Articles
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Economy
IRS data suggest Oklahoma’s real growth engine isn’t subsidy schemes—it’s economic freedom
For years, Oklahoma politicians chased mega-projects with giant subsidy offers—and mostly lost. But newly released IRS data show that the state did far better by cutting taxes and expanding economic freedom.Ray Carter | March 23, 2026
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Education
In Oklahoma, rich kids perform poorly in school
Even in Oklahoma districts with relatively low poverty rates, students who should be advantaged still perform far worse than their peers nationwide. The data show Oklahoma’s poor education outcomes are widespread and not limited to high-poverty schools.Ray Carter | March 19, 2026
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Education
As demand nears cap, parents praise school-choice program
As debate continues over raising the cap on the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program, parents say one thing is not debatable: The program is changing their children’s lives for the better.Ray Carter | March 17, 2026
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Economy
Credit upgrade defies prior doomsday predictions
In 2019, an economist claimed Oklahoma government faced ongoing deficits unless income, sales, and oil-and-gas taxes were increased. Policymakers did the opposite—and credit rating agencies now say Oklahoma is more financially stable than ever.Ray Carter | March 17, 2026
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Culture & the Family
Oklahoma remains a top 10 state for movers
A new report from the moving company Hire a Helper shows that Oklahoma remains one of the nation’s strongest magnets for domestic migration, ranking ninth in the country in 2025 with 10,534 more people moving in than out.Ray Carter | March 13, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma House votes to increase length of school year
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved legislation that would increase the length of Oklahoma’s school year. HB 3151 passed the House 62–28 and now proceeds to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.Ray Carter | March 12, 2026
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Culture & the Family
Oklahoma House passes measure to bar male students from female-only spaces
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved legislation that requires K-12 schools and state colleges to maintain sex-specific sleeping quarters, locker rooms, restrooms, and other intimate spaces—defined strictly by biological sex.Ray Carter | March 12, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma House passes bill barring sexually explicit materials from school libraries
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved House Bill 2978, legislation that would prohibit school libraries from offering books containing depictions or descriptions of sexually explicit conduct. The measure passed the House on a 74–17 party-line vote.Ray Carter | March 10, 2026
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Education
Study: Private-school choice boosts public-school outcomes more than spending
A new research synthesis by Patrick Graff concludes that competitive pressure from private-school choice consistently raises public-school outcomes—far more efficiently than traditional spending increases.Ray Carter | March 4, 2026
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Higher Education
Oklahoma Senate panel advances bill to end professor tenure
A bill that would abolish tenure for future college faculty in Oklahoma has cleared a Senate committee. Supporters argue taxpayers shouldn’t be on the hook for professors who can coast for decades, while opponents warn the change will shrink applicant pools and raise salaries.Ray Carter | March 3, 2026