Articles
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Budget & Tax, Education
The High Cost of Oklahoma's Dropouts
If public schools lose 60 students total because of a school choice program, the education establishment will do everything it can to put a stop to it. But Oklahoma public schools lose 60 students every day as dropouts. The annual cost to taxpayers is a staggering $800 million—each and every year.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | February 23, 2015
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Education
An Economist Looks at Teacher Shortages
Oklahoma’s shortage of public school teachers has been much in the news lately. Those in the education establishment say that solving the problem will require increased funding and greater teacher satisfaction (by limiting class sizes, for example).Wendy Warcholik, Ph.D. | February 23, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Marching to Freedom
Conservative policymakers in Kansas care more about your family budget than the state budget.Steve Anderson | February 23, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Cigarette and tobacco tax hikes a bad and dangerous idea
People will have varied opinions on the need for common education to have revenue increases. One thing is certain. Oklahoma policymakers should oppose any sort of tax hike on cigarettes, tobacco, or other related products. Such tax hikes are bad policy, unstable, and bad for the program they are intended to help.Jonathan Small | February 17, 2015
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Education
Oklahoma's Per-Pupil Available Revenues At An All-Time High
According to the Oklahoma State Department of Education, per-pupil available revenues have reached an all-time high.Jonathan Small | February 17, 2015
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Law & Principles
Union dues deduction reform up for House vote
Over the last five years in Wisconsin, Gov. Scott Walker has successfully defended his Act 10 union reforms at the ballot box and in the courts. Recently in Illinois, newly elected Gov. Bruce Rauner began trying to extricate his own state from its entanglement with public-sector employee unions. Now Oklahoma faces the possibility of enacting a similar reform.Trent England | February 17, 2015
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Education
YOU GUEST IT: Let’s not fool ourselves on pre-K
My daughter will be attending Tulsa’s excellent universal public prekindergarten program next year, at an already excellent elementary school. I am thrilled to be able to take advantage of this free program. But how excellent is this program, really?Jennifer Doverspike | February 17, 2015
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Education
The price for more funding is increased parental choice
It isn’t easy or pleasant to tell people what they don’t want to hear. But it’s the indispensable foundation of effective leadership.Brandon Dutcher | February 11, 2015
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Education
YOU GUEST IT: Oklahomans strongly favor moving local school board elections to November
In an effort to increase turnout and participation in the electoral process, a proposal has been made to move local school board elections to the general election date in November. According to the most recent quarterly poll from SoonerPoll, Oklahomans strongly favor this idea — with 64.8 percent favoring the idea and 49.5 percent strongly favoring it.Bill Shapard | February 10, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Shining a Light on ‘Free’ Federal Money
Should the state officials you elect be informed about federal funds spent in Oklahoma? For that matter, should citizens have access to data that reveal the strings attached to federal dollars in our state?Trent England | February 5, 2015