Articles
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Education
Oklahoma education agency newsletter includes transgender bathroom policy, other LGBT ‘best practices’
A recent Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) newsletter advises school districts to allow students to use the bathroom of their choice based on gender identity rather than biological gender.Ray Carter | January 2, 2020
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Education
Shortage of applicants, not teachers, plagues Oklahoma schools
When lawmakers passed historic tax increases in part for teacher pay raises in 2018, it was argued that schools’ reliance on emergency-certified teachers demonstrated the need for those actions.Ray Carter | December 30, 2019
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Education
Schools disagree on definition of ‘significant medical condition’
Under Oklahoma’s school grading system, a measure of “chronic absenteeism” is one of the factors included in the calculation of schools’ A-F grades on state report cards. However, exceptions are allowed for students with significant qualifying medical conditions that result in long absences.Ray Carter | December 23, 2019
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Budget & Tax
State government to have ‘flat’ budget next year
The State Board of Equalization has certified that the governor and lawmakers will have only $9 million more to spend in the 2020 legislative session than in 2019. That represents an increase of just one-tenth of 1 percent.Ray Carter | December 23, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Compulsive gamblers can self-ban; expert calls the idea ‘almost worthless’
Les Bernal, national director of Stop Predatory Gambling, cites studies that show that half of the profits from commercial gambling come from addicted gamblers.Mike Brake | December 20, 2019
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Education
Tulsa Public Schools accused of breaking state law
The State Board of Education voted Thursday to send a charter-school application back to the Tulsa Public Schools district and urged the district to vote on the application within 30 days. That action was taken after charter supporters said Tulsa officials have violated state law and the district’s own policies.Ray Carter | December 20, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Tribes concede casino fees subject to renegotiation
Stitt said a compact extension will allow both sides to preserve their legal positions while negotiations continue.Ray Carter | December 18, 2019
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma tribes pursue casinos in states with higher rates
In arguing against Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for the State of Oklahoma to receive higher exclusivity payments for monopoly casino rights, Oklahoma’s tribal casino operators often argue that the benefits of the state’s low rates accrue to Oklahoma anyway because they have nowhere else to go with their earnings.Ray Carter | December 16, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
State government funds group that blames health problems on racism
In recent years, the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) has paid at least $1.6 million to an organization that “believes that the most powerful risk factors in health are laws and policies that have perpetuated the legacy of racism, discrimination, and segregation throughout our nation’s history.”Ray Carter | December 13, 2019
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Higher Education
OSU lawsuit points up bias in higher education
Despite having glowing recommendations for a promotion, an Oklahoma State University professor says she was denied the higher rank after she returned from service in the Trump administration.Mike Brake | December 12, 2019