Magna Carta News
Friday, July 08, 2005
Time off for school activities legislation
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Mike Shelton
Capitol: (405) 557-7367
District: (405) 424-4141
Shelton Plans Legislation Allowing Parents to Take Leave Time to Attend School Activities
OKLAHOMA CITY–(July 8, 2005)—An Oklahoma legislator is hoping to bring the state business community in line with the “No Child Left Behind Act” by introducing legislation preventing employers from penalizing parents who take time off to attend school functions.
Rep. Mike Shelton intends to introduce a bill during the 2006 legislative session requiring employers to allow parents to take up to eight hours annual leave, without pay, to attend school programs and conferences.
“We need to build a stronger relationship between business and education in the state,” said Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. “This is parallel with the Legislature’s desire to see the corporate environment become more family and education friendly.”
The “No Child Left Behind Act” requires school systems to engage and expand parental involvement in the schools. Shelton says the schools are willing and eager to involve parents in their children’s activities and schoolwork, but the parents’ employers must be willing, as well.
“One of the greatest concerns of our teachers is the lack of parental involvement in the school system,” said Shelton. “Employers and parents need to understand the tremendous value of parental involvement in a student’s school activities.”
Shelton said the legislation should receive bi-partisan support since it falls in line with Republican President George Bush’s education mandate.
The proposed legislation would prohibit employers from discharging or penalizing any employee who is a parent, legal guardian or legal custodian who takes leave time to attend a school function or conference.
The employee would need to give reasonable notice to the employer before attending an event. The function must be a parent-teacher conference, a program that is part of the school curriculum and intended for parental participation, or an event that needs parental support in order to promote education, such as a volunteer function.
The leave time could not exceed eight hours per calendar year during working hours, and the employer may require validation of attendance by a teacher or administrator.
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Jason Sutton
Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Ph: (405) 962-7623
Fax: (405) 557-7498
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Mike Shelton
Capitol: (405) 557-7367
District: (405) 424-4141
Shelton Plans Legislation Allowing Parents to Take Leave Time to Attend School Activities
OKLAHOMA CITY–(July 8, 2005)—An Oklahoma legislator is hoping to bring the state business community in line with the “No Child Left Behind Act” by introducing legislation preventing employers from penalizing parents who take time off to attend school functions.
Rep. Mike Shelton intends to introduce a bill during the 2006 legislative session requiring employers to allow parents to take up to eight hours annual leave, without pay, to attend school programs and conferences.
“We need to build a stronger relationship between business and education in the state,” said Shelton, D-Oklahoma City. “This is parallel with the Legislature’s desire to see the corporate environment become more family and education friendly.”
The “No Child Left Behind Act” requires school systems to engage and expand parental involvement in the schools. Shelton says the schools are willing and eager to involve parents in their children’s activities and schoolwork, but the parents’ employers must be willing, as well.
“One of the greatest concerns of our teachers is the lack of parental involvement in the school system,” said Shelton. “Employers and parents need to understand the tremendous value of parental involvement in a student’s school activities.”
Shelton said the legislation should receive bi-partisan support since it falls in line with Republican President George Bush’s education mandate.
The proposed legislation would prohibit employers from discharging or penalizing any employee who is a parent, legal guardian or legal custodian who takes leave time to attend a school function or conference.
The employee would need to give reasonable notice to the employer before attending an event. The function must be a parent-teacher conference, a program that is part of the school curriculum and intended for parental participation, or an event that needs parental support in order to promote education, such as a volunteer function.
The leave time could not exceed eight hours per calendar year during working hours, and the employer may require validation of attendance by a teacher or administrator.
-30-
Jason Sutton
Media Specialist
Oklahoma House of Representatives
Ph: (405) 962-7623
Fax: (405) 557-7498
