Articles
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Education, Culture & the Family
Many Oklahoma teachers, union activists, support Bernie Sanders
Bernie Sanders, the self-described “democratic socialist” running for the Democratic Party’s presidential nomination, has long courted Oklahoma teachers. Public records suggest that, for many teachers, the admiration is mutual.Ray Carter | March 2, 2020
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Education, Culture & the Family, Good Government
After Oklahoma Republicans side with OEA, union touts transgender reading program
Two days after six Republican senators joined Democrats to defeat legislation opposed by the Oklahoma Education Association, the union is promoting a national day of school readings on transgender issues.Ray Carter | February 27, 2020
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Education, Law & Principles, Good Government
GOP defectors side with unions
Six Republican senators joined Democrats to defeat legislation that would require routine recertification elections for education unions, providing a victory for a teachers’ union that recently gave failing grades to most of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation.Ray Carter | February 25, 2020
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Education, Culture & the Family
Great-grandmother seeks educational opportunity for at-risk children
Born in 1952, Linda Lewis did not envision being a caretaker for two young children during her golden years. But when her grandson was incarcerated and the mother of her great-grandchildren ran afoul of the Department of Human Services, she became the legal guardian for two of her great-grandchildren.Ray Carter | February 24, 2020
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Education
Teacher union gives ‘F’ grades to Oklahoma delegation
The National Education Association (NEA), whose state affiliate is the largest teachers’ union in Oklahoma, has given F grades to the majority of Oklahoma’s congressional delegation in its Legislative Report Card for the first session of the 116th Congress.Ray Carter | February 21, 2020
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Education
In most states, governor appoints top school official
When Gov. Kevin Stitt proposed a vote of the people to make the office of State Superintendent of Public Instruction appointive rather than elective, he was suggesting that Oklahoma join a growing consensus among states that appoint their chief state school official.Mike Brake | February 20, 2020
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Education
Student privacy concerns raised due to bill’s passage
Legislation imposing new reporting mandates on a school-choice program has passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives even though the legislation does not include specific student-privacy protections that ensure compliance with federal law.Ray Carter | February 18, 2020
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Education
Marijuana tax could pay for school buildings
Oklahoma schools with limited or no local property tax funding would receive marijuana tax revenue to help cover building costs under legislation approved by a Senate committee on Wednesday.Ray Carter | February 13, 2020
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Education
Senate leader: Tax-credit scholarships help kids who ‘lack opportunity’
Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat said this week the Senate is prepared to increase the cap on Oklahoma’s tax-credit scholarship program, throwing his support behind a proposal highlighted by Gov. Kevin Stitt in his State of the State address.Ray Carter | February 11, 2020
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Education
How much money does a government school monopoly need?
In Oklahoma as elsewhere, there is no upper limit to demands for more money from a government school system that has consistently squandered regular spending increases. However much we spend, it’s never enough; however big the spending increase is, it’s still so small that expecting to see any results from it is unreasonable.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | February 10, 2020