Articles
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Education
One in four Oklahoma youth benefiting from school choice
Many claim that 95% of Oklahoma students attend their local public school. In reality, the share of Oklahoma students whose families “choose” to enroll in the geographically closest public school may be closer to 76 percent.Ray Carter | July 18, 2025
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Education
As NEA commits to fight ‘fascist’ Trump, lawmakers target union’s federal charter
At its recent national convention, the National Education Association (NEA)—the parent organization of Oklahoma’s OEA—approved a series of resolutions attacking President Trump, defending illegal immigration, and more.Ray Carter | July 17, 2025
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Education
Oklahoma teacher pay ranks higher than many realize
Despite claims from state House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson that Oklahoma ranks “last in the region for teacher pay,” data from the National Education Association and the Oklahoma State School Boards Association tell a different story.Ray Carter | July 16, 2025
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Higher Education
Oklahoma’s Promise is available to teachers’ children—now let’s extend it to everyone
Oklahoma teachers’ families can now use tax dollars for tuition at any public or private college. If it’s good enough for teachers’ kids, it’s good enough for everyone. It’s time for the Legislature to fund students, not institutions.Byron Schlomach, Ph.D. | July 16, 2025
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Higher Education
As Trump DOJ cracks down on in-state tuition for illegal aliens, OU and OSU mum
The U.S. Department of Justice has begun suing states that provide in-state college tuition to illegal immigrants while charging higher rates to out-of-state U.S. citizens. When asked about their policies, neither OU nor OSU responded to a request for comment.Ray Carter | July 15, 2025
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma Supreme Court: McGirt doesn’t extend to civil and regulatory law
In a major clarification of the legal limits of the McGirt decision, the Oklahoma Supreme Court has ruled that McGirt does not extend to civil regulatory authority.Ray Carter | July 14, 2025
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Education, Higher Education
Whistleblower: Teachers taught to use bogus reading methods at Oklahoma college
A reading specialist hired by Oklahoma Panhandle State University attempted to reform the university’s curriculum with scientifically supported phonics-based instruction. She laments that “new teachers are coming fresh out of college not knowing how to teach kids to read.”Ray Carter | July 11, 2025
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma agency reports provide limited transparency
Despite laws requiring Oklahoma state agencies to produce reports on program effectiveness, a new review finds that most of these reports are virtually inaccessible to the public.Ray Carter | July 10, 2025
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Higher Education
Civil rights complaint filed against University of Tulsa
A civil rights complaint has been filed against the University of Tulsa, alleging the school has engaged in illegal discrimination.Ray Carter | July 10, 2025
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Big Beautiful relief for Oklahoma’s state budget
The “One Big Beautiful Bill” introduces a work requirement for Medicaid-expansion enrollees aged 19 to 64. This will help alleviate the unsustainable welfare growth in Oklahoma’s state budget.Curtis Shelton | July 10, 2025