Articles
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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
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Budget & Tax, Education
Legislative leader shocked by schools’ cash stockpile
Rep. Mark McBride noted combined school-district carryover almost reached $1 billion, which represents nearly one-seventh of the $7 billion public schools received last year from all sources.Ray Carter | January 27, 2021
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Education
‘Private school’ criticisms have familiar ring
A new report argues that private schools participating in school-choice programs may be flawed. But the issues raised in that report are widespread in the traditional public school system it touts as superior.Ray Carter | January 27, 2021
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Education
Pastor touts anti-Christian-school report
A top official with the group “Pastors for Oklahoma Kids” is touting a report that opposes school-choice programs because participating private schools may adhere to historic Christian teachings about issues such as transgenderism and are free to hire only Christian staff.Ray Carter | January 27, 2021
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Budget & Tax, Education
School choice’s appeal grows along with low-income benefit
Critics suggested Gov. Kevin Stitt’s “Stay in School” program benefitted the well-to-do under the cover of aiding low-income families. But the program’s beneficiaries all earn less than a household headed by Oklahoma teachers earning average teacher pay—and often dramatically less.Ray Carter | January 21, 2021