A measure to prohibit the use of state funds for recruitment bonuses for teachers failed narrowly in the Senate, 22-20. 

Retired educator Sen. Ron Sharp said he authored Senate Bill 57 to stop the practice of virtual charter schools rewarding teachers financially with state appropriated dollars for successfully recruiting other teachers and students to their schools in the middle of the school year.

“Senate Bill 57 would have prevented a certified teacher from being lured away from their contractual obligation with a bonus – a common practice utilized by the state’s virtual charters, which receive substantial private funding along with state and federal funds. There’s no greater tragedy than for a classroom of students to lose their teacher during the school year,” said Sharp, R-Shawnee. “Traditional public schools can’t offer recruitment bonuses.  Only virtual charter schools, which operate under different rules from traditional public schools, are allowed to do this with public funds. This would have stopped this unfair practice and leveled the playing field for traditional public schools.”

SB 57 was a request bill from the Oklahoma Education Association.  Under the measure, the State Board of Education and the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board would have worked together to make rules for implementation.

SB 57 cannot be brought up for reconsideration this session but can be readdressed next session.