The House passed bills that would allow Oklahoma students to transfer between public school districts at any time and that change the school funding formula to make money follow the student and curb the number of non-existing – or ghost – students currently allowed in the system.

 “Open transfer ensures equity regardless of geography by benefitting urban and rural areas alike,” said House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka.

House Bill 2074, by McCall, amends the school funding formula, passed with votes of 77-22 and 68-30, respectively. Both bills now advance to the Senate.

“Parents must maintain the ability to consider another public school if they find their child’s needs are not being met at their current school,” said Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow. “House Bill 2074 protects parents’ right to decide the best education pathway for their child while also maintaining a school districts’ local control.”

The measure would allow student transfers from one public school district to another at any time during the year. It also would allow receiving districts to determine capacity limits for each grade level at the schools in their district. Posting of transfer data would be required on each district’s website by the first day of each quarter.

A district could deny a transfer if a student has 10 or more unexcused absences in one semester, or if the student has violated discipline rules existing in state statute. A student transfer would be limited to two times per school year, and the student could re-enroll at any time in their home district.

Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, authored House Bill 2078.

 “If we ever want to change our status of being bottom ten in education outcomes, we must quit doing things the way they’ve always been done,” Hilbert said. “The current formula results in students being double or triple counted if they move between schools. This has to end.”

Hilbert said if nothing is done, virtual charter schools still will be paid for students that no longer on their membership rolls once in-person learning resumes. He said using current figures, about $200 million would be spent on 55,000 students that don’t actually exist.

Under HB 2078, districts would use student counts from the immediate preceding year, and growing districts could use current-year counts for the mid-year adjustment if they choose. It also would give districts greater flexibility in the amount of money they are allowed to carry forward from one fiscal year to the next.