§ 70-6-207. Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program.

A.  The State Board of Education shall establish the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program.  The purpose of the program is to improve student mastery of the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS) for sixth-grade mathematics through Algebra I by enhancing sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade public school teachers’ mastery of the subject matter content and process skills.

B.  For purposes of this section, “middle-level mathematics” means the Priority Academic Student Skills for sixth- through eighth-grade mathematics and Algebra I.

C.  Each sixth-, seventh-, or eighth-grade public school teacher of a middle-level mathematics course who completes a professional development program approved by the State Board of Education, as authorized in subsection E of this section, shall receive a stipend in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) if, prior or subsequent to completion of the professional development program, the teacher successfully completes the middle-level/intermediate mathematics Oklahoma Subject Area Test administered by the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation.  The State Board of Education shall provide the stipend to qualifying teachers who meet the requirements of this section.  The stipend shall not be included in the calculation of the teacher’s salary for purposes of meeting the district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for purposes of calculating Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma contributions or benefits.

D.  The State Department of Education shall issue a request for proposals on or before October 1, 2005, seeking applications for the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program.  The State Department of Education shall review the applications for compliance with the established requirements.

E.  The State Board of Education may approve programs that meet the requirements set forth in this subsection.  Each participating teacher shall take a preassessment to establish current subject matter knowledge, and, based on the results of the preassessment, the teacher will participate in one of the three programs listed below:

1.  Mathematics academies consisting of a minimum of forty (40) contact hours of training and twenty (20) contact hours of follow-up training through lesson study with identified mathematics specialists on-site and through video technology.

The mathematics academies shall incorporate both content knowledge and process knowledge that shall be modeled for teachers in the areas of problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking as applied to the mathematical concepts in PASS.  The ultimate goal of the mathematics academies shall be to significantly increase the number of children becoming proficient in mathematics as demonstrated on assessments administered pursuant to the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act.  The mathematics academies shall be accepted for professional development purposes and shall be defined as continuing education experiences that consist of a minimum of forty (40) clock hours.  The mathematics academies shall be designed to provide instruction that includes peer coaching;

2.  Other programs including customized higher education courses and/or on-line courses similar in scope and nature to those described in this subsection designed to improve middle school mathematics knowledge including Algebra I, as approved by the State Board of Education; and

3.  Small learning community lesson studies facilitated by a mathematics coach and utilizing the Internet and video technology, as approved by the State Board of Education.

F.  On or before December 15, 2005, the State Department of Education shall forward applications that the Department has determined meet the requirements of this section to the State Board of Education.  On or before February 1, 2006, the Board shall award, through a competitive bid process, one or more grants for professional development programs approved by the Department.

G.  The State Board of Education shall contract for independent evaluations of programs funded pursuant to this section.

H.  Beginning June 30, 2006, and each year thereafter for which the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program is funded, the State Board of Education shall prepare and submit a report to the Legislature and the Governor containing:

1.  Descriptions of professional development programs approved and funded through the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program;

2.  Number and amount of grants awarded;

3.  Number of teachers completing approved programs;

4.  Number of teachers successfully completing the Oklahoma Subject Area Test for middle level/intermediate mathematics after completion of a program created pursuant to this section;

5.  Amount of stipends paid to teachers pursuant to this section; and

6.  Student achievement data for students in classes taught by teachers completing one of the program options authorized pursuant to this section.

Added by Laws 2005, c. 432, § 2, eff. July 1, 2005.