Articles
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Budget & Tax
Tax Commission: Indians not exempt from Oklahoma tax
Although the U.S. Supreme Court has held that the Muscogee (Creek) Nation’s reservation still exists in Oklahoma for purposes of a federal crime law, a subsequent decision by the U.S. Supreme Court also means most tribal members living in Oklahoma still have to pay state taxes, according to a new Oklahoma Tax Commission ruling.Ray Carter | October 12, 2022
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Education
Officials warn school sex ed classes can backfire
Although sex-education instruction in schools is touted as a way to reduce teen pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), officials told lawmakers the courses often have the opposite effect and suggested they can even lead, indirectly, to children not recognizing the emotional results of abuse.Ray Carter | October 12, 2022
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Education
Despite learning loss, Tulsa closes school for Election Day
Tulsa Public Schools will be closed on Election Day in November, potentially creating financial strain for many low-income families in the district and delaying classroom instruction at a time when Tulsa students remain far behind their peers in academic outcomes.Ray Carter | October 12, 2022
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Education
Learning loss from COVID remains
During the COVID surges starting in 2020, advocates of school shutdown insisted any associated learning loss would be short-lived and easily recovered. That was a false promise—as state testing now shows beyond a doubt.Jonathan Small | October 11, 2022
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Education
Hofmeister keeps COVID records secret
In July 2020, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister unveiled a school COVID plan so restrictive it would have mandated closure of all schools across an 1,834-square-mile county when as few as four active COVID cases were identified.Ray Carter | October 11, 2022
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Education, Law & Principles
Fact checking the attacks on HB 1775
Oklahoma teachers are prohibited from teaching that any race is inherently better or worse, or deserves to be discriminated against. They’re welcome to teach about bigotry, but not to try to convince students to be bigots. The fact that a few teachers and politicians find this troubling is itself troubling, and revealing.Trent England | October 10, 2022
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Education
TPS FAQ
TPS FAQ: student spending, instruction spending, student outcomes and moreByron Schlomach, Ph.D. | October 10, 2022
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Higher Education
Critical theory generates real harm, Oklahoma physician warns
As the principles of critical theories—which includes Critical Race Theory, among others—have seeped out of academic settings in colleges and into workplaces and public-school classrooms, the real-world harm generated by those theories’ implementation is becoming apparent, said a local speaker who has focused on the issue.Ray Carter | October 7, 2022
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Higher Education
UCO: broke and still digging
The University of Central Oklahoma is laying off faculty and cutting programs due to declining enrollment and chronic mismanagement, but still wastes time on conference content focused on DEI.Trent England | October 7, 2022
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Education
Oklahoma needs grants for education deserts
A new program empowers Oklahoma parents to get help from non-government service providers in the task of raising their children.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | October 7, 2022