§ 70-3-165. The Educational Quality and Accountability Board - Members - Duties.

A.  There is hereby created to continue until July 1, 2015, in accordance with the provisions of the Oklahoma Sunset Law, the Educational Quality and Accountability Board.

B.  The membership of the Board shall consist of:

1.  The Secretary of Education, who shall serve as Chair of the Board.  If there is a vacancy in the office of Secretary of Education, or if the individual appointed as Secretary of Education is concurrently the Superintendent of Public Instruction, the Governor shall appoint a replacement member to serve as Chair of the Board in lieu of the Secretary of Education;

2.  The Chair of the P-20 Data Coordinating Council appointed by the Governor pursuant to Section 3-163 of this title, who shall serve as Vice Chair of the Board;

3.  The Chair of the Governor's Council for Workforce and Economic Development;

4.  A chief executive officer of a company in this state, appointed by the Governor;

5.  An individual with primary responsibility for information technology for a company with a minimum of five hundred (500) employees in this state, appointed by the Governor;

6.  The Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, appointed by the Chancellor of Higher Education;

7.  A president of a regional or comprehensive university within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, appointed by the Chancellor of Higher Education;

8.  A teacher of a public school district, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

9.  A principal of a public school district, appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives;

10.  A superintendent of a public school district, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate; and

11.  A representative of a statewide parent-teacher organization, appointed by the President Pro Tempore of the Senate.

C.  Initial appointments pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be made no later than July 1, 2009.  Vacancies shall be filled by the original appointing authority.

D.  A quorum which shall consist of six members must be present for the transaction of any business.  The Board shall hold meetings at least on a quarterly basis.  Members shall be reimbursed for travel in the performance of their official duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

E.  The Board shall:

1.  Review all functions related to the determination of adequate yearly progress as required under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, P.L. No. 107-110;

2.  Review processes for selection and approval of contracts and bid specifications for contracts by the State Department of Education with vendors for administration of testing and approval of test specifications and test blueprints necessary for the administration of the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act;

3.  Review all tests administered by the State Department of Education and make recommendations to realign, recalibrate and improve the tests with a particular emphasis on grades three through eight and End-of-Instruction (EOI) tests;

4.  Review processes for the establishment of cut scores for the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act;

5.  Study the process by which student performance levels and the corresponding cut scores pursuant to the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act are determined and adopted, including the timing of cut score adoption;

6.  Study the feasibility of ensuring that the cut scores are tied to the rigor of the tests and the rate and method by which scheduled increases in cut scores shall occur, including any link to national assessments;

7.  Serve as an independent auditing entity for the purpose of evaluating the systems and processes by which the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act is implemented, ascertaining the validity and reliability of information or the deficiencies thereof; and

8.  Make recommendations to the Legislature and the Governor on the Board's findings.

F.  The Educational Quality and Accountability Board may seek the assistance of the Legislative Service Bureau to contract with an independent consultant as necessary to conduct the audit specified in paragraph 7 of subsection E of this section, contingent on the availability of funds.

G.  Staff support for the Board will be provided by the Staff of the House of Representatives, Senate, Office of Management and Enterprise Services and Legislative Service Bureau.

H.  Members who serve on the Educational Quality and Accountability Board shall be exempt from the dual office holding prohibitions of Section 6 of Title 51 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

Added by Laws 2009, c. 456, § 5, eff. July 1, 2009.  Amended by Laws 2012, c. 304, § 594.