Articles
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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
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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
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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
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Education
Study: Private-school choice boosts public-school outcomes more than spending
A new research synthesis by Patrick Graff concludes that competitive pressure from private-school choice consistently raises public-school outcomes—far more efficiently than traditional spending increases.Ray Carter | March 4, 2026
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Education
‘Break glass in case of emergency’: Oklahoma Senate joins reading debate
Oklahoma lawmakers in both chambers have advanced major reading reforms that would end social promotion and force early intervention for struggling students.Ray Carter | February 25, 2026
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Education
Effort to handcuff school-choice program fails in Oklahoma Senate committee
An Oklahoma Senate committee has defeated legislation that would have undermined the state’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program.Ray Carter | February 23, 2026
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Education
As demand rises, Oklahoma Senate panel votes to raise Parental Choice Tax Credit ceiling
Oklahoma lawmakers are moving to expand the state’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program as rising demand pushes the current $250 million cap to the breaking point. SB 1380 passed a Senate committee on a 10-2 vote that broke along party lines, with Republicans in support and Democrats opposed.Ray Carter | February 23, 2026
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Education
OCPA: Say no to watering down educational excellence
OCPA President Jonathan Small urged lawmakers to oppose Senate Bill 1391, which is scheduled for a vote in the Senate Revenue and Taxation Committee. The bill effectively forces private schools to adopt a public-school curriculum by mandating that private schools administer state tests based on the public-school curriculum.Staff | February 23, 2026
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Education
House panel advances bill requiring school districts to post share of funds going to instruction
Oklahoma schools would have to prominently disclose what share of their budgets goes to classroom instruction under House Bill 3711. The bill’s author says any district confident in its priorities should have no problem showing the public how much is actually spent on instruction.Ray Carter | February 19, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma public school revenue surges to nearly $15,000 per student
New figures from the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System show public schools took in $9.59 billion from local, state, and federal sources in the 2024–2025 school year—nearly $15,000 per student when divided by average daily attendance. That’s a 53% jump in per-student revenue since 2018.Ray Carter | February 18, 2026