Articles
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Education, Health Care
Vaccinations open door for full reopening of schools
Under a plan announced by Gov. Kevin Stitt, all Oklahoma teachers and school staff can be vaccinated for COVID-19 by spring break. The announcement eliminates the last major objection raised to resumption of full-time, in-person instruction at all schools during the last quarter of the current school year.Ray Carter | February 11, 2021
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Education
‘Parent’ groups dominated by teacher unions
Two teachers unions that have steadfastly opposed reopening schools for full-time, in-person instruction are part of a new coalition opposing efforts to provide parents with a wider range of school options.Ray Carter | February 10, 2021
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Education
Stitt appointee makes clear his support for school choice
Gov. Kevin Stitt’s latest appointment to the State Board of Education has left no doubt where he stands when parents are on one side of an education issue and school administrators and unions on the other.Ray Carter | February 10, 2021
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Education
OSDE directs teachers to controversial organization
During the week of the 2020 presidential election, the Oklahoma State Department of Education encouraged teachers to use materials produced by an organization that critics say has actively worked to brand orthodox Christians and mainstream conservative organizations as “hate groups.”Ray Carter | February 4, 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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Education
Department of Education data provides ghost-student number
Schools with declining enrollment still receive state funding for children who no longer attend the school, known informally as “ghost students.”Curtis Shelton | February 3, 2021
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Education
Legislation advances to boost charter-school red tape
Members of a state Senate committee voted Tuesday to increase the regulatory burden facing some groups seeking to provide parents with additional public-school options by opening a charter school.Ray Carter | February 2, 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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Education
Stitt targets ‘ghost student’ funding
In his State of the State address, Gov. Kevin Stitt called on all schools to provide full-time, in-person instruction as an option.Ray Carter | February 1, 2021
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Education
Four-day school week survives new law
The State Board of Education voted to give a one-year exemption to all Oklahoma public schools from a state law that requires districts to provide at least 165 days of instruction starting next year.Ray Carter | January 28, 2021