Articles
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Education
In education funding, appropriations don’t tell the whole story
Non-appropriated revenue has accounted for more than 64 percent of new education revenue every year since fiscal year 2006. This revenue has grown from $3.4 billion to $4.1 billion when adjusted for inflation. While state appropriations have remained relatively flat other sources of revenue have grown. Local revenue sources have grown 36 percent since 2006.Curtis Shelton | May 21, 2019
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Education
OEA attacks state savings effort
Despite announcement of a state budget that provides a historic appropriation for schools, the Oklahoma Education Association and its allies continue to attack the plan even as lawmakers advance related legislation.Ray Carter | May 17, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Education
Stitt, legislative leaders announce budget agreement
Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders announced Wednesday that they have reached a budget agreement that spends more than $8 billion for the first time in Oklahoma history and includes $157.7 million more for K-12 schools, but they struggled to identify any specific measurement of student outcomes they expect will improve as a result.Ray Carter | May 15, 2019
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Education
Diverse education picks clear partisan, ideological hurdles
Four more of Gov. Kevin Stitt’s nominees for the State Board of Education advanced from the Senate Education Committee during a Tuesday morning meeting.Ray Carter | May 14, 2019
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Education
Oklahoma public schools send more than $1 billion to private companies every year
In 2017 alone, more than $1.5 billion of public-school money was spent on supplies and purchased services. The majority of this money went to for-profit businesses.Curtis Shelton | May 14, 2019
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Budget & Tax, Education
PLAC supports Democrats’ education budget
The Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee (PLAC) has endorsed a Democratic budget plan. The proposal put forth by the House Democrats not only spends the entirety of this year’s $570 million surplus, but would increase total spending by more than $800 million. To fill the financial gap, Democrats would raise taxes on income and investment.Ray Carter | May 9, 2019
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Education
Stitt nominee passes committee over Democratic opposition
Democrat legislators opposed the appointment of William Flanagan, Jr. to the State Board of Education after he voiced support for charter schools and virtual education and said officials could reduce administrative duplication and waste in Oklahoma schools.Ray Carter | May 8, 2019
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Education
Tax-credit program helping rural students
A state tax-credit program, derided by union activists, is helping increase educational opportunity in rural public schools.Ray Carter | May 6, 2019
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Education
OEA’s liberal stances escape many lawmakers’ notice
The divide between the stances many Republican lawmakers claim to champion and the positions embraced by the OEA/NEA is stark.Ray Carter | May 3, 2019
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Education
OEA silence on ‘diversion’ of school funds is deafening
Less than a week after declaring strong opposition to tax credit legislation because such bills supposedly divert money from public schools, the Oklahoma Education Association has abandoned that stance and ignored millions in new tax credits, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small noted today.Staff | May 1, 2019