Lawmakers Suspend School Improvement Initiatives

Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- State lawmakers have approved a bill to roll back several initiatives aimed at improving public education in Oklahoma, including requirements for professional development for teachers.

The plan approved Thursday by the Oklahoma Senate is designed to help schools grapple with declining revenue. The bill now heads to the governor's desk.

Senate Democrats accused GOP leaders of failing to fund education adequately and expressed fear that the two-year moratorium on the initiatives could be made permanent.

Stillwater Republican Sen. James Halligan says his bill still gives school districts flexibility to address budget shortfalls and retain more teachers.

A provision to allow districts to temporarily exceed class-size requirements was removed from the bill.