Okla. Stat. tit. 10, § 10-640.2: Powers and responsibilities of Board

A. The Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board may:

1. Establish guidelines for the disbursement of funds received

from any public or private source or otherwise made available to the

Board for the purpose of supporting community initiatives that are

consistent with the goals of the Oklahoma Partnership for School

Readiness Act and direct such other expenditures as may be necessary

in the performance of its duties;

2. Establish other guidelines as necessary to carry out the

duties and responsibilities assigned to the Oklahoma Partnership for

School Readiness Board;

3. Receive funds from any public or private source;

4. Enter into contractual agreements to assist with the

administration of the Board and to provide technical assistance to

communities upon request;

5. Appoint subcommittees which may include persons who are not

Board members. Such persons shall not be entitled to compensation

but may be reimbursed, upon approval by the Director of the

Department of Human Services, for necessary expenses incurred in the

performance of their duties in accordance with the State Travel

Reimbursement Act; and

6. The Board shall ensure, to the greatest extent possible,

that the needs and values of all parents are respected and protected

and that voluntary participation is the basis for delivering all

school readiness programs. The Board shall act in ways which are

sensitive to the diverse religious and other values of Oklahomans.

B. The responsibilities of the Oklahoma Partnership for School

Readiness Board shall be to:

1. Conduct a thorough assessment of existing public and private

programs to determine their effectiveness and to maximize the

efficient use of current state funds;

2. Implement a public engagement campaign and establish a

structure to facilitate communication between communities;

3. Provide leadership at the state level to encourage

communities to develop and improve school readiness opportunities at

the local level to encourage and empower local communities;

4. Encourage public and private programs, services, and

initiatives be brought together to provide coordinated, community-

based, effective and cost-efficient programs;

5. Maximize the extent to which private sector funding is

leveraged and federal, state, and local funds are coordinated with

private funds;

6. Serve as the administrator of the statewide child care

resource and referral network;

7. Serve as the state clearinghouse for early childhood

education and development programs and services;

8. Establish standards of accountability in school readiness

programs and policy and recognize and promote the best practices;

and

9. Submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature

no later than November 1 of each year. The report shall include,

but not be limited to, the following:

a. preparedness level of children entering kindergarten,

b. status and results of the effort of the Board to

engage the public regarding the care and education of

children under the age of five (5) years and of the

efforts of the Board to develop and promote private

sector programs and voluntary parental involvement,

c. detailed summary of community initiatives and programs

funded in whole, or in part, by the Board,

d. availability and cost of quality child care for

children under five (5) years of age needing care

outside their home,

e. number, location, and status of quality

prekindergarten programs in the state, and

f. percentage of third-grade students reading at or above

grade level.

C. The Department of Human Services shall be the lead public

agency for general administration and monitoring of programs and

activities related to the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness

Act.

D. Each of the following agencies shall make staff available to

the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board for the purpose

ntage of third-grade students reading at or above

grade level.

C. The Department of Human Services shall be the lead public

agency for general administration and monitoring of programs and

activities related to the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness

Act.

D. Each of the following agencies shall make staff available to

the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness Board for the purpose

of providing professional consultation and staff support to assist

in the implementation of this act:

1. State Department of Education;

2. State Department of Health;

3. Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services;

4. Department of Human Services; and

5. Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth.