On a 95–1 vote, Oklahoma’s House passed a measure Monday to abolish end of instruction exams.
Warner Democrat Jerry McPeak was the lone "no" vote. He said Republicans for years ignored Democrats’ proposals to do away with the high-stakes tests.
"You guys thought up EOIs. You guys passed EOIs. You guys got EOIs, and we gave you multiple opportunities to get rid of EOIs, reduce EOIs and no. They wouldn't even get heard in committees," McPeak said.
Rep. Lee Denney presented the bill to her colleagues.
"We want our kids to learn. We want our kids to be sitting in a classroom, learning," Denney said. "We don't want the overbearing of high-stakes tests that are coupled with graduation to be held over our kids' heads."
House Bill 3218 tells the State Board of Education to develop by the end of the year statewide assessments that comply with federal law and align with state standards.
Owasso Republican Rep. David Derby said it also defines who, exactly, is a teacher.
"So, if we ever give a pay raise, that we're not giving a pay raise to our assistant superintendents. We're not giving a pay raise to our superintendents. We're not giving a pay raise to a bus driver," Derby said. "I'm giving a pay raise to the classroom teacher: the person who's got their butt in the chair in front of my kid."
Denney told House members the statewide assessment system HB3218 calls for could reduce testing costs from $17 million to roughly $4 million a year.
The measure now goes to the Senate.
