Okla. Stat. tit. 70, § 70-6-207: Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program

A. The State Board of Education shall establish the Oklahoma

Mathematics Improvement Program. The purpose of the program is to

improve student mastery of the subject matter standards adopted by

the State Board of Education for sixth-grade mathematics through

Algebra I by enhancing sixth-, seventh- and eighth-grade public

school teachers' mastery of the subject matter content and process

skills.

B. For purposes of this section, "middle-level mathematics"

means the subject matter standards for sixth- through eighth-grade

mathematics and Algebra I.

C. Each sixth-, seventh-, or eighth-grade public school teacher

of a middle-level mathematics course who completes a professional

development program approved by the State Board of Education, as

authorized in subsection E of this section, shall receive a stipend

in the amount of One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00) if, prior or

subsequent to completion of the professional development program,

the teacher successfully completes the middle-level/intermediate

mathematics Oklahoma Subject Area Test administered by the Oklahoma

Commission for Teacher Preparation. The State Board of Education

shall provide the stipend to qualifying teachers who meet the

requirements of this section. The stipend shall not be included in

the calculation of the teacher's salary for purposes of meeting the

district or statutory minimum salary schedule or for purposes of

calculating Teachers' Retirement System of Oklahoma contributions or

benefits.

D. The State Department of Education shall issue a request for

proposals on or before October 1, 2005, seeking applications for the

Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program. The State Department of

Education shall review the applications for compliance with the

established requirements.

E. The State Board of Education may approve programs that meet

the requirements set forth in this subsection. Each participating

teacher shall take a preassessment to establish current subject

matter knowledge, and, based on the results of the preassessment,

the teacher will participate in one of the three programs listed

below:

1. Mathematics academies consisting of a minimum of forty (40)

contact hours of training and twenty (20) contact hours of follow-up

training through lesson study with identified mathematics

specialists on-site and through video technology.

The mathematics academies shall incorporate both content

knowledge and process knowledge that shall be modeled for teachers

in the areas of problem-solving, reasoning, and critical thinking as

applied to the mathematical concepts in the subject matter

standards. The ultimate goal of the mathematics academies shall be

to significantly increase the number of children becoming proficient

in mathematics as demonstrated on assessments administered pursuant

to the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act. The mathematics

academies shall be accepted for professional development purposes

and shall be defined as continuing education experiences that

consist of a minimum of forty (40) clock hours. The mathematics

academies shall be designed to provide instruction that includes

peer coaching;

2. Other programs including customized higher education courses

and/or on-line courses similar in scope and nature to those

described in this subsection designed to improve middle school

mathematics knowledge including Algebra I, as approved by the State

Board of Education; and

3. Small learning community lesson studies facilitated by a

mathematics coach and utilizing the Internet and video technology,

as approved by the State Board of Education.

F. On or before December 15, 2005, the State Department of

Education shall forward applications that the Department has

determined meet the requirements of this section to the State Board

of Education. On or before February 1, 2006, the Board shall award,

n studies facilitated by a

mathematics coach and utilizing the Internet and video technology,

as approved by the State Board of Education.

F. On or before December 15, 2005, the State Department of

Education shall forward applications that the Department has

determined meet the requirements of this section to the State Board

of Education. On or before February 1, 2006, the Board shall award,

through a competitive bid process, one or more grants for

professional development programs approved by the Department.

G. The State Board of Education shall contract for independent

evaluations of programs funded pursuant to this section.

H. Beginning June 30, 2006, and each year thereafter for which

the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program is funded, the State

Board of Education shall prepare and submit a report to the

Legislature and the Governor containing:

1. Descriptions of professional development programs approved

and funded through the Oklahoma Mathematics Improvement Program;

2. Number and amount of grants awarded;

3. Number of teachers completing approved programs;

4. Number of teachers successfully completing the Oklahoma

Subject Area Test for middle level/intermediate mathematics after

completion of a program created pursuant to this section;

5. Amount of stipends paid to teachers pursuant to this

section; and

6. Student achievement data for students in classes taught by

teachers completing one of the program options authorized pursuant

to this section.