Articles
-
Health Care
As expansion approaches, structural Medicaid reform is needed
Due to the narrow passage of State Question 802 earlier this year, Oklahoma will expand its Medicaid program eligibility to certain able-bodied adults beginning next July.Kaitlyn Finley | November 16, 2020
-
Budget & Tax, Higher Education
Higher education’s budget request unrealistic
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education recently released their budget request for the upcoming fiscal year starting on July 1. That request looks to increase the budget for higher education by 11.5 percent, a nearly $90 million increase.Curtis Shelton | November 16, 2020
-
Education, Good Government
Epic Charter given time to address alleged deficiencies
In an all-day meeting that ran into the evening hours, the State Board of Education opted not to downgrade Epic Charter School’s accreditation status in response to alleged deficiencies. Board officials noted other schools have been given time to address concerns before facing potential probation and said Epic should not be treated any differently.Ray Carter | November 13, 2020
-
Education
Christian school remains barred from state program
The State Board of Education has shelved the request of a Christian school to participate in a program for children with special needs and instead requested an official opinion from the state attorney general.Ray Carter | November 12, 2020
-
Education
Oklahoma Department of Education must stop discriminating against Christians
Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, issued the following statement today regarding apparently illegal action taken by the Oklahoma State Department of Education to restrict student opportunity and bar Christian schools from participating in the Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) Scholarships for Students with Disabilities program.Staff | November 11, 2020
-
Health Care
Medicaid spending, enrollment escalated during shutdowns
Due to economic fallout from the coronavirus beginning in March, Medicaid enrollment spiked nationally by 4 million.Kaitlyn Finley | November 11, 2020
-
Education, Culture & the Family
Some Oklahoma officials echo Biden on statewide mask mandate
Following the lead of Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, some state officials are demanding that Oklahoma institute a statewide mask mandate—including for school children.Ray Carter | November 10, 2020
-
Education
‘Action civics’ teaches Oklahoma students to protest
Here in Oklahoma, action civics is promoted by an organization called Generation Citizen and by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.Mike Brake | November 10, 2020
-
Budget & Tax
State pensions lose ground after unfunded mandate
Legislators’ decision to pass an unfunded cost-of-living adjustment that boosted payments to retired state government workers has left state pension systems paying out money faster than it comes in.Ray Carter | November 10, 2020
-
Health Care
Officials: Plenty of hospital beds for COVID patients
Reports of limited hospital capacity for Oklahoma’s COVID-19 patients are largely a product of flawed measurement, not a true shortage of beds, state officials told lawmakers on Monday.Ray Carter | November 9, 2020