Articles
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Education
Absenteeism surging in Oklahoma schools
A recent legislative study highlighted another downside of COVID school shutdowns: They are associated with a much higher level of chronic absenteeism after the pandemic.Ray Carter | October 12, 2023
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Education
School climate outweighs pay in teacher retention
During a recent legislative study, lawmakers were told one reason for the persistence of the teacher shortage is that school climate and societal trends can outweigh financial considerations for many teachers.Ray Carter | October 11, 2023
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Education
Oklahoma school officials: Scrap A-F grades for schools and students
During a legislative study this week, school officials urged lawmakers to scrap the state’s A-F school report cards—and indicated they want to do the same for students even though parents oppose that move.Ray Carter | October 3, 2023
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Education
Education budget plan emphasizes tutoring, teacher pay
Members of the State Board of Education have approved a budget proposal for public schools that would fund tutoring for struggling students, make permanent a major teacher signing-bonus plan, and provide additional bonuses to tutor-teachers with the size of that bonus tied to students’ academic gains.Ray Carter | September 28, 2023
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Education
Charter school funding lags traditional public schools
If public charter school funding was tied to student results, those schools would be receiving more per pupil than most of their traditional public-school counterparts. Instead, they often receive much less.Ray Carter | September 25, 2023
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Education
19 in 20 Oklahoma high-school graduates are not prepared to begin college STEM courses
School-produced illiteracy remains a huge problem in Oklahoma—and our state’s poor academic outcomes are not limited to reading.Jonathan Small | September 20, 2023
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Education, Law & Principles
Unusual election dates are a drag on voter turnout
The president of the Western Heights school board was elected with 328 votes. Low voter turnout in odd-timed spring elections has untethered many school board members from the parents they are supposed to serve.Brandon Dutcher | September 19, 2023
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Education
Oklahoma school money not flowing to kids with challenges
A member of the Tulsa school board says money meant for special-needs students isn’t always used for those students. It’s a problem state Sen. Adam Pugh tried to solve this year.Ray Carter | September 14, 2023
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Education
Western Heights parent worried by school’s response to child-abuse report
A parent in the Western Heights school district is concerned by school officials’ response to her report of alleged in-school abuse of her child by another student.Ray Carter | September 13, 2023
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Education
Teachers’ unions are selling a big lie
It is time to hold teachers' unions accountable for pushing a radical political and social agenda that most teachers wouldn't support with their hard-earned money if they realized it.Bre Oberdick | September 11, 2023