A. Effective January 1, 2013, there is hereby created the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability. The membership of the Commission shall consist of:

1. The Secretary of Education, who shall serve as the chair of the Commission;

2. One member appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, representing business and industry from an Oklahoma employer with five hundred (500) or fewer employees;

3. One member, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who is a parent of a child enrolled in a public school in this state;4. One member, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who is an administrator of a public school district;

5. One member, appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall represent higher education teacher education programs;

6. One member appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall be an active classroom teacher in kindergarten through grade six; and

7. One member appointed by the Governor, with the advice and consent of the Senate, who shall be an active classroom teacher in grades seven through twelve.

The terms of the initial appointed members shall commence on January 1, 2013, and shall end on June 30, 2014. The terms of subsequently appointed members shall commence on July 1 of each year following the election of the Governor thereafter and shall be for four (4) years. If a vacancy occurs, the vacancy shall be filled for the unexpired term in the same manner as the office was previously filled.B. A quorum of the Commission, which shall consist of four members, shall be present in order for the Commission to transact any business. Members shall be reimbursed for travel in the performance of their official duties in accordance with the State Travel Reimbursement Act.

C. Prior to July 1, 2013, the Commission shall meet to organize and plan for the assumption of the powers and duties of the Education Oversight Board and the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation.

D. Beginning July 1, 2013, the Commission shall assume the following duties:

1. Oversee implementation of the provisions of Enrolled House Bill No. 1017 of the 1st Extraordinary Session of the 42nd Oklahoma Legislature;

2. Implementation of the provisions of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act as provided for in law;

3. Make recommendations to the Governor and Legislature on methods to achieve an aligned, seamless system from preschool through postsecondary education; and

4. Set performance levels and corresponding cut scores pursuant to the Oklahoma School Testing Program Act and as provided for in Section 1210.541 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

E. Beginning July 1, 2013, the Commission shall govern the operation of the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability created in Section 3-117 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

F. 1. Beginning July 1, 2014, the Commission shall assume the following duties of the Oklahoma Commission for Teacher Preparation according to the provisions of the Oklahoma Teacher Preparation Act:

a.approval and accreditation of teacher education programs, and

b.assessment of candidates for licensure and certification.

2. To implement the provisions of this subsection the Commission shall:

a.include the State Board of Education in the process,

b.review and assess approved, accredited and new programs of teacher education, and

c.encourage studies and research designed to improve teacher education.

Added by Laws 2012, c. 223, § 1, eff. Jan. 1, 2013.