Articles
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Economy
Environmental-policy folly is no laughing matter
In states across the country and nations across the globe, politicians’ embrace of a “Green New Deal” style of environmental policy has often been a comedy of errors. But the real-world results are no laughing matter.Jonathan Small | August 1, 2022
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Education
Concerns over racism, porn lead to Tulsa school sanction
Amid concerns over race-based ideology and pornography in school libraries, the State Board of Education has voted to sanction Tulsa Public Schools.Ray Carter | July 28, 2022
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Law & Principles
Tribes’ alleged treaty violations focus of Senate hearing
The history of federal-tribe relations is littered with tales of broken treaties. But a U.S. Senate hearing flipped the typical script this week as lawmakers considered whether five Oklahoma tribes have been violating their treaties for more than 100 years by denying citizenship to the descendants of their former black slaves.Ray Carter | July 28, 2022
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Budget & Tax, Education
Watchdog: Oklahoma schools paid millions for unnecessary services
Oklahoma schools have received millions of dollars in annual funding to teach English to bilingual students who have already mastered the language, apparently allowing schools to inflate their budgets without providing extra services, a state watchdog agency has found.Ray Carter | July 27, 2022
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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