Articles
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Education
Chicken Little rhetoric from education special interests was wrong (again)
It never made sense to pay schools for educating “ghost students” who weren’t there. Oklahoma state lawmakers were right to ignore the lobbyists and do what’s best for taxpayers.Jonathan Small | July 29, 2024
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Education
Accused pedophile teacher case highlights problem of school enablers
As the legal system determines the fate of one accused teacher-predator, the investigation that led to his arrest suggests other school officials may have played a significant role in enabling his continued employment in Oklahoma schools.Ray Carter | July 18, 2024
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Education
Celebrating Oklahoma’s best teachers
OCPA is proud of the outstanding public school teachers in Oklahoma and is pleased to provide $14,000 in scholarships to public school students in the districts of the 10 Teacher of the Year finalists.Rick Farmer, Ph.D. | July 18, 2024
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Education, Culture & the Family
Ardmore teacher wishes Trump dead?
In a social-media post, an Ardmore public school teacher appears to have wished for the death of former President Donald Trump.Ray Carter | July 16, 2024
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Education
Study shows huge ghost-student decline in Oklahoma
A new report from the Reason Foundation shows an enormous reduction in ghost-student funding in Oklahoma. The result is an additional $180 million being spent on students that actually exist within local school districts.Ray Carter | July 15, 2024
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Education
Teachers’ union targets Trump, Oklahoma ‘anti-trans’ laws
The parent organization of the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) is decrying states like Oklahoma that prohibit males from using girls’ bathrooms or participating in girls’ sports.Ray Carter | July 10, 2024
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Budget & Tax, Education
Watchdog report: No shortage of funds in Oklahoma schools
Funding for Oklahoma public schools surged more in the last five years than in the prior 25 years. So far, there is little indication that this massive spending binge has generated any notable improvement in academic outcomes.Ray Carter | June 26, 2024
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Education, Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court blocks religious charter school, but reinforces private-school-choice legality
The Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that the Oklahoma Constitution prohibits the Catholic Church from operating a state charter school. But the court majority’s decision also reinforced the legality of private-school-choice programs that put parents in control.Ray Carter | June 25, 2024
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Education
School choice big winner in Oklahoma primary elections
School choice played a prominent role in several state legislative races across Oklahoma this month.Ray Carter | June 24, 2024
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Education
Phonics key to reversing bad Oklahoma trends
A new Oklahoma law requires that Oklahoma teachers be trained in “the science of reading” so that they can teach children to read rather than to guess.Jonathan Small | June 24, 2024