School Laws of Oklahoma
Chapter 1 - Oklahoma School Code
Article XIII: Career and Technology Education
Section 292. State Board of Career and Technology Education. (70 O.S. § 14-101)
A. There is hereby created the State Board of Career and Technology Education which shall succeed to all of the powers and duties heretofore invested in the State Board for Vocational Education. The membership of the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall consist of:
1. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction who shall be an ex officio voting member;
2. Two appointed members of the State Board of Education, selected by the Governor, to serve as ex officio voting members. One State Board member shall be selected for a one-year term and one State Board member shall be selected for a two-year term;
3. Five members to be appointed by the Governor with the advice and consent of the Senate. Each appointed member shall be an owner, chief executive or operating officer, or business executive with policy-making or hiring authority for a business or industry located in the state or with a business or industry where a significant number of the workforce performs a task for which training or other educational service may be obtained from the career and technology education system. The Governor shall appoint one such appointive member from each of the congressional districts and any remaining members shall be appointed from the state at large.
However, when congressional districts are redrawn each member appointed prior to July 1 of the year in which such modification becomes effective shall complete the current term of office and appointments made after July 1 of the year in which such modification becomes effective shall be based on the redrawn districts. Appointments made after July 1 of the year in which such modification becomes effective shall be from any redrawn districts which are not represented by a board member until such time as each of the modified congressional districts are represented by a board member. No member shall be appointed pursuant to this paragraph who has not resided in the relevant congressional district for at least six (6) months prior to the date of appointment; and
4. One member who represents the public, private and/or educational interests of the state shall be appointed by the Governor from the state at large with the advice and consent of the Senate.
B. All initial appointments made by the Governor pursuant to this act shall be for terms as follows:
1. Initial appointments of the two members of the State Board of Education pursuant to paragraph 2 of subsection A of this section shall be for terms as follows:
a. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2004, and
b. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2005;
2. Initial appointments of the six members pursuant to paragraphs 3 and 4 of subsection A of this section shall be for terms as follows:
a. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2004,
b. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2005,
c. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2006,
d. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2007,
e. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2008, and
f. one for a term to expire on April 1, 2009;
3. The member appointed to represent the state at large shall be the initial appointment for the term ending April 1, 2009;
4. After the initial terms, all members appointed by the Governor shall be appointed for terms of six (6) years. Initial appointments pursuant to the provisions of this section shall be made no later than September 1, 2003.
All terms shall expire on the first day of April of the year in which the term of each member expires, except for the terms of office of members serving on the Board on the effective date of this section, which shall expire August 31, 2003;
5. The Chair of the Board shall be the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education shall serve as an ex officio nonvoting member and shall be the executive officer of the Board; and
6. Members of the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall be subject to the orientation and continuing education requirements for school board members specified in Sections 5-110 and 5-110.1 of this title. Failure of a member to satisfy these requirements shall result in the member vacating the seat and the vacancy being filled as provided by law.
C. No person shall be eligible to be appointed to serve on the Board unless the person has been awarded a high school diploma or certificate of high school equivalency.
D. For each additional month employed, the additional salary shall be calculated on the basis of one-tenth (1/10) of the base salary as prescribed by the school district for a teacher of like qualifications employed on a ten-months’ basis.
E. The official name of the Board which is known as the “State Board of Vocational and Technical Education” shall be designated in all future references as the “State Board of Career and Technology Education”. Any references in the statutes to the State Board of Vocational and Technical Education shall be deemed references to the State Board of Career and Technology Education.
School District cannot require vocational teacher to work in excess of 190 days. AG Op. August 27, 1971
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Section 293. Meetings - Compensation of Members. (70 O.S. § 14-102)
The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall meet in regular session once each month. Special meetings may be called by the Chairman or by a majority of the members of the Board. Meetings of the Board may be held by teleconferencing. Seven members of the Board shall constitute a quorum. No business may be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present in person or through teleconferencing, and every act of the Board shall be approved by a majority of the membership of the Board. Each member of the Board shall receive necessary traveling expenses while in the performance of duties as a member pursuant to the State Travel Reimbursement Act.
Section 293.1. Continuing Education. (70 O.S. § 14-102.1)
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education is authorized to provide new, incumbent, and continuing education workshop and training requirements which are required for technology center school district board of education members and State Board of Career and Technology Education members as specified in Sections 5-110 and 5-110.1 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The training may be conducted by the Department or by an outside entity that has been approved and has contracted with the Department to provide the training. The Department shall provide each technology center school district board of education member and State Board of Career and Technology Education member with a training status report twice a year.
Section 294. Powers and Duties. (70 O.S. § 14-103)
The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall have the following power and duties:
1. Have the supervision of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education of the State Board of Career and Technology Education, which department shall keep its principal offices at Stillwater, and appoint and fix the compensation and duties of the Director and other personnel of such Department;
2. Have the supervision of the technology center schools and colleges of Oklahoma, except Oklahoma State University of Technical Training at Okmulgee and the Oklahoma State University Technical Institutes at Oklahoma City and Stillwater, which, however, shall be eligible to participate in federal programs administered by the State Board of Career and Technology Education as hereinafter provided;
3. Cooperate with, and enter into agreements with, and administer programs of, and receive federal funds from, the United States Department of Education and other federal agencies in matters relating to vocational and technical education, youth apprenticeship programs, and manpower training, and be the sole state agency for such purposes. Provided that, programs and funds made available through the Job Training Partnership Act, or its successor programs, shall be excluded;
4. Provide for the formulation and adoption of curricula, courses of study, and other instructional aids necessary for the adequate instruction of students in the technology center schools and colleges of this state. It is the intent of the Legislature that instructional models for vocational students should include higher standards of academic work with increased emphasis on communication, computation and applied science;
5. Develop a plan to provide adequate vocational offerings accessible to all students having the ability to benefit;
6. Purchase or otherwise acquire equipment, materials, supplies and other property, real or personal, as maybe necessary for the operation of the technology center schools of this state, and provide for the maximum utilization of such property through a coordinated and cooperative use thereof, including transfer of title to real and personal property to technology center school district for a reasonable cash consideration if said property is to be utilized in a vocational-technical program administered by the technology center district board of education. Any conveyance of real property for a reasonable consideration shall contain a reversionary clause by which the real property shall revert to the State Board of Career and Technology Education if the property ceases to be used in a vocational-technical program administered by the technology center district board of education;
7. Enter into such agreements and contracts with the State Board of Education, boards of trustees of community junior colleges, boards of education of independent and elementary school districts, boards of education of school districts for technology center schools, private educational or training institutions, public or private industry, and boards of directors of community action programs, as may be necessary or feasible for the furtherance of vocational and technical training within this state;
8. Cooperate and enter into agreements with the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education;
9. Cooperate with the State Department of Education in developing hands-on career exploration activities for students in grades 6 through 10, integrating academic competencies into vocational instruction, and ensuring counseling of all students in order to minimize the number of students graduating from high school without having completed either a vocational-technical program or college preparation;
10. Develop and periodically update a plan to allow teacher training and the purchase and installation of technological equipment necessary to modernize vocational educational programs;
11. Accept and provide for the administration of any land, money, buildings, gifts, funds, donations or other things of value which may be offered or bequeathed to the schools or colleges under the supervision or control of said Board;
12. Enter into cooperative arrangements with one or more other states for the conduct and administration of programs, services and activities;
13. Cooperate whenever possible, to avoid any duplication of training programs with any established training program registered by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, United States Department of Labor;
14. Accept and expend funds from any source in order to market, advertise or promote programs and services available through the Career and Technology Education system; and
15. Participate in activities pertaining to the recruitment of companies to locate or expand operations in the state, and participate in activities that will increase the competitiveness of companies with headquarters or branch operations located in the state. These activities may require agency staff to travel, train, or provide technical assistance outside the State of Oklahoma.
State Board of Vocational and Technical Education cannot require school districts to contract with vocational teachers for 10, 11, or 12 month periods. April 13, 1984 (AG Op. No. 83-247)
State Board of Vocational and Technical Education cannot adopt mandatory retirement age for its employees. January 26, 1982 (AG Op. No. 81-260)
State Board of Vocational and Technical Education may contract with private nonsectarian post-secondary educational institutions for such institutions to offer vocational training programs. January 28, 1981 (AG Op. No. 80-196)
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Section 295. Dropout Recovery Program Grants. (70 O.S. § 14-103.1)
A. Contingent upon the provision of appropriated funds, the State Board of Career and Technology Education is authorized to award one or more competitive grants for dropout recovery programs to technology center school districts. The grant awards shall be made to technology center school districts serving school districts that do not have intensive dropout prevention programs and that have the greatest need for dropout prevention and recovery as reflected in reports of the Office of Accountability. The Dropout Recovery Grants shall emphasize dropout recovery, shall be in addition to any existing alternative education programs, and shall meet the criteria applicable to Alternative Education Academy Grants as set forth in subsection A of Section 1210.563 of this title.
B. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall provide or contract for technical assistance from appropriated funds. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall provide or contract for in-depth program analysis and evaluation of grant-funded programs to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education and the Legislature no later than November 1 following the end of the school year in which one or more programs were implemented and funded through Dropout Recovery Grants.
C. Programs funded through Dropout Recovery Grants shall be subject to the funding cycle and limitations applicable to Alternative Education Academy Grants as set out in subsection C of Section 1210.563 of this title.
D. By September 15 of each school year, all revenue received and expended for students participating in Dropout Recover Grant programs created in subsection A of this section shall be reported to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
E. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate rules as necessary to administer the Dropout Recovery Grants and the process by which the grant funding shall be allocated.
F. By September 1, 1995, the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall prepare and submit to the Legislature and the Governor a proposed statewide plan, including a statement of needed funding, for the provision of vocational and technical education to students in grades six through twelve who have been identified by school districts in their needs assessments as being at risk of not completing a high school education for a reason other than that identified in Section 13-101 of this title, and who would benefit from vocational and technical education. The plan shall include the availability of technology education courses to the identified students, an outreach effort to students in grades eleven and twelve in vocational and technical courses, provision for cooperative agreements to provide services for students participating in alternative education programs, and coordination with the State Board of Education.
Section 295.1. Promulgation of Rules for Access to Services. (70 O.S. § 14-103.2)
The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate rules to ensure access to vocational offerings in technology center school districts to students in technology center school districts who are receiving educational services from a school district due to placements outlined in the provisions of Section 1-113 of this title.
Section 295.2. Pilot Programs for Rural Businesses. (70 O.S. § 14-103.3)
Subject to the availability of fund appropriated specifically for this purpose, the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall implement a pilot program at technology center schools, the purpose of which is to provide services and training to help rural businesses expand. The purpose of the pilot program is to provide tuition grants and offer economic development, marketing and technology access services to qualifying rural businesses and communities as determined by the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
Section 295.3. Programs for Medical Micropigmentation. (70 O.S. § 14-103.4)
The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall establish a program for training and certification in medical micropigmentation, to be offered in the technology center schools. The program shall be developed with curricular advice from the Oklahoma Board of Nursing, State Board of Medical Licensure and Supervision, State Board of Osteopathic Examiners, and the Board of Dentistry.
Section 296. Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education. (70 O.S. § 14-104)
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education, which shall consist of such divisions, units and positions as may be established by the State Board of Career and Technology Education. The department shall be under the control of the State Board of Career and Technology Education, which shall formulate policies and adopt rules for the administration and operation of the department.
B. The official name of the state agency which is known as “State Department of Vocational and Technical Education” or the “Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education” shall be designated in all future references as the “Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education”. Any references in the statutes to the State Department of Vocational and Technical Education or the Oklahoma Department of Vocational and Technical Education shall be deemed references to the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education.
Section 297. Courses of Instruction and Training - State Career-Technology Fund. (70 O.S. § 14-105)
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education may operate and maintain, or otherwise provide for, courses of instruction and training in vocational and technical education courses and subjects, and charge students reasonable tuition fees for instruction or training. The fees shall be deposited in a special fund, which is hereby created, to be known as the State Career-Technology Fund. The fund may be used to pay expenses incurred by the Department in operating and maintaining the classes, and payment therefrom may be upon vouchers signed by a person or persons designated by the State Board of Career and Technology Education. The fund may also be used for the operation of the Multi-State Academic Vocational Curriculum Consortium (MAVCC) for the purpose of developing and disseminating curriculum materials for the member states.
Unless prohibited by any rule or statute, an area vocational-technical school district may enter into an agreement to accept tuition payment by credit card in which all fees for payment (including the discount charged by the card issuer) are charged to the cardholder. April 30, 1990 (AG Op. No. 90-8)
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Section 298. Equipment Pool. (70 O.S. § 14-106)
A. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education may operate and maintain an equipment pool, at which there shall be kept equipment for the use of technology center school districts and schools supported by public funds, and said department and schools shall be eligible for surplus property and equipment.
B. Whenever the Department determines that any such district or school has, and does not have a need for, equipment purchased wholly or partly with state or federal funds, it may, if consistent with federal laws and regulations, order the equipment transferred to the equipment pool; and the district or school, or officials thereof, shall thereupon have the duty to comply with such order. Provided, any equipment which has been purchased wholly or in part with local school funds shall require the concurrence of the governing board of that local school before the equipment shall be transferred to the state equipment pool.
C. Whenever the Department determines that a technology center school district or school supported by public funds has a need for any equipment in the equipment pool, the Department may transfer the equipment to such district or school.
D. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall adopt and enforce such rules as it deems necessary to carry out the provisions of this section.
Section 299. Technology Center School Districts. (70 O.S. § 14-108)
A. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall prescribe criteria and procedures for the establishment and governance of technology center school districts, as provided by Section 9B, Article X, Oklahoma Constitution, and such districts so established shall be operated in accordance with rules of the State Board of Career and Technology Education, except as otherwise provided in this title.
B. A technology center school district shall be a body corporate and shall possess the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes. Its official name shall be designated by the State Board of Career and Technology Education, in which name it may sue and be sued, and be capable of contracting and being contracted with, and holding real and personal estate.
C. The governing board of a technology center school district shall be a board of education consisting of not less than five (5) nor more than seven (7) members. Except as otherwise provided for in subsection D of this section, all members of the board of education shall be elected in a manner prescribed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education. The State Board shall promulgate rules prescribing the manner in which the elections required by this subsection are held.
D. In a technology center school district that serves seventy or more public school districts, the territory of the school district shall be divided into district zones by the State Board of Career and Technology Education. Between August 1 and December 31 of the year following the submission by the United States Department of Commerce to the President of the United States of the official Federal Decennial Census, the Board shall reapportion the territory of the technology center school district into district zones. All boundaries of district zones shall follow clearly visible, definable, and observable physical boundaries which are based upon criteria established and recognized by the Bureau of the Census of the United States Department of Commerce for purposes of defining census blocks for its decennial census and shall follow, as much as possible, precinct boundaries. District zones shall be compact, contiguous and shall be as equal in population as practical with not more than a five-percent variance between the most populous and least populous district zones. The board of education of a technology center school district shall consist of one member elected from each of the district zones of the school district created pursuant to this subsection. The electors of each district zone shall elect a person, who is a resident of the district zone, to represent the district zone on the school board. If during the term of office to which a person was elected, that member ceases to be a resident of the district zone for which the person was elected, the office shall become vacant and the vacancy shall be filled as provided in Section 13A-110 of Title 26 of the Oklahoma Statutes. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate rules prescribing the manner in which the elections required by this subsection are held.
E. The board of education of a technology center school district shall have the same powers and duties that boards of education of independent school districts have. It may require nonresident students to pay reasonable tuition fees, which may be paid for a student by the independent or elementary school district in which the student resides.
F. An election to vote on the question of making a levy of not to exceed five (5) mills on the dollar valuation of the taxable property in a technology center school district under the provisions of subsection A, Section 9B, Article X, Oklahoma Constitution, shall be called by the board of education and conducted by the county election board of such district in the same manner that elections for emergency levies in school districts under the provisions of Section 9(d), Article X, Oklahoma Constitution, are called and conducted. When such levy is approved by a majority of the electors of the technology center school district voting on the question at such election, the levy shall be made each fiscal year thereafter until repealed by a majority of the electors of the district voting on the question at an election called for such purpose. An election to vote on the question of making a local incentive levy of not to exceed five (5) mills on the dollar valuation of the taxable property in a technology center school district under the provisions of subsection B of Section 9B of Article X of the Oklahoma Constitution, may be called by the board of education; and elections on a levy for a building fund for an area school district under the provisions of Section 10, Article X, Oklahoma Constitution, shall be called by the board of education of such district and conducted by the county election board in the same manner that elections for similar levies are called and conducted in independent school districts.
G. Annual estimates of needs of technology center school districts shall be made and approved in the same manner that those of independent school districts are made and approved. Provided, that the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall prescribe a list of appropriation accounts by which the funds of technology center school districts shall be budgeted, accounted for and expended. Any such estimate of needs may include an estimate of federal funds as probable income from sources other than ad valorem tax of the district and other than any excise or other tax assessed by legislative enactment and distributed in lieu of ad valorem taxes. If a technology center school district lies in more than one county, the district's estimate of needs shall be filed with and approved by the county excise board of the county designated by the school district board of education.
H. Territory may be annexed to or detached from a technology center school district, in accordance with rules prescribed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education. If the State Board of Career and Technology Education requires the submission of a petition in order for an election to be called for the purpose of annexation or deannexation of territory to a technology center school district, such petition shall not be required to bear a number of technology center school district electors' signatures which exceed fifty percent (50%) of the number of technology center school district electors who voted in the last school board election in the territory proposed to be annexed or deannexed. Provided, the period of time from which the petition is initiated to its time of filing with the State Board shall not exceed ninety (90) days.
I. Schools of technology center school districts shall be subject to classification, inspection and accreditation by the State Board of Education.
J. The technology center school board of education may designate a county treasurer to serve as treasurer of the school district or may appoint an independent treasurer.
K. Within four (4) years after the creation of a technology center school district, such school district may, at its discretion, permit a teacher to transfer any or all accrued benefits upon employment including credit for years of service in the previous school district by the technology center school district, if the teacher at the time of hiring is employed as a teacher by an independent or elementary school district which is all or partly within the boundaries of the technology center school district or is employed as a teacher in a skills center within the boundaries of the school district.
L. The board of education of a technology center school district may convey surplus personal property without consideration to :
1. A school district that is within the boundary of the technology center school district;
2. A public school offering secondary level education which was created and is operated by the State of Oklahoma and that is within the boundary of the technology center school district;
3. A technology center school district; or
4. The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education for the support or delivery of department initiatives.
M. The board of education of a technology center school district may, without prior approval of the State Board of Career and Technology Education, approve all plans and specifications for technology center school buildings, additions, and major modifications to school buildings that are designed to provide for the offering of vocational-technical education programs and services when the cost of the building project is to be paid with local levies or state bond monies or both local levies and state bond monies.
Note: See Section 672 herein for constitutional provisions on area school districts.
In the overlap areas between a college technology center school district and a technology center school district, either district may levy and collect revenue from an incentive levy in the overlap area, provided, only one district shall impose an incentive levy in such overlap territory during any given time period. (AG Op. No. 08-32)
An area vo-tech school district may enter into an agreement to accept tuition payment by credit card in which all fees for payment by credit card are charged to the cardholder. April 30, 1990 (AG Op. No. 90-8)
School district in which a nonresident student of an area vocational-technical district resides has discretionary authority to pay tuition fees to the vocational-technical district. July 30, 1984 (AG Op. No. 84-113)
Advertising merits of vocational-technical schools and institutions of higher education is lawful. October 20, 1980 (AG Op. No. 80-236)
If area school district coterminous with boundaries of independent school district is formed, qualified electors residing in portions of independent district which overlap with area school district formed by junior college may vote on levies and bonds even though their property may already be subject to maximum tax levy allowed by law. June 28, 1979 (AG Op. No. 79-182)
Petition for annexation remains valid until acted upon, and failure to act does not render petition invalid. May 17, 1979 (AG Op. No. 79-116)
Election to create area school district which is coterminous with independent school district may be called notwithstanding area school district operating junior college therein, and qualified electors residing in overlay portion may vote, but may not be subjected to taxation if first area school district levied maximum tax on property in the overlay portion. May 16, 1979 (AG Op. No. 79-113)
Attorney employed by Vo-Tech school District may be reimbursed for travel expenses to participate in continuing legal education programs. April 30, 1979 (AG Op. No. 79-101)
Annexation of district to independent school district that is subject to area school district tax levy makes real property within annexed district subject to such tax. Abbott v. Board of Trustees of Oscar Rose Junior College, 586 P.2d 1098 (Okla. 1978)
Area school district is political subdivision of State. AG Op. December 30, 1971
Interlocal Cooperative Act (74 O.S. 1981, §§ 1001-1008) embraces area school districts. AG Op. December 30, 1971
School Districts cannot be assessed for an area vocational-technical school if electors of District were denied opportunity of voting on questions of assessments. AG Op. July 1, 1971
County Treasurer serves as Treasurer of area school district, without additional bond, unless board of education appoints local Treasurer. AG Op. September 25, 1968
Dependent school district comprising part of an area school district is not removed therefrom upon annexation to another dependent district. AG Op. April 18, 1968
School Laws of Oklahoma | Chapter 1 - Oklahoma School Code | Article XIII: Career and Technology Education | Return to Top of Page
Section 300. Health Insurance Plan Required by Technology Center School Districts. (70 O.S. § 14-108.1)
A. The board of education of each technology center school district in this state shall provide a health insurance plan for the employees of the technology center school district. Technology center school districts may obtain health and dental insurance coverage as provided for in the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act or may obtain other health insurance coverage. Any technology center district that does not participate in the health and dental insurance plans offered through the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act shall obtain health insurance coverage for the employees which provides open enrollment and provide for the continuation of health insurance coverage, including supplemental Medicare insurance coverage, for those district employees who retire from said district after September 30, 1991 with a vested benefit in the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma. A retired person who begins receiving benefits from the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma after September 30, 1991, who retires from a technology center school district that provides other health insurance coverage and who elects to continue said health insurance coverage shall pay to the technology center school district the premium rate for the health insurance minus an amount equal to the premium rate of the Medicare supplement or the amount determined pursuant to subsection (4) of Section 1316.3 of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes, whichever is less, which shall be paid by the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma to the to the technology center school district. The technology center school district shall remit to the health insurance coverage provider the total premium due less any uncollected amounts payable from retired technology center school district employees or their qualified survivors.
B. A technology center school district that participates in health insurance coverage other than the health insurance plan offered by the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act shall not be required to pay any portion of the premium for the employees or the dependents of the employees of said school district. Unless a school district negotiates an agreement with its employees regarding health insurance pursuant to Sections 509.1 through 509.9 of this title, and to the extent that the agreement provides for the members of the recognized bargaining unit, a technology center school district that participates in health insurance coverage other than the health insurance plan offered by the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act is prohibited from acquiring additional or supplemental health or dental insurance for any board member, area school superintendent or any other employee which is not available to all employees of said district, and said technology center school district shall not pay a greater portion of the employee or dependent premium or any health or dental insurance plan or plans provided by said technology center school district on behalf of any board member, superintendent or employee than that portion paid on behalf of all participating employees of said district.
C. If a technology center school district obtains health insurance coverage from a source other than through the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act, the employees of the technology center school district who would be eligible to participate in the health and dental plans may require the board of education of the technology center school district to call an election to allow said employees to vote as to whether the technology center school district shall participate in the health and dental insurance plans offered through the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act. Upon the filing with the board of education of a petition calling for such an election which is signed by no less than thirty percent (30%) of the eligible employees of the technology center school district, the board of education shall call an election for the purpose of determining whether the technology center school district shall participate in the health and dental insurance plans offered through the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act. The election shall be held within thirty (30) days of the filing of the petition. If a majority of those eligible employees voting at the election vote to participate in the health and dental insurance plans offered through the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act, the board of education of the technology center school district shall apply for such participation within thirty (30) days of the election.
D. If a technology center school district does not have any health insurance coverage of the type required by this section, that technology center school district shall immediately be enrolled in the health and dental insurance plans offered through the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act.
E. A carrier providing health insurance coverage for employees of a technology center school district health insurance group which replaces a previous carrier for such technology center school district employees shall provide coverage for each retired employee who is receiving a benefit or terminates employment with a vested benefit from the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma and who is enrolled in the health insurance group by the previous carrier at the time the previous carrier providing health insurance coverage is replaced. Notwithstanding any provision in this section to the contrary, any person who retires pursuant to the provisions of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma prior to May 1, 1993, or terminates service with a vested benefit, pursuant to the provisions of the Teachers’ Retirement System of Oklahoma prior to May 1, 1993, may continue to participate in the health and dental plans authorized by the provisions of the State and Education Employees Group Insurance Act.
F. In the event a technology center school district ceases to exist, the assets and duties of said technology center school district are transferred to one or more other technology center school districts, said other technology center school district or districts do not agree to employ all of the former employees of the technology center school district that is ceasing to exist, and said former employees who are not being reemployed have rights under federal or state law to continue group insurance coverage, the annexing technology center school district having the largest general fund revenue for the most recent preceding fiscal year for which data is available shall provide group insurance coverage to said former employees not being retained during the period as required by law.
Section 301. Special Building Project Account. (70 O.S. § 14-109)
A. If required to do so as a prerequisite to the receipt of federal funds for a building project, the board of education of a technology center school district may establish a special account to be used for payment of the cost of the building project. Federal and state funds received for the building project may be deposited in the special account. Monies from the following sources, if available for the payment of the cost of the building project, may also be deposited in the special account: bond issues, levies for a building fund under Section 10 of Article X, Oklahoma Constitution and appropriations for capital outlay in the general fund of the district.
B. The board of education shall estimate the total amount to be deposited in or transferred to the aforesaid building project account, and may issue warrants against the account for the payment of the cost of the building project. The total amount of such warrants shall not exceed the estimate of the board of education of the total amount to be deposited in or transferred to the account. If there shall be an insufficient amount in the building project account to pay a warrant, the warrant shall bear interest at a rate to be fixed by the board of education, not to exceed six percent (6%) per annum, from the date of issuance until paid.
C. For the purposes of this section, the cost of a building project shall include expenditures for sites, for the construction of buildings, and for equipment, furniture and fixtures.
D. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall adopt such rules as it deems necessary to make the provisions of this section effective.
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Section 302. Area School Districts Having Coterminous Boundaries With Independent Districts. (70 O.S. § 14-110)
A. If the territory comprising an independent school district has been established by the State Board of Career and Technology Education as a technology center school district, and the boundaries of each are coterminous, the board of education of the technology center school district shall be separate from the board of education of the independent school district and no member of either board shall be eligible to serve on the other.
B. Existing boards of education of technology center school districts which are comprised of members of the board of education of an independent school district with coterminous boundaries shall be dissolved by the State Board of Career and Technology Education, and the offices of the members of such boards shall become vacant on the first Monday in June, 1982. The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall establish election districts for such a technology center school district which shall have boundaries coterminous with the election districts of the independent school district and which shall be numbered identically to the election districts of the independent school district.
C. A separate board of education shall be created for such a technology center school district and its members elected in the manner prescribed by the rules of the State Board of Career and Technology Education except as hereafter provided:
1. The Governor shall appoint members to those offices of the board of education of such a technology center school district which will become vacant on the first Monday in June 1982, to staggered terms as follows:
a. two members shall be appointed to a term of one (1 ) year. Each of these offices shall become vacant on the first Monday in June 1983,
b. two members shall be appointed to a term of two (2) years. Each of these offices shall become vacant on the first Monday in June 1984,
c. two members shall be appointed to a term of three (3) years. Each of these offices shall become vacant on the first Monday in June 1985, and
d. one member shall be appointed to a term of four (4) years. This office shall become vacant on the first Monday in June 1986;
2. Upon the expiration of the term of an office of the board of education of a technology center school district prior to the expiration of the term of an office of the board of education of the independent school district in a coterminous election district, the Governor shall appoint a board member to the office of the technology center school district for the number of years necessary to establish a coterminous term between the board members of the technology center school board and the independent school district in the coterminous election district;
3. Thereafter, as the office of each member appointed to the board of education of the technology center school district becomes vacant, it shall be filled by a member elected as prescribed by the rules of the State Board of Career and Technology Education except as herein provided;
4. Elections of members to the board of education of the technology center school district shall be held on the same day as elections are held for election of members to the independent school district;
5. One member shall be elected from each election district by the voters of that election district; and
6. The term of office of each member elected to the board of education of the technology center school district shall be four (4) years.
Section 303. Nondegree Instructors in Vocational and Technical Programs - Increments. (70 O.S. § 14-111A)
Nondegree instructors in vocational and technical education who are employed in a full-time, approved, reimbursed program for vocational and technical education shall qualify for yearly increments the same as any other teacher in the public schools.
Section 304. Agency for State. (70 O.S. § 14-112)
The State Board of Career and Technology Education is hereby specifically designated as the agency of this state to cooperate and deal with any officer, board, or authority of the United States Government which may require or recommend cooperation with any state board of vocational and technical education. The Board, unless otherwise provided specifically by law, shall have no authority to use or pledge funds of the state for cooperation without approval by the Governor of the State.
Section 305. Displaced Homemakers Act. (70 O.S. § 14-113)
This act may be cited as the “Displaced Homemakers Act.”
Section 305.1. Legislative Findings, Purpose and Intent. (70 O.S. § 14-114)
The Legislature hereby finds and declares that there is an ever-increasing number of persons in this state who, having fulfilled a role as homemaker, find themselves “displaced” in their middle years through divorce, death of spouse or other loss of family income; as a consequence, displaced homemakers are very often without any source of income; they are ineligible for categorical welfare assistance; they are subject to the highest unemployment rate of any sector of the work force; they face continuing discrimination in employment because they are often older and have no recent paid work experience; they are ineligible for unemployment insurance because they have been engaged in unpaid labor in the home; they are ineligible for social security because they are too young, and for many, they will never qualify for social security because they have been divorced from the family wage earner; they have often lost their rights as beneficiaries under employers’ pension and health plans through divorce or death of spouse, despite many years of contribution to the family well-being; and they are most often ineligible for Medicaid and are generally unacceptable to private health insurance plans because of their age.
The Legislature further finds and declares that homemakers are an unrecognized part of the work force who make an invaluable contribution to the welfare of the society as a whole.
It is the intention of the Legislature in enacting this chapter to provide the necessary counseling, training, jobs, services and support programs for displaced homemakers so that they may enjoy the independence and economic security vital to a productive life and to improve the welfare of this ever-growing group of citizens.
School Laws of Oklahoma | Chapter 1 - Oklahoma School Code | Article XIII: Career and Technology Education | Return to Top of Page
Section 305.2. Definitions. (70 O.S. § 14-115)
As used in this act:
1. Board means the State Board of Career and Technology Education;
2. Superintendent means the superintendent of the technology center school designated as the pilot multipurpose service center for displaced homemakers.
3. Center means the pilot multipurpose service center for displaced homemakers; and
4. Displaced homemaker means an individual who:
a. has worked without pay as a homemaker for his or her family, and who has reached the age of thirty-five (35) years or older,
b. is not gainfully employed,
c. has had, or would have, difficulty finding employment, and
d. (1) has depended on the income of a family member and has lost that income, or (2) has depended on government assistance as the parent of dependent children, but who is no longer eligible for such assistance.
Section 305.3. Pilot Multipurpose Service Center. (70 O.S. § 14-116)
The Board shall establish a pilot multipurpose service center for displaced homemakers in a suitable technology center school with adequate facilities. The Board shall designate the technology center school which is to serve as the pilot multipurpose service center for displaced homemakers. The superintendent of the designated technology center school shall hire the personnel and administer the program for the pilot project. The superintendent is authorized to contract with or make grants to private nonprofit agencies or organizations to carry out the various programs of the centers as enumerated in this act.
Section 305.4. Location of Center--Criteria. (70 O.S. § 14-117)
A. In selecting the site for the center, the Board shall consider the following criteria:
1. Accessibility to substantial displaced homemaker population;
2. Suitability of vocational and technical training programs;
3. Availability of child care programs and services;
4. Availability of support services or programs in the community or surrounding areas; and
5. Accessibility to a variety of educational or training programs.
B. To the greatest extent possible, the staff of the service center, including supervisory, technical and administrative positions, shall be filled by displaced homemakers.
Section 305.5. Funds. (70 O.S. § 14-118)
The Board, superintendent and director of the center shall explore all possible sources of funding and in-kind contributions from federal, local and private sources in establishing and enhancing the center and its programs.
Section 305.6. Job-Counseling and Job-Training Programs. (70 O.S. § 14-119)
The center shall establish the following programs:
1. Job-counseling program for displaced homemakers which shall be specifically designed for the person reentering the job market after a number of years as a homemaker. The counseling will take into consideration, and build upon, the skills and experiences of a homemaker. Peer counseling and job readiness as well as skill updating and development shall be emphasized; and
2. Job-training program for displaced homemakers in which the staff at the center shall work with local government agencies and private employers to develop training programs for available jobs in the public and private sectors.
Section 305.7. Displaced Homemakers - Center Responsibilities. (70 O.S. § 14-120)
Center staff shall be responsible for assisting the trainee in finding permanent employment. To this end, the superintendent and the center staff shall work with the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission and the service delivery areas under the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982 in the area of the center to secure employment for displaced homemakers and/or training stipends for displaced homemakers.
The center staff and the superintendent shall also work to determine the feasibility and appropriate procedures for allowing displaced homemakers to participate in the following:
1. Programs established under the Job Training Partnership Act of 1982 29 U.S.C., Section 1501, et seq.;
2. Work incentive programs established under the Federal Social Security Act;
3. Programs established or benefits provided under federal and state unemployment compensation laws by consideration of full-time homemakers as workers eligible for such benefits or programs;
4. The Federal-State Expanded Unemployment Compensation Act of 1970 26 U.S.C., Section 3304, Note;
5. Title II of the Emergency Jobs and Unemployment Assistance Act of 1974 26 U.S.C., Section 3304, Note;
6. The Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act of 1974 26 U.S.C., Section 3304, Note; and
7. Related federal and state employment, education, health and unemployment assistance programs.
Section 305.8. Service Programs. (70 O.S. § 14-121)
The center shall include, but not be limited to, the following service programs for displaced homemakers:
1. Money management courses, including information and assistance in dealing with insurance programs, life, health, home and car, taxes, mortgages, loans and probate problems; and
2. Educational programs, including courses offering credit through higher educational institutions or leading toward a high school equivalency degree. Support services shall be established which are designed to supplement the usual academic course offerings and training programs with classes aimed toward older persons to improve their employment capabilities.
School Laws of Oklahoma | Chapter 1 - Oklahoma School Code | Article XIII: Career and Technology Education | Return to Top of Page
Section 305.9. Regulations Concerning Eligibility for Service Programs. (70 O.S. § 14-122)
The superintendent, in consultation with the director of the service center, shall establish regulations concerning the eligibility of persons for the job training and other programs of the multipurpose service center, the level of stipends, if any, for the job training programs, and such other matters as the superintendent deems necessary to carry out the purpose of this act.
Section 305.10. Evaluation of Programs – Reports. (70 O.S. § 14-123)
A. The superintendent shall require the center staff to evaluate the effectiveness of the job training, placement and service components of the center. Such evaluation shall include the number of persons trained, the number of persons placed in employment, follow-up data on such persons, the number of persons served by the various service programs and cost effectiveness of the various components of the center.
B. The superintendent shall compile the evaluation into a written report for the Legislature to determine the feasibility of extending the pilot program to other areas of the State of Oklahoma. The evaluation report shall be filed no later than July 1, 1979.
Section 306. Vocational Training Programs in Correctional Institutions. (70 O.S. § 14-124)
The State Board of Career and Technology Education is hereby directed to assume the administrative, supervisory and instructional operations of all vocational training programs in correctional institutions for which it receives funds.
Section 307. Transfer of Vocational Training Program and School at Stringtown Correctional Center. (70 O.S. § 14-125)
The administration, supervision, and operation of the Vocational Training Program and School located at the Stringtown Correctional Center is hereby transferred from the Department of Human Services to the State Board of Career and Technology Education. All property, records, and personnel of said center are hereby transferred to the State Board of Career and Technology Education.
Section 308. Retirement Status of Employees of Vocational Training Program and School. (70 O.S. § 14-125.1)
Employees of the Vocational Training Program and School located at the Stringtown Correctional Center who are members of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System and are being transferred from the Department of Human Services to the State Board of Career and Technology Education shall cease accruing benefits in the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System and shall commence accruing benefits pursuant to the Teacher’s Retirement System on July 1, 1983. On January 1, 1984, the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System shall transfer to the Teachers’ Retirement System the actual amount contributed to the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System by the state and by each employee of the Vocational Training Program and School located at the Stringtown Correctional Center transferring to the Teachers’ Retirement System and the retirement records of those transferring employees. Service accrued by said employees pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma Public Employees Retirement System shall be treated as credited service in the Teachers’ Retirement System.
Section 309. Re-employment of Technology Center Administrators. (70 O.S. § 14-126)
No administration of a technology center school district shall enter into a contract for consultant services with any person who has retired from employment as an administrator with any technology center school district for two (2) years after the retirement date of such administrator. Nothing in this section shall prohibit a board of education of a technology center school district from employing as a substitute teacher, a person who has retired as an administrator or teacher with a technology center school district within two (2) years after the retirement date of the person.
Section 310. Youth Apprentice Program Guidelines. (70 O.S. § 14-127)
A. The Oklahoma Legislature, recognizing the need for improved methods of helping secondary students make a smooth transition from high school to the workplace, hereby establishes guidelines for youth apprenticeship programs.
B. Youth apprenticeship programs shall be defined as learning programs for young people enrolled in vocational education the combine on-the-job learning with classroom instruction, that offer a bridge between secondary and post high school training and education, and that result in certification of mastery of work skills.
C. Youth apprenticeship programs shall be administered and supervised by the State Board of Career and Technology Education, which shall also establish standards for program operation.
D. Notwithstanding any other section of law, youth apprenticeship programs shall not mean any traditional apprenticeship program registered by the Bureau of Apprenticeship and Training, United States Department of Labor.
Section 311. Oklahoma Youth Apprentice Committee. (70 O.S. § 14-128)
A. There is hereby created the Oklahoma Youth Apprenticeship Committee. The committee shall be appointed by the State Board of Career and Technology Education within thirty (30) days of the effective date of this act and shall consist of thirteen (13) members as follows:
1. The Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education or designee who shall also serve as committee chair;
2. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction or designee;
3. The Chancellor of Higher Education or designee;
4. One superintendent of a technology center school district;
5. One superintendent of an independent school district;
6. One president of a state community or junior college;
7. Two members who represent the interests of labor, including one who represents the Bureau of Apprenticeship Training of the United States Department of Labor;
8. Four members who are currently employed in business or industry; and
9. One member who represents a city chamber of commerce.
B. Seven members of the committee shall constitute a quorum. A quorum must be present to transact any business of the committee. The committee is advisory in nature and shall meet as necessary to provide recommendations to the State Board of Career and Technology Education related to the administration of and standards for youth apprenticeship programs. The members of the committee shall be reimbursed for travel expenses incurred in performing official duties in accordance with the provisions of the State Travel Reimbursement Act, Section 500.1 et seq. of Title 74 of the Oklahoma Statutes.
Section 312. Rules for Youth Apprenticeship Programs. (70 O.S. § 14-129)
The State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate rules to implement the provisions of this act.
School Laws of Oklahoma | Chapter 1 - Oklahoma School Code | Article XIII: Career and Technology Education | Return to Top of Page
