Bill Aiming To Limit Virtual School Days Passes Out Of Senate

Some of the state’s largest school districts are keeping an eye on a bill making its way through the state capitol right now. It could change how a district is able to use virtual learning days.

The bill would require all school districts to justify using a virtual learning day.

It also gives the state education department the ability to approve or deny the reason for moving classes online. If the department denies them, schools would have to tack-on days of classroom learning.

“Over 30 is not an abnormal thing for us to see. We just really thought we need to put parameters in place,” Sen. Kristen Thompson (R-Edmond) said.

Some districts say this would cut down on the number of development days they offer for their teachers, because teachers would have to have at least four hours of screen time with students.

“We can’t provide professional development and still sustain that requirement,” Sharon James with the Broken Arrow Public Schools district said. “We just can’t do it.”

The bill passed out of the Oklahoma Senate and is waiting to be heard on the House floor. If enacted, the bill would go into effect immediately.