OKLAHOMA STATE SENATE / From the desk of Sen. Jessica Garvin
Just as families’ schedules are getting more hectic with back-toschool events and sports, so is ours at the Capitol and around our districts. Interim studies are in full swing with dozens scheduled for the next six weeks. All of those meetings must be completed by Friday, Nov. 3. You can find a full meeting schedule at https://oksenate. gov/committee-meetings and then you can click on the meeting notice to see the list of speakers. Once meetings are concluded, any presentations made will also be available on our website.
Recently, I had the special pleasure of traveling to numerous elementary schools around our district to celebrate Read an Accurate Ag Book Week. Thank you to the Department of Agriculture and Ag in the Classroom for providing the books and setting up this special opportunity for our youngsters to help them learn about the importance of agriculture, farming and ranching to our state. On September 7, I read to the Bridge Creek fifth graders and read to multiple grades in Marlow on September 8. Then on September 11, I read to Purcell’s Pre-K class and the Blanchard first graders. Finally, I read to the Newcastle fourth graders on September 14. We read the adorable stories of Rowdy the Dog, Farm Boots, and Applesauce Day, among others.
Speaking of reading, September is National Literacy Month. It’s so important as parents that we read to our children often and have them read to us when they’re able. This helps build their overall interest in reading, their language skills, exposes them to new words and ways of using language. It helps them learn general information about the world around them and makes it easier for them to learn about new subjects in school. Reading also helps build empathy and opens their eyes to new ways to handle difficult feelings. Reading with your child provides a unique opportunity to share about emotions and how to cope with them.
This session, we passed legislation to appropriate $10 million to the State Board of Education to implement a three-year literacy pilot program. The funds will be used by districts to employ a literacy instructional team. It requires team members to be placed regionally across the state. The teams will consist of at least five regional literacy leads and 10 literacy specialists. At the end of the three years, the agency will submit a board to the governor and legislative leaders with an evaluation of the program by school districts, whether the pilot program had an impact on increasing the number of students who are proficient in reading, and recommendations for changes to the Reading Sufficiency Act.
In closing, I’m so honored to have been chosen as a “Top 40 Oklahoma Hispanic Leader” award recipient this past week by the Oklahoma Hispanic Institute. I’m proud to be the first Hispanic woman elected to the Oklahoma Senate and so proud to share my family’s heritage with others. I’m grateful to Chairman Fred Mendoza and the institute for this special recognition.
If you have any questions or concerns on legislative matters, please contact me at the Capitol. Please write to Senator Jessica Garvin, State Capitol, 2300 N. Lincoln Blvd. Room 237, Oklahoma City, OK, 73105, email me at [email protected], or call 405-521-5522.
