Articles
-
Education
Tax-credit program benefits school serving children dealing with trauma
First Lady Sarah Stitt recently spoke at an open-house event for Hope Harbor Academy near Claremore.Ray Carter | September 30, 2019
-
Education
Oklahoma Attorney General defends tax-credit scholarship programs
Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter has filed a brief with the U.S. Supreme Court to defend the participation of private religious schools in state tax-credit scholarship programs, arguing that a Montana Supreme Court decision striking down such programs unconstitutionally violated citizens’ First Amendment rights.Ray Carter | September 24, 2019
-
Education
Lawmakers urged to follow Texas model on teacher hiring
Oklahoma teacher salaries have surged in the last two years, yet reports of a teacher shortage persist. Members of the House Common Education Committee recently met to consider how to address that challenge, and were encouraged to follow the Texas model, which involves heavy reliance on alternatively certified teachers.Ray Carter | September 24, 2019
-
Education
Tulsa parents are voting with their feet
TPS announced it faces a budget shortfall and must cut $20 million. TPS officials cite a lack of state funding as the reason for the shortfall—despite the fact the Legislature has increased education funding by more than $620 million in the last two years, the largest increase to education in state history.Curtis Shelton | September 20, 2019
-
Education
Anti-bullying bill sidelined as bullying problem grows
Reports of school violence and bullying have increased in recent weeks, but legislation that would have helped children escape from dangerous and even life-threatening situations remains sidelined at the Oklahoma Capitol.Ray Carter | September 17, 2019
-
Education
Oklahoma parents want the money to follow the child
Yet another scientific survey of Oklahoma voters has found strong support for parental choice in education.Brandon Dutcher | September 17, 2019
-
Education
Studies show virtual charters not overfunded
Based on national research, Oklahoma’s virtual charter schools are not overfunded, lawmakers were told this week.Ray Carter | September 13, 2019
-
Education
Experts: Many trade-offs with class-size limits
While some school lobbying groups continue to call for reducing class sizes, experts told members of the Senate Education Committee on Tuesday that class-size reduction is very expensive, the educational benefits are limited, and there may be more beneficial ways to spend taxpayer resources in schools.Ray Carter | September 11, 2019
-
Education
HB 1017 reforms included school-choice funding
The passage of House Bill 1017 in 1990 has long been hailed as a major step forward for Oklahoma education. One often overlooked component of that reform measure is that the law allowed the use of taxpayer funding to cover private-school costs for certain students, lawmakers were reminded Tuesday.Ray Carter | September 10, 2019
-
Education
Critic of virtual schools has degree from online university
A state senator who has been a prominent critic of Oklahoma’s virtual charter schools for K-12 students holds a doctorate from a for-profit online university that was subsequently closed amid claims it was a diploma mill.Ray Carter | September 6, 2019