Articles
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Education
Lawmakers urged to follow Texas model on teacher hiring
Oklahoma teacher salaries have surged in the last two years, yet reports of a teacher shortage persist. Members of the House Common Education Committee recently met to consider how to address that challenge, and were encouraged to follow the Texas model, which involves heavy reliance on alternatively certified teachers.Ray Carter | September 24, 2019
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Health Care
Medicaid expansion wouldn’t cover Oklahoma children
If Oklahoma expanded Medicaid, hundreds of thousands of able-bodied, working-age adults could sign up for Medicaid. No expansion dollars would go towards needy Oklahoma children on Medicaid now.Kaitlyn Finley | September 23, 2019
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Health Care
Hospital official urges support for controversial ‘fee’
During a recent meeting of the Healthcare Working Group, hospital officials urged policymakers to preserve a “provider tax” to obtain federal Medicaid funding. But that program and others like it have been criticized by Democrats and Republicans alike as a “scam,” and one legislative leader noted federal reform may require meaningful changes to the program.Ray Carter | September 23, 2019
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Education
Tulsa parents are voting with their feet
TPS announced it faces a budget shortfall and must cut $20 million. TPS officials cite a lack of state funding as the reason for the shortfall—despite the fact the Legislature has increased education funding by more than $620 million in the last two years, the largest increase to education in state history.Curtis Shelton | September 20, 2019
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Health Care
Officials say Medicaid harms hospital finances, then seek its expansion anyway
Hospital officials urged members of the bicameral Healthcare Working Group to add up to 628,000 able-bodied adults to Oklahoma’s Medicaid program, even though they said they lose money serving Medicaid patients, the program does not guarantee patients access to treatment, and Medicaid effectively raises the cost of private insurance.Ray Carter | September 19, 2019
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Culture & the Family
Fears Fellowship welcomes first class
At a dinner event launching the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs’ first J. Rufus Fears Fellowship, attendees were told the lessons of history that Fears championed, and their relevance for today’s political issues, will be the focus in the weeks ahead.Ray Carter | September 19, 2019
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Education
Anti-bullying bill sidelined as bullying problem grows
Reports of school violence and bullying have increased in recent weeks, but legislation that would have helped children escape from dangerous and even life-threatening situations remains sidelined at the Oklahoma Capitol.Ray Carter | September 17, 2019
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Education
Oklahoma parents want the money to follow the child
Yet another scientific survey of Oklahoma voters has found strong support for parental choice in education.Brandon Dutcher | September 17, 2019
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Education
Studies show virtual charters not overfunded
Based on national research, Oklahoma’s virtual charter schools are not overfunded, lawmakers were told this week.Ray Carter | September 13, 2019
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Higher Education
Facing discrimination claims, OU settles with law professor
The University of Oklahoma has reached a settlement agreement with a law school professor whose Christian beliefs and writings made him the target of hostile articles in the student newspaper last year and resulted in his loss of two administrative positions.Mike Brake | September 13, 2019