Articles
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Education
Report: Teacher unions prioritize politics over work issues
A new report shows teachers unions have shifted millions of dollars away from workplace-representation efforts to political/campaign activity since 2005 with most donations going to Democratic candidates and liberal causes.Ray Carter | November 9, 2022
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Higher Education
Civil-rights complaint filed over Oklahoma colleges’ discrimination
A newly filed federal civil-rights complaint accuses 12 Oklahoma colleges of sponsoring academic programs that discriminate on the basis of race.Ray Carter | November 8, 2022
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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