Oklahoma § 70-1210.228 - Reports

§ 70-1210.228. Reports

The State Department of Education shall, at least thirty (30)

days prior to the 1973 regular session of the Legislature and each

regular session thereafter, transmit to the members of the State

Board of Education, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the

Speaker of the House of Representatives and the Chairmen of the

Senate and House Education Committees, a report as to the status of

the drug abuse education program together with any recommendations

for further improvement, modification or additional legislation.

Added by Laws 1972, c. 212, § 8, emerg. eff. April 6, 1972.

§70-1210.229-1. Short title.

Sections 1210.229-1 through 1210.229-5 of this title shall be

known and may be cited as the "Oklahoma Alcohol and Drug Abuse

Prevention and Life Skills Education Act".

Added by Laws 1987, c. 116, § 1, emerg. eff. May 26, 1987; Laws

1991, c. 121, § 6, emerg. eff. April 29, 1991.

§70-1210.229-2. Legislative findings and intent.

The Legislature finds that for the purpose of preventing drug

and alcohol abuse among our young people, and for preventing or

alleviating problems which lead to and are closely associated with

drug and alcohol abuse, it is desirable that all Oklahoma school

districts develop and implement a curriculum for drug and alcohol

abuse prevention for all grade levels. Such curriculum may include

training in life skills, such as problem-solving, responsibility,

communication and decision-making skills, which enable young people

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

to successfully resist social and other pressures to engage in

activities which are destructive to their health and future. The

Legislature encourages all school districts to adopt as a goal for

the year 1990 the full implementation of drug and alcohol abuse

prevention programs in their schools. In order to expand and

enhance the ability of school districts to implement drug and

alcohol prevention programs, it is the intent of the Legislature

that local school districts participate in the federal Drug-Free

Schools and Communities Act of 1986, 20 A.S.C., Section 4601 et seq.

and the provisions of Public Law No. 101-647, Drug-Free School

Zones.

In order to derive maximum benefit from their drug and alcohol

prevention programs, it is further the intent of the Legislature

that the school districts coordinate their efforts and activities

with the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol Abuse Policy Board, and with

appropriate state and local drug and alcohol abuse, health and law

enforcement agencies and programs within the community which provide

drug education, prevention, treatment and rehabilitation.

It is further the intent of the Legislature to encourage school

districts to establish programs concerning the danger and criminal

consequences of the possession and/or use of firearms or other

dangerous or deadly weapons in school zones.

Added by Laws 1987, c. 116, § 2, emerg. eff. May 26, 1987. Amended

by Laws 1991, c. 121, § 7, emerg. eff. April 29, 1991; Laws 1992, c.

170, § 4, emerg. eff. May 5, 1992.

§70-1210.229-3. Definitions.

For purposes of the Oklahoma Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention

and Life Skills Education Act, Section 1210.229-1 et seq. of this

title:

1. "Alcohol" means any low-point beer as defined in Section

163.2 of Title 37 of the Oklahoma Statutes or alcoholic beverage as

defined in Section 506 of Title 37 of the Oklahoma Statutes;

2. "Board" means the State Board of Education;

3. "Department" means the State Department of Education;

4. "Drug" means a controlled dangerous substance as defined in

the Uniform Controlled Dangerous Substances Act, Section 2-101 et

seq. of Title 63 of the Oklahoma Statutes; and

5. "Life skills" includes but is not limited to fostering

skills in responsibility, decision making, communication, selfconfidence and goal setting. Life skills shall not include values

clarification or sex education.

Added by Laws 1987, c. 116, § 3, emerg. eff. May 26, 1987. Amended

by Laws 1991, c. 121, § 8, emerg. eff. April 29, 1991; Laws 1995, c.

274, § 56, eff. Nov. 1, 1995.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§70-1210.229-4.

April 29, 1991.

Repealed by Laws 1991, c. 121, § 10, emerg. eff.

§70-1210.229-5. State Superintendent of Public Instruction and

State Department of Education - Coordination with Oklahoma Drug and

Alcohol Abuse Policy Board - Joint duties.

A. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction and State

Department of Education in conjunction with the Oklahoma Drug and

Alcohol Abuse Policy Board shall:

1. Establish objective criteria, guidelines and a comprehensive

integrated curriculum for substance abuse programs and the teaching

of life skills in local schools and school districts;

2. Establish and review annually model policies for alcohol and

drug abuse issues including, but not limited to, policies regarding

disciplinary actions and referral for services;

3. Develop and implement strategies which encourage all schools

to employ guidance counselors trained in substance abuse prevention

and life skills and to develop and begin implementing quality

substance abuse and life skills education programs; and

4. Develop guidelines and criteria to encourage teachers and

administrators to receive in-service training on alcohol and drug

abuse. The training or workshops shall be included in the staff

development point system. The training or workshop shall be

completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school

district, and then once every fifth academic year.

B. The State Department of Education shall distribute

information or reports provided by the Oklahoma Drug and Alcohol

Abuse Policy Board, to each school district and, upon request, to

members of the public. Upon request of the chief administrator of a

school or school district, the Department shall provide technical

assistance to schools and school districts to implement policies and

programs pursuant to guidelines provided by the Oklahoma Drug and

Alcohol Abuse Policy Board and shall provide a clearinghouse program

accessible by school districts to provide information about life

skills and drug and alcohol abuse prevention curricula and programs.

C. Final determination of materials to be used, means of

implementation of the curriculum, and ages and times at which

students receive instruction about life skills and drug and alcohol

abuse prevention shall be made by the school district board of

education. The school district, at least one (1) month prior to

giving such instruction to students, shall conduct for parents and

guardians of students involved, during weekend or evening hours, at

least one presentation concerning the plans for instruction and the

materials to be used. No student shall be required to receive

instruction about life skills and drug and alcohol abuse prevention

if a parent or guardian of the student objects in writing.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

Added by Laws 1987, c. 116, § 5, emerg. eff. May 26, 1987. Amended

by Laws 1991, c. 121, § 9, emerg. eff. April 29, 1991; Laws 2021, c.

103, § 4, eff. Nov. 1, 2021; Laws 2023, c. 15, § 8, eff. July 1,

2023.

§70-1210.229-6. Program of character education.

A. The board of education of every school district in this

state may develop and implement a comprehensive program for

character education in any single grade or combination of grades,

prekindergarten through twelfth. The character education program

shall focus on development of character traits in students. The

program of character education may include, but shall not be limited

to, the voluntary reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance to the flag

of the United States of America.

B. The State Department of Education shall develop and make

available to all school districts through an Internet website, the

following:

1. Technical assistance upon request of a school district;

2. A list of approved research-based character education

programs, curricula, and materials which may be used by school

districts;

3. A character education honor roll that will recognize school

districts that have successfully implemented a comprehensive schooldistrict-wide program of character education and will highlight the

positive impacts the program has had on each school or school

district; and

4. A character education reading list of books that may

include, but is not limited to, books that illustrate models of good

character and books that relate to the development of good character

traits that may be used by schools in a character education program.

C. Subject to the availability of funding, the State Board of

Education may award grants to ten school districts for the

establishment of pilot projects which align character education with

the state curriculum in reading, mathematics, science or social

studies and demonstrate how character education teaches life skills

that lead to career readiness. The amount of each grant shall be

One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). The projects shall be innovative

programs that will serve as models for other school districts.

Funding may cover the cost of purchasing curriculum, materials, or

training teachers. The Board shall determine pilot project criteria

and establish a process for the consideration of proposals. The

proposals for pilot projects shall be considered on a statewide

competitive basis. The Board shall promulgate rules for the

operation of the projects.

Added by Laws 1999, c. 113, § 1, eff. July 1, 1999. Amended by Laws

2005, c. 300, § 1, eff. July 1, 2005; Laws 2013, c. 163, § 1, eff.

July 1, 2013.

Oklahoma Statutes - Title 70. Schools

§70-1210.229-7. Patriotic societies - Opportunity to speak and

recruit at public schools.

A. As used in this section, "patriotic society" means any youth

group listed in Title 36 of the United States Code.

B. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the principal of

each public school in the state shall allow representatives of a

patriotic society the opportunity to speak with and recruit students

to participate in their organizations during school hours to inform

the students of how the patriotic society may further the students'

educational interests and civic involvement to better their schools,

communities and themselves.

C. The patriotic society shall provide verbal or written notice

to the principal of its intent to speak to the students. The

principal shall provide verbal or written approval of the specific

day and time for the society to address the students.

Added by Laws 2017, c. 176, § 3.