and twelve in vocational and technical courses, provision for cooperative agreements to provide services for students participating in alternative education programs, and coordination with the State Board of Education.
G.  Contingent upon the provision of appropriated funds, beginning with the 2010-2011 school year, the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall increase the number of Dropout Recovery Programs in Oklahoma operated at technology center schools.  Such programs must be approved by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education and must be a cooperative funding effort of the technology center school district, the public school district or districts, the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education and, where appropriate, local private funding.
SECTION 2.  This act shall become effective July 1, 2009.
SECTION 3.  It being immediately necessary for the preservation of the public peace, health and safety, an emergency is hereby declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and be in full force from and after its passage and approval.

52-1-1482	KM	1/13/2009 3:52:33 PM