Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2024-26

Current through Vol. 42, No. 4, November 1, 2024

Section 1:2024-26

EXECUTIVE ORDER 2024-26

WHEREAS, it is the paramount duty of the State of Oklahoma's families, educators, and policy makers to foster and uphold an environment conducive to the educational success of every Oklahoma child; and

WHEREAS, the proliferation of cell phones in schools--especially in classrooms hinders student learning potential and makes teaching more difficult; and

WHEREAS, the widespread use of cell phones and increased use of social media in schools seems to be linked to the evolving mental health crisis afflicting our young people; and

WHEREAS, educators, parents, students and researchers have expressed grave concerns over the proliferation of cell phones in schools; and

WHEREAS, my administration is duty-bound to act to safeguard our children's futures and chances to achieve the American Dream;

NOW THEREFORE, I, J. Kevin Stitt, Governor of the State of Oklahoma, pursuant to the power and authority vested in me by Sections 1 and 2 of Article VI of the Oklahoma Constitution, and to the fullest extent permitted by law, hereby challenge all school district superintendents to participate in the Oklahoma Phone-Free Schools Challenge ("Challenge"). The Challenge aims:

1. To inspire Oklahoma schools to adopt commonsense, cost neutral, phone-free classroom policies (including individualized exemptions for medical conditions and/or learning differences) as soon as practicable;

2. To encourage school district superintendents to work with families, students, and faculty to implement school-specific policies;

3. To foster district-specific conversations regarding the negative consequences associated with the proliferation of cell phones in schools; and

4. To create opportunities for families, educators, and policy makers to experiment with commonsense solutions to a real and worsening problem before the next legislative session.

Districts electing to participate in the Challenge should implement policies no later than Friday, November 29, 2024. Districts may share those policies with my administration via email at public.affairs@gov.ok.gov.

Policies shared with my administration by November 29, 2024, deadline shall inform a best practices report, which shall be provided to the Governor, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the President Pro Tempore of the Senate no later than January 3, 2025. The Secretary of Education, in conjunction with the Chief Health and Mental Health Advisor, and the Commissioner for the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services ("ODMHSAS"), shall prepare the report.

This Executive Order shall be distributed to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Chairman of the House Common Education Committee, the Chairman of the House Public Health Committee, the Chairman of the Senate Education Committee, the Chairman of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, the Secretary of Education, the Chief Health and Mental Health Advisor, the Commissioner of the ODMHSAS, and to the Superintendent of Public Instruction.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the Great Seal of the State of Oklahoma to be affixed at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, this 11th day of September 2024.

BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA

J. Kevin Stitt

ATTEST:

Josh Cockroft

Secretary of State

Okla. Admin. Code § 1:2024-26

Adopted by Oklahoma Register, Volume 42, Issue 3, October 15, 2024, eff. 9/11/2024