Articles
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Budget & Tax, Education
How much does the Oklahoma State Department of Education spend?
The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is one of the state’s largest agencies in terms of appropriations and total spending. In 2020 the OSDE received $3.07 billion of the state’s $8.2 billion in state appropriations, a 5.4 percent increase from 2019.Curtis Shelton | September 29, 2020
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Education
Stilwell school experience defies COVID-closure plan
So far this year, there has been no significant outbreak of COVID-19 among Stilwell students and, when children or staff have caught the virus, it typically came from sources outside the school.Ray Carter | September 28, 2020
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Health Care
How many Oklahomans are enrolled in Medicaid?
The number of people enrolled in Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, SoonerCare, has increased substantially over the last two decades.Kaitlyn Finley | September 28, 2020
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Education
Tulsa schools include ‘social justice’ in staff training
A recent training program at Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) advised teachers to incorporate “social justice” into all courses, including subjects such as physical education and math.Ray Carter | September 24, 2020
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Education
State may face lawsuit for anti-Christian discrimination
A member of the Oklahoma State Board of Education suggested Thursday that private schools should not be allowed to participate in a state program for children with special needs unless they substantially abandon their Christian identity.Ray Carter | September 24, 2020
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Culture & the Family
Lawmakers review challenges of open-meeting changes
As the COVID-19 pandemic hit Oklahoma last spring, state lawmakers responded by authorizing temporary changes to state open-meetings laws and allowed government bodies to meet entirely by video or teleconference.Ray Carter | September 24, 2020
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Education
With schools closed, school-choice support surges
With several large Oklahoma schools remaining closed for in-person instruction, parental opposition to school closures has become more vocal as parents sign petitions and hold protests.Ray Carter | September 23, 2020
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Higher Education
Oklahoma law deans urge ‘antiracism’ requirement
Claiming that “racism is deeply embedded in our institutions, including in the legal profession,” the deans of 150 American law schools—including all three in Oklahoma—have signed a letter urging the American Bar Association to require their schools to “provide training and education around bias, cultural competence, and antiracism.”Mike Brake | September 22, 2020
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Criminal Justice
COVID-19 rate up in prisons, but few get sick
In recent weeks, COVID-19 rates have surged in Oklahoma prisons, contributing significantly to higher overall rates in many counties across the state. But even as infection rates surged in prisons, resulting sickness from the virus has been minimal.Ray Carter | September 22, 2020
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Higher Education
Gallogly a courageous leader in challenging times
In his remarkable tenure as president of the University of Oklahoma, James Gallogly focused the university on its core mission of providing quality education to the average student, not catering to distractions, special interests, and wasteful spending.Jonathan Small | September 22, 2020