The Oklahoma State House of Representatives submitted 135 interim studies proposals before the June 25, deadline, nearly double the amount requested last year.

Rep. Danny Williams (R-Seminole) has teamed up with Rep. Sherrie Conley (R-Newcastle) and Avery Frix (R-Muskogee) for a study to explore the opportunity to advance educational achievement among children and adults through online distance learning.

The proposal states the lawmakers are “looking for opportunities to include students that have dropped out of high school, college, or Vo-tech without achieving a degree and recruiting them with an educational offering that can be delivered to their home or a local institution. Evaluating all the current distance learning in K-12, vocational and higher ed and exploring ways to maximize those offerings.”

House Speaker Charles McCall will consider each requested interim study and announce approvals with committee assignments by Friday, July 23.

The Oklahoma State Senate’s interim studies requests have not yet been published. Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat is set to announce committee assignments for the study requests by no later than July 2. Each standing committee chair will decide whether a particular study will be heard. Senators are required to complete their studies by November 5.