Articles
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Education, Culture & the Family
Court prevents Owasso school from banning parent critic
A parent in an ongoing dispute with the Owasso school district regarding alleged pornography in the school library has won a significant legal battle.Ray Carter | November 2, 2022
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Culture & the Family
OKC Chamber leader previously involved in racial controversy
The Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce has hired its next CEO, Christy Gillenwater, despite controversy regarding her past efforts to get business leaders to sign a pledge that critics said amounted to a false confession of racism by signatories.Ray Carter | November 2, 2022
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Budget & Tax
Unfunded mandate proves headwind to state retirement system
Although the funded status of the Oklahoma Teachers’ Retirement System (OTRS) improved dramatically for a decade, an unfunded benefit-increase mandated by lawmakers in 2020 effectively eliminated four years’ worth of continued progress, according to data presented to lawmakers.Ray Carter | November 1, 2022
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Economy
Oklahoma’s economy outperformed most states during COVID
A recent report shows that Oklahoma government policies did far less harm to economic growth and citizens’ personal income than those imposed in nearly all other states.Ray Carter | October 31, 2022
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Education
Study: Demographics don’t explain Oklahoma’s bad school results
Oklahoma’s poor educational outcomes are often dismissed as a byproduct of student demographics, particularly child poverty. But according to a new study, that is not the case.Ray Carter | October 27, 2022
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Higher Education
Professor says OU groupthink undermines excellence
The ideological groupthink and pressure tactics that prevail at many state-funded universities ultimately undermine the purpose of education and highlight the need for reform, according to a professor who has examined the problem.Ray Carter | October 26, 2022
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Education
NAEP tests show academic results plunged under Hofmeister
Though state funding for Oklahoma schools has been at record-high levels since 2018, our state’s academic outcomes now rank among the worst in the country.Ray Carter | October 24, 2022
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Education, Health Care
Stitt: Oklahoma students not required to get COVID vax
Although the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices has endorsed adding the COVID-19 vaccine to childhood immunization schedules, Gov. Kevin Stitt said the vaccine will not be required for public-school attendance in Oklahoma.Ray Carter | October 21, 2022
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Law & Principles
Oklahoma licensure boards likely violate federal law
Because Oklahoma’s state licensure boards are dominated by industry players who compete with those they regulate, and because no politically accountable entity is authorized to overrule a licensure board’s decision, much of the state licensure system likely violates federal antitrust law and leaves Oklahoma subject to successful lawsuits, according to a state watchdog entity.Ray Carter | October 21, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
State figures underreport school spending by billions
There are 171 public school districts in Oklahoma that spend more than $14,000 per student.Ray Carter | October 20, 2022