§ 70-3-163. The P-20 Data Coordinating Council - Members - Duties.

A.  There is hereby created to continue until July 1, 2015, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the P-20 Data Coordinating Council.

B.  The Council shall be composed of members as follows:

1.  One member who shall serve as chair of the Council, appointed by the Governor, and confirmed by the Senate;

2.  The Chancellor of Higher Education, or designee;

3.  The State Superintendent of Public Instruction, or designee;

4.  The Director of the Oklahoma State Department of Career and Technical Education, or designee;

5.  A member of the Senate, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate;

6.  A member of the House of Representatives, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

7.  A staff member of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services, appointed by the Director of the Office of Management and Enterprise Services;

8.  The Chief Information Officer, if such position is created through enactment of legislation;

9.  The Executive Director of the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, or designee;

10.  The Director of the Office of Accountability, or designee;

11.  A representative of a statewide business organization, appointed by the Governor;

12.  A representative of a statewide organization representing public school superintendents, appointed by the Governor; and

13.  A representative of a statewide organization representing public school teachers, appointed by the Governor.

C.  Appointments to the Council shall be made by July 1, 2009.  Meetings of the Council shall be held at least quarterly at the call of the chair.  Members shall serve at the pleasure of their appointing authorities.  A majority of the members of the Council shall constitute a quorum to transact business, but no vacancy shall impair the right of the remaining members to exercise all of the powers of the Council.  A vacancy on the Council shall be filled by the original appointing authority.  The Office of Management and Enterprise Services, the State Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall provide staff, support and information as requested by the Council.

D.  Members of the Council shall receive no compensation for serving on the Council, but shall receive travel reimbursement as follows:

1.  State employees who are members of the Council shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties by their respective agencies in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act;

2.  Legislative members shall be reimbursed in accordance with Section 456 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and

3.  All other members of the Council shall be reimbursed by the Office of Management and Enterprise Services for travel expenses incurred in the performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

E.  The Council shall advise the State Department of Education, the State Regents for Higher Education, the Department of Career and Technology Education, the Office of Accountability, the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the Legislature, and the Governor on coordination of the creation of a unified, longitudinal student data system to provide interoperability and efficient and effective storage, use and sharing of data among the State Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Legislature, other policymakers and executive agencies, and the general public.

F.  The Council shall act in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and the Oklahoma Open Records Act.

G.  By October 31, 2009, the P-20 Data Coordinating Council shall complete an assessment of the current status of student data systems in place by the State Department of Education, Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, and Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.  The P-20 Data Coordinating Council may contract with a private consultant or consultants to assist in the assessment, contingent upon the availability of funding.  The Council is hereby authorized to utilize any funds received including, but not limited to, any state or federal funds, grants, or private donations.

H.  By December 31, 2009, the Chair of the P-20 Data Coordinating Council shall notify in writing the agencies set forth in subsection G of this section of any actions necessary for each agency to take to enable the move to a unified data system and shall recommend any statutory changes necessary to the Legislature and the Governor.  The data system established shall include the elements described in section 6401(e)(2)(D) of the America COMPETES Act (20 U.S.C. 9871(e)(2)(D)).

I.  For the purposes of this act, a "unified data system" shall connect essential data elements relating to student level course work and course grades.  The system shall facilitate the transfer of data across systems and among interested parties to address questions that cut across levels of the educational system and agencies.  The unified data system shall facilitate the addition of data elements relating to testing, instruction and other performance and demographic data.  The unified data system shall be accessible to a wide range of stakeholders and serve a variety of purposes, including improving teaching and learning, informing public policy, fostering a culture of evidence-based decision making, conducting research, evaluating system and program effectiveness, and providing reports to various stakeholder groups.

Added by Laws 2009, c. 456, § 2, eff. July 1, 2009.  Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 592.