Orginially published on News Star – May 10th, 2024
Oklahoma students choose online learning for various reasons. Some were bullied in their brick-and-mortar school. Others need a more personalized approach to education and additional one-on-one support. Some students require a flexible schedule to pursue extracurricular activities or work to provide for their families.
No matter the reason they choose virtual education, these students deserve to start on the same playing field as their counterparts in traditional settings.
Until SB 1904 was signed into law on April 26, that simply wasn’t the case.
SB 1904 allows for remote, proctored testing for Oklahoma virtual schools, which will be a game changer for our students and teachers. Currently, online school administrators set up 25-30 in-person testing sites across the state. Families have to drive an hour or more to get to the site — this means parents may have to take off work and spend extra money on gas and food, which can be a financial strain.
Additionally, the testing period lasts for six weeks, and teachers must travel across Oklahoma to administer tests. They are reimbursed for travel, hotel, food and milage, but these expenses come out of the school’s budget. It’s money that would be spent on technology, school supplies and other educational needs.
Thanks to SB 1904, students will be relieved of immense undue stress during a period that already induces anxiety. Currently, high schoolers end up taking seven tests — state science and history tests, as well as the ACT, which is broken up into five parts — in one day. Middle schoolers only take math and English Language Arts, with another test in 8th grade, but it’s still a lot for one day. Students in brick-and-mortar schools, however, can break the tests up into multiple days, which helps reduce stress and allows them to focus on one test at a time.
Also, our students are used to learning in their home environment. In-person testing requires them to be in a strange environment, most likely with a teacher who is not their primary teacher and therefore may be a complete stranger. Something as seemingly inconsequential as an unfamiliar environment can hurt concentration and comprehension.
Thank you to Rep. Preston Stinson and Sen. Adam Pugh for championing this bill and continuing to support virtual education and school choice. Thank you to Gov. Kevin Stitt for signing SB 1904 into law.
With remote proctored testing, we no longer face six weeks of classroom disruption. Students can complete testing across multiple days in a comfortable, familiar environment. Teachers are readily available to assist students with specific needs. Families will get money back in their pockets.
And, most importantly, virtual learners will enjoy a stable learning environment, just like their brick-and-mortar counterparts — because all Oklahoma children deserve the same shot at a quality education.
Dr. Jennifer Wilkinson is the Executive Director at Insight School of Oklahoma, an alternative education online public charter school serving students in grades 6-12 throughout Oklahoma. To learn more about Insight School of Oklahoma, please visit: https://insightok.k12.com/
