Articles
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Education
Public-school failures have ripple effects in workforce
The failure of Oklahoma’s public-school system to produce enough students proficient in core academic subjects is creating significant workforce challenges that compound over time and deter new job creation, based on data presented to lawmakers during a recent hearing.Ray Carter | August 17, 2022
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Education
Complaint seeks Shawnee accreditation downgrade over abuse
A complaint filed with the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) requests that the agency investigate and downgrade the accreditation status of the Shawnee school district, alleging that school officials failed to protect children from former coach Ronald Gene Arthur, who has been accused of grooming and sexually mistreating students.Ray Carter | August 16, 2022
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Education
High per-pupil funding has little impact on Oklahoma teacher pay
A review of public-school districts with some of Oklahoma’s highest per-pupil funding shows that extra cash doesn’t automatically translate into better pay for teachers, nor does it prevent educator shortages.Ray Carter | August 10, 2022
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Education
Lankford seeks education vouchers for students
U.S. Sen. James Lankford has filed federal legislation that would take unspent federal COVID funds and use the money to pay private-school tuition for low-income children who suffered COVID-learning loss due to prolonged public-school closures.Ray Carter | August 9, 2022
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Education
Some public schools have elite-prep-school funding, not results
Oklahoma’s per-pupil funding for public schools typically ranks low in 50-state comparisons. But significant local property-tax bases have allowed several dozen Oklahoma districts to achieve dramatically higher per-pupil funding levels.Ray Carter | August 9, 2022
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Education
Poll: Oklahoma voters underestimate how much is spent on education
Oklahomans believe public school funding is too low—until they are told how much we actually spend.Brandon Dutcher & Curtis Shelton | August 9, 2022
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Education
News 9/News On 6 survey finds support for school choice
A new survey of likely Republican voters in Oklahoma shows very strong support for school choice.Brandon Dutcher | August 4, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
Administrative spending soars at largest Oklahoma school districts
A state watchdog agency found that administrative spending is growing at a faster pace than instructional spending in the Oklahoma City, Tulsa, Putnam City, and Lawton school districts, but not in Broken Arrow or Jenks.Ray Carter | August 3, 2022
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Education
Concerns over racism, porn lead to Tulsa school sanction
Amid concerns over race-based ideology and pornography in school libraries, the State Board of Education has voted to sanction Tulsa Public Schools.Ray Carter | July 28, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
Watchdog: Oklahoma schools paid millions for unnecessary services
Oklahoma schools have received millions of dollars in annual funding to teach English to bilingual students who have already mastered the language, apparently allowing schools to inflate their budgets without providing extra services, a state watchdog agency has found.Ray Carter | July 27, 2022