2018 Oklahoma Statutes
Title 70. Schools
§70-1210.515. Applicants under 18 years applying for driver license or permit - Demonstration of satisfactory reading ability - Criteria - Alternative reading proficiency tests.

A. Pursuant to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection A of Section 6-107.3 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes, any person under the age of eighteen (18) years wishing to apply for a driver license or permit shall successfully demonstrate a satisfactory reading ability at the eighth-grade reading level by meeting the following criteria:

1. A student enrolled in a public school shall successfully complete the reading portion of the statewide assessment administered pursuant to Section 1210.508 of this title and that is offered in the eighth grade. Following the administration of this assessment in the eighth grade, any student not successfully completing the reading portion shall be assigned a plan of remedial reading. Any student not successful in completing the reading portion of the state assessment may take a comparable alternative reading proficiency test in order to satisfy the criteria for a driver license or permit. Alternative reading proficiency tests shall be approved by the State Department of Education. Subsequent successful completion of an alternative reading proficiency test shall serve to satisfy any retake requirement for the reading portion of the state assessment in the eighth grade in the Oklahoma School Testing Program. School districts shall notify, in writing, each student who takes the reading portion of the state assessment for the eighth grade or who takes an alternative reading proficiency test and the student's parent or legal guardian of the results. If the student fails to perform satisfactorily on the test, the notice shall inform the student of the reading proficiency driver license requirement and the school's remediation plan for the student. Upon the student's successful completion of the test, the school shall furnish the student with the documentation needed for the driver license application in Oklahoma;

2. Unless alternatively documented according to the provisions of subsection C of this section, students under the age of eighteen (18) years shall successfully complete a reading proficiency test approved by the State Department of Education; and

3. Any student who wishes to apply for a restricted license to operate a motorcycle may take an alternative reading proficiency test, subject to the provisions of this section.

B. Alternative reading proficiency tests shall be offered by testing sites, which shall include the public schools at least four times per calendar year, and may include any of the following which chose to participate, the technology center school districts, Regional Education Service Centers, colleges, accredited private schools, and other sites approved by the State Department of Education. A student may take the test as often as wished, subject to the provisions of this section. Testing sites shall provide the first alternative reading proficiency test for each student at no cost to the student. Students may be assessed a fee not to exceed Twenty-five Dollars ($25.00) by the testing site for each subsequent alternative reading proficiency test taken.

C. A school district shall provide for alternative documentation of reading proficiency for the purposes of paragraph 2 of subsection A of Section 6-107.3 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes for any student with an individualized education program that, at a minimum, is in an area related to reading. The alternative documentation shall be furnished to such student who is performing satisfactorily in reading pursuant to the individualized education program of the student. Parents of disabled students educated pursuant to the provisions of Section 4 of Article XIII of the Oklahoma Constitution may satisfy the requirement of paragraph 2 of subsection A of Section 6-107.3 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes by signing an affidavit that, based upon their best information and belief, their child would qualify for an individualized education program that, at a minimum, is in an area related to reading if enrolled in public school, and that in their judgment their child is performing satisfactorily in reading and is therefore academically qualified to satisfy the requirement of paragraph 2 of subsection A of Section 6-107.3 of Title 47 of the Oklahoma Statutes.

D. Any person under the age of eighteen (18) who has previously completed and successfully passed a reading proficiency test from another state may submit the results of such test to the State Department of Education for verification and approval. The State Department of Education shall have thirty (30) days from receipt of the reading proficiency results submitted by the person to verify that the reading proficiency requirements from the other state are equivalent or comparable to the reading proficiency requirements established for Oklahoma students pursuant to this section. Upon verification and approval by the State Department of Education, the Department shall furnish the person with the documentation needed for the driver license application in Oklahoma. If the reading proficiency documentation submitted by the person is disapproved by the Department, the person may take an alternative reading proficiency test as provided for in subsection B of this section.

Added by Laws 1998, c. 190, § 3, eff. July 1, 1998. Amended by Laws 2001, c. 33, § 131, eff. July 1, 2001; Laws 2004, c. 197, § 3, eff. July 1, 2004; Laws 2013, c. 337, § 1, eff. Nov. 1, 2013; Laws 2016, c. 360, § 8, eff. July 1, 2016.