Magna Carta News
Saturday, February 21, 2004
Oklahoma Paperwork Reduction Act.
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Mike W. Ray, Media Division Director
February 19, 2004
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Legislation intended to reduce the volume of paperwork generated in Oklahoma's public schools zipped through a state House panel Thursday.
"One of the biggest complaints from teachers is that they are burdened with tons of paperwork," said Rep. Susan Winchester. The Chickasha Republican told the House Committee on Common Education that her House Bill 2537 is intended to "reduce some of that paperwork and allow educators to do a lot of it electronically."
The bill would direct the State Board of Education to develop a paperwork reduction and simplification plan by June 30, 2005. The goals of the plan would be twofold, the bill indicates: "to eliminate and otherwise consolidate paperwork" through use of electronic data collection and processing, and "to simplify and reduce the number and length of written reports, statistics, and other information" demanded by the state Education Department.
In developing its plan the State Board of Education would be compelled by HB 2537 to solicit "the input and participation" of Oklahoma's 541 public school districts and their teachers and administrators.
Records that would be maintained electronically would include forms and reports on student attendance, student testing, student discipline, teacher continuing education programs, "and any other required education-related data," HB 2537 specifies.
The Common Education Committee gave the bill a "do pass" recommendation Thursday.
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Oklahoma House of Representatives
Mike W. Ray, Media Division Director
February 19, 2004
OKLAHOMA CITY -- Legislation intended to reduce the volume of paperwork generated in Oklahoma's public schools zipped through a state House panel Thursday.
"One of the biggest complaints from teachers is that they are burdened with tons of paperwork," said Rep. Susan Winchester. The Chickasha Republican told the House Committee on Common Education that her House Bill 2537 is intended to "reduce some of that paperwork and allow educators to do a lot of it electronically."
The bill would direct the State Board of Education to develop a paperwork reduction and simplification plan by June 30, 2005. The goals of the plan would be twofold, the bill indicates: "to eliminate and otherwise consolidate paperwork" through use of electronic data collection and processing, and "to simplify and reduce the number and length of written reports, statistics, and other information" demanded by the state Education Department.
In developing its plan the State Board of Education would be compelled by HB 2537 to solicit "the input and participation" of Oklahoma's 541 public school districts and their teachers and administrators.
Records that would be maintained electronically would include forms and reports on student attendance, student testing, student discipline, teacher continuing education programs, "and any other required education-related data," HB 2537 specifies.
The Common Education Committee gave the bill a "do pass" recommendation Thursday.
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