Articles
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Budget & Tax, Education
Major irregularities found in school spending reports
A cursory review of the state’s Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS), a program that compiles financial data from all public-school districts, quickly identified significant irregularities, including reports showing Oklahoma schools spent nearly a quarter-million dollars on firearms that were labeled as nutrition services and other non-weapon categories.Ray Carter | July 26, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
Hofmeister backs down, agrees to greater transparency
Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters has prevailed in a face-off with State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister regarding millions of dollars in state spending.Ray Carter | July 25, 2022
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Education, Economy
Educational choice must accompany increased spending
The chairman of the Senate Education Committee says Oklahoma spends around $15,000 per student when all funding sources are included. Is that enough?Jonathan Small | July 25, 2022
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Education
Putnam City school gets Gay-Straight grant
Putnam City North High School has received a $10,000 grant from the It Gets Better Project to expand “the reach” of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance.Ray Carter | July 25, 2022
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Education, Law & Principles
Hofmeister suggests law violated; review shows otherwise
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister recently suggested competitive-bidding requirements have been evaded for a program supported by Gov. Kevin Stitt. But an agency review quickly proved otherwise.Ray Carter | July 21, 2022
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Education
Biden administration backs off attack on charter schools
The Biden administration has abandoned its attack on charter schools. “All students deserve access to a high-quality education,” said Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor, “and underperforming public schools should not be able to veto their own competition.”Ray Carter | July 20, 2022
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Education, Law & Principles
Lankford denounces NEA as union touts its Oklahoma influence
As Sen. James Lankford criticizes a national labor union’s left-wing agenda, its Oklahoma affiliate touts its influence among key state lawmakers.Ray Carter | July 19, 2022
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Education
Henry Scholarship benefiting families, but opposition persists
For many Oklahoma families, the Henry Scholarship program has been life-changing. But efforts to create similar school-choice opportunities for other children continue to face strong resistance.Ray Carter | July 6, 2022
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Education, Law & Principles
School choice proves winning issue in state elections
Republican candidates who supported school choice prevailed in multiple races during this week’s primaries while incumbents who opposed school choice lost or narrowly avoided defeat at the hands of conservative challengers.Ray Carter | June 30, 2022
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Education
Oklahoma providers increase after anti-Christian regs blocked
The number of Oklahoma private schools authorized to serve special-needs students through a state scholarship program has increased dramatically since repeal of prior illegal regulations that barred Christian schools from participating.Ray Carter | June 28, 2022