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OKLAHOMA CITY (April 22, 2009) - Legislation increasing the transparency of standards-testing, student assessment and data collection is headed to the governor for his signature following House passage today. Senate Bill 1111, the Educational Accountability Reform Act, moves accountability and the determination of adequate yearly progress, cut scores, the school testing program and the state student record system from the State Department of Education to the Education Quality and Accountability Office.

The legislation sets up a non-partisan entity within the current Office of Accountability that will warehouse all data, standards and testing and free the Secretary of Education to solely focus on implementation of education programs to meet these goals.

"We don?t want the fox guarding the hen house. There is no hint of impropriety here with this legislation; we just want to make sure the standards in our schools are high to ensure they are prepared for college and the workplace," said Rep. Lee Denney, R-Cushing and House author of the bill. "If we set high standards and get an accurate picture of how our students are performing academically, I am convinced they will step up to the challenge. To imply that just because a student is poor they will not be able to meet high academic standards is offensive and simply untrue."

The U.S Chamber of Commerce released a study called ?Leaders and Laggards? in 2007 that gave Oklahoma a score of F in accountability. Despite receiving an A for 21st century teaching force, the state received an F in academic achievement and truth in advertising about student proficiency. Oklahoma also received a D in data quality.

"If we are serious about economic development in our state, we have to have a well-educated workforce that companies will want to employ," said House Speaker Chris Benge, R-Tulsa. "This legislation is a creative step to better help students prepare to compete in an increasingly global marketplace."

House Floor Leader Tad Jones said this legislation is meant to improve the state?s education ratings and ensure Oklahoma schools are held accountable apart from a public official dependent on those standards and results for re-election. The legislation is also based on a comprehensive study called ?Organizing Effective Educational Accountability: The Case of Oklahoma,? which was released earlier this year and was sponsored by the Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition.

The extensive study was conducted by Dominic J. Brewer, Ph.D., and the Clifford H. and Betty C. Allen Professor in Urban Leadership at the University of Southern California and Kieran M. Killeen, Ph.D. and an Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Vermont. Jones urged Gov. Brad Henry to support the legislation, which has been endorsed by several education organizations in the state, including the Oklahoma Education Association, Professional Oklahoma Educators and the American Federation of Teachers.

"This bill will allow us to obtain objective achievement results so we know where we stand with our testing and scores," said Jones, R-Claremore. "The status quo cannot continue." The bill passed the House with a bipartisan vote of 58-39 today and now goes to the governor to be signed into law.