Articles
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Budget & Tax
Despite downturn, state agencies ask for more
Curtis Shelton | February 11, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
Top education retirees paid handsomely
While there has been no shortage of research papers and news stories about teacher salaries, these often ignore a large portion of educators’ compensation: retirement benefits.Curtis Shelton | February 4, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
Time for some ghost-busting in Oklahoma education
Many of Oklahoma’s public school districts may be haunted. Official enrollment records show that nearly 90 percent of Oklahoma school districts have at least one “ghost student."Curtis Shelton | February 1, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
Legislative leader shocked by schools’ cash stockpile
Rep. Mark McBride noted combined school-district carryover almost reached $1 billion, which represents nearly one-seventh of the $7 billion public schools received last year from all sources.Ray Carter | January 27, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Health Care
Budget based on low take-up of Medicaid expansion
Officials at the Oklahoma Health Care Authority, which runs the state’s Medicaid system, continue to project that a voter-approved expansion of Medicaid will require state taxpayers to provide another $164 million per year.Ray Carter | January 25, 2021
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Budget & Tax
Federal COVID funding in Oklahoma far exceeding actual need
When the COVID-19 pandemic first began sweeping the country, Congress responded by approving in March 2020 a huge package of bailout funding for state governments via the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act.Ray Carter | January 25, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
School choice’s appeal grows along with low-income benefit
Critics suggested Gov. Kevin Stitt’s “Stay in School” program benefitted the well-to-do under the cover of aiding low-income families. But the program’s beneficiaries all earn less than a household headed by Oklahoma teachers earning average teacher pay—and often dramatically less.Ray Carter | January 21, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
School choice program proves dramatic success
The “Stay in School” program launched by Gov. Kevin Stitt has allowed over 1,000 low-income Oklahoma students to attend private schools at substantially lower cost than what would have been spent in traditional public schools, a new report shows.Ray Carter | January 20, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
Experts warn school ‘equity’ mandate will fuel lawsuits
State Sen. Mary Boren has filed legislation to alter language in the Oklahoma Constitution that currently requires “a system of free public schools” so it instead requires maintenance of “an efficient and equitable system of free public schools."Ray Carter | January 19, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Higher Education
Colleges seek more state borrowing for professors
Last May, Gov. Kevin Stitt vetoed legislation authorizing $314.4 million in state debt to fund endowed chairs for college professors in Oklahoma, but members of the Legislature overrode Stitt’s veto.Ray Carter | January 15, 2021