Articles
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Education
The preschool non sequitur
“The passion of government pre-K advocates is evident,” Andrew J. Coulson correctly notes, “and no doubt they truly wish to help children, but their proposed solutions are based on a non sequitur.”Brandon Dutcher | February 14, 2014
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Education
‘Instead of accountability, we found leaders passing the blame’
That’s the report of Kim Jackson of Channel 8 in Tulsa, who recently set out to determine who’s responsible for the fact that nearly half of Tulsa’s public schools received an “F” in Oklahoma’s new grading system.Brandon Dutcher | February 13, 2014
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Education
Oklahoma considers Education Savings Accounts
Two state lawmakers have introduced legislation which would create an Education Savings Account (ESA) program in Oklahoma.Brandon Dutcher | February 12, 2014
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Law & Principles
YOU GUEST IT: Religious liberty must be protected
When Congress first debated religious liberty in the late 1700s, representatives expressed concern that the wording of the First Amendment could lead to the abolishment of religion altogether.Scott Pruitt | February 12, 2014
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Education
Dylan’s Song: One Boy’s Real Life, and His Parents' Choice
When Dylan Pennington was in public school, his days were marked by large classes, groups of kids in which he felt lost and alone. His parents (mom Jennifer is an educator herself) became convinced his teachers had inadequate training to work effectively with special-needs children like their son.Patrick B. McGuigan | February 12, 2014
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Education
Markets vs. State-Run School Systems: A Look at the Evidence
When I began studying education policy back in the early 1990s, parent-driven education markets were generally thought of as a new, radical, and speculative adventure—uncharted waters where, heaven help us, “thar be monstars.” That was a mistaken view then, and it’s positively absurd now.Andrew J. Coulson | February 12, 2014
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Health Care
The Negative Impact of Multi-Generational Welfare
Government welfare programs were originally designed to be temporary to help people get back on their financial feet. Today, that is no longer true.J. Scott Moody & Wendy Warcholik, Ph.D. | February 12, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma Tax Collections, Government Spending Reach All-Time Highs
With the release last month by Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) of the new Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) for the state of Oklahoma, we now know that total state tax collections and total government spending are at record levels.Jonathan Small | February 12, 2014
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Good Government
In Praise of Enterprise Zones
Economic distress does not always manifest equally throughout America. Some communities are hit hard economically while others may only feel a small economic hiccup. If the same communities are hit repeatedly then they may slide into a state of permanent decline—Detroit is the current poster child for this kind of economic tragedy.Wendy Warcholik, Ph.D. | February 12, 2014
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Budget & Tax
Oklahoma sales tax collections reach all-time high
On January 2, 2014, the Office of Management and Enterprise Services released the news that for the most recent fiscal year, net state sales tax collections reached an all-time high.Jonathan Small | January 30, 2014