Articles
-
Education
Oklahoma lawmakers advance bill targeting teacher predators
Oklahoma lawmakers are advancing new legislation aimed at stopping the “pass the trash” practice that allows educators accused of sexual misconduct to quietly move between school districts.Ray Carter | April 1, 2026
-
Education, Law & Principles
Oklahoma bills expanding teacher-group access clear both chambers
The Oklahoma Legislature has approved two bills aimed at ensuring all teacher associations can engage with school districts during contract meetings. The proposals also allow teachers to withdraw from an association at any time.Ray Carter | March 26, 2026
-
Education
Third-grade reading reform clears both chambers of Oklahoma Legislature
Oklahoma lawmakers have overwhelmingly advanced two sweeping literacy reform bills that would require struggling third-grade students to repeat the grade unless they score above “below basic” on the statewide reading test and would mandate intensive early interventions for younger grades.Ray Carter | March 25, 2026
-
Education, Law & Principles
Oklahoma House advances bill requiring schools to show instructional spending before bond elections
Oklahoma lawmakers have advanced legislation requiring school districts to tell voters exactly how much of their funding goes to classroom instruction before asking for approval of new bond projects.Ray Carter | March 24, 2026
-
Education
House votes to lock in Oklahoma’s participation in federal school-choice tax credit
Oklahoma lawmakers have taken the next step toward securing the state’s place in a new federal tax-credit program designed to expand private-school scholarships for low- and middle-income families.Ray Carter | March 24, 2026
-
Education
In Oklahoma, rich kids perform poorly in school
Even in Oklahoma districts with relatively low poverty rates, students who should be advantaged still perform far worse than their peers nationwide. The data show Oklahoma’s poor education outcomes are widespread and not limited to high-poverty schools.Ray Carter | March 19, 2026
-
Education
As demand nears cap, parents praise school-choice program
As debate continues over raising the cap on the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program, parents say one thing is not debatable: The program is changing their children’s lives for the better.Ray Carter | March 17, 2026
-
Education
Oklahoma House votes to increase length of school year
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved legislation that would increase the length of Oklahoma’s school year. HB 3151 passed the House 62–28 and now proceeds to the Oklahoma Senate for consideration.Ray Carter | March 12, 2026
-
Education
Oklahoma House passes bill barring sexually explicit materials from school libraries
The Oklahoma House of Representatives has approved House Bill 2978, legislation that would prohibit school libraries from offering books containing depictions or descriptions of sexually explicit conduct. The measure passed the House on a 74–17 party-line vote.Ray Carter | March 10, 2026
-
Education, Culture & the Family
Raising Oklahoma’s high-school graduation rate would reap major benefits
The first step of the success sequence—graduating high school—is not just good for individuals; it’s good for the entire state.Jonathan Small | March 9, 2026