Sen. Stanislawski comments on Governor’s veto of HB 2625

Sen. Gary Stanislawski, R-Tulsa, is Vice-Chair of the Senate Education Committee, and is the Senate author of a measure modifying Oklahoma’s Reading Sufficiency Act. He issued the following statement following Gov. Fallin’s announcement that she had vetoed House Bill 2625 on Tuesday.

“I respect the governor, and share her goal of ensuring more Oklahoma students acquire the reading skills needed to succeed, but I disagree that HB 2625 would weaken the third-grade reading standards. The issue was the single high stakes reading test. HB 2625 allows third-graders to take reading assessments throughout the year, and gives greater input to our local schools, teachers and parents. Since the bill modified that process, I did not feel we should penalize this year’s third-graders.

“I’m still hopeful that something can be done to bring fairness to this year’s third-graders before the session ends.”

HB 2625 was approved by the Senate 43-1 and by the House on a vote of 89-6.