Two legislative measures that would help military families with their children’s education sailed through the Oklahoma Senate March 4 and now must receive House approval.
Senate Bill 68 was requested by the U.S. Department of Defense to bring Oklahoma in line with other states under the National Compact on the Education of Military Children. The measure provides for school district residency status for children of active military personnel who have been or will be transferred to a state military base.
It also requires schools to accept the students’ enrollment applications electronically and requires parents to provide proof of residence within 10 days of moving to Oklahoma.
SB 69 carries the same provisions for military children enrolling in a statewide virtual charter school—something only Oklahoma residents are currently able to do.
“Hundreds, if not thousands, of military families are transferred to our four military bases each year,” said state Sen. Frank Simpson (R-Springer). Simpson is chairman of the Senate Veterans and Military Affairs Committee and a U.S. Navy veteran.
A spokeswoman from the Oklahoma State Department of Education did not return a telephone call for comment. However, Simpson said the education department has no objections to the two measures.
The bills have received support from other entities including the Lawton Fort Sill Chamber of Commerce. In an earlier interview, Chamber Executive Director Krista Ratliff said, “As a parent of three military children, I can personally attest to the importance and value of getting children back in school after a move in a timely manner. The passing of Senate bills 68 and 69 would allow for our military children to jump right in, get acclimated quicker and have less of an educational gap between transfers.”
Moving constantly is one of the hardest parts of being in a military family, and these bills will remove at least one major stress and that’s getting their children back in the classroom as soon as they get settled,” Simpson said. “Regardless of whether they want to attend a traditional or charter school, by allowing electronic enrollment prior to their move, schools can get everything arranged before the family arrives to their new home. I want to thank my Senate colleagues for joining me in supporting these bills and our outstanding military families.”
Rep. Max Wolfley, R-Oklahoma, will carry the bills in the House.