Articles
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Education
School choice ranks with abortion for Oklahoma GOP voters
For years, Oklahoma Republican voters have prioritized pro-life advocacy when choosing which GOP candidate to support in a primary. But a new poll shows support for school-choice policies now ranks alongside abortion for state Republicans.Ray Carter | March 2, 2022
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Education
Senators vote to close loophole exploited by teacher unions
Teacher union employees could no longer exploit an alleged loophole in state law that allows them to accrue increased state retirement benefits even when they are actually working for a labor union and not a public school, under legislation that has received committee approval.Ray Carter | March 2, 2022
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Law & Principles
Judicial-nomination transparency measure clears committee
Legislation that would allow the governor to select from a wide range of judicial applicants, with nominees required to then receive Senate confirmation, has won easy approval from a state Senate committee.Ray Carter | March 1, 2022
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Education
‘Age-appropriate’ standard set for school libraries
Oklahoma school libraries would be required to purchase “age-appropriate” materials as determined by local communities, rather than relying on standards set by national organizations, under legislation that has received committee approval.Ray Carter | March 1, 2022
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Law & Principles
Lawmakers support First Amendment training for Oklahoma college leaders
College leaders would be required to undergo First Amendment training under legislation that has passed out of a state House committee.Ray Carter | February 28, 2022
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Education
Cobb, Small spar in school-choice forum
Public-school failures are often cited as justification for allowing state funds to instead follow a child to any school, which would give families greater leverage in education and allow them to choose from an array of options, including private schools.Ray Carter | February 25, 2022
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Culture & the Family
COVID numbers plunge as Oklahoma economy remains strong
When Gov. Kevin Stitt gave his State of the State address to lawmakers on Feb. 7, he highlighted the fact that Oklahoma was not among the states that significantly shut down their economies in response to COVID-19.Ray Carter | February 24, 2022
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Education
More whistleblowers emerge from Bowring school district
Two employees of the Bowring school district previously reported that students in the district have been emotionally abused so severely that multiple children have become suicidal, and that school administration has done nothing to address the problem.Ray Carter | February 24, 2022
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Education
School library concerns growing in Oklahoma
Growing awareness of school-library content—including graphic depictions of rape and incest, along with behavior that would get students expelled in most districts—has prompted parental concern and associated legislative responses this year.Ray Carter | February 23, 2022
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Education
School transparency measure clears Oklahoma Senate
Legislation that would require public reporting on administrative spending in public schools, including a comparison of academic outcomes and spending in comparable districts, has won easy passage out of the Oklahoma Senate.Ray Carter | February 21, 2022