Authors
Ray Carter
Director, Center for Independent Journalism
Ray Carter is the director of OCPA’s Center for Independent Journalism. He has two decades of experience in journalism and communications. He previously served as senior Capitol reporter for The Journal Record, media director for the Oklahoma House of Representatives, and chief editorial writer at The Oklahoman. As a reporter for The Journal Record, Carter received 12 Carl Rogan Awards in four years—including awards for investigative reporting, general news reporting, feature writing, spot news reporting, business reporting, and sports reporting. While at The Oklahoman, he was the recipient of several awards, including first place in the editorial writing category of the Associated Press/Oklahoma News Executives Carl Rogan Memorial News Excellence Competition for an editorial on the history of racism in the Oklahoma legislature.
Recent Articles
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Education
Federal appeals court clears the way for Oklahoma to enforce anti-racism law
A federal appeals court has cleared the way for Oklahoma to enforce the K-12 provisions of its 2021 law (HB 1775) restricting public-school employees from teaching eight race- and sex-based concepts as truths.Ray Carter | September 10, 2026
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Local Government
Denver transit official warns Oklahoma about the high cost of commuter rail
A Denver transit official is warning Oklahoma against repeating the mistakes of a rail system that has struggled with aging infrastructure, changing commuting patterns, rising costs, and chronic financial pressure.Ray Carter | September 10, 2026
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Education
‘We intentionally structured it this way’: School choice freeing up millions for Oklahoma public schools
Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program provides a per-student funding boost for public schools even as it helps families afford private education. “We intentionally structured the tax credit this way,” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, “to provide choice while protecting funds for public education.”Ray Carter | September 9, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma school-choice program keeps growing, with lower- and middle-income families leading the way
Participation in Oklahoma’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program continues to grow, with lower- and middle-income families accounting for a majority of beneficiaries, according to final Oklahoma Tax Commission figures for the 2026-27 school year.Ray Carter | September 8, 2026
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Higher Education
Oklahoma approves three-year bachelor’s degrees at three public universities
Three-year bachelor’s degrees are now a reality in Oklahoma, with the State Regents for Higher Education approving four reduced-credit programs at three public universities.Ray Carter | September 8, 2026
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Education
Oklahoma bucks national trend of declining high-school graduates
While most states are projected to have fewer high-school graduates by 2041, Oklahoma is expected to maintain roughly its current number, putting it among just 12 states projected to experience stable or growing graduate populations.Ray Carter | September 3, 2026
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Higher Education
Report raises concerns about Oklahoma universities’ participation in Chinese exchange program
Two Oklahoma universities sent students to China through the Young Envoys Scholarship Program, which a new report alleges is part of a Chinese Communist Party propaganda and influence effort. Neither university responded to requests for comment.Ray Carter | September 3, 2026
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Education
New literacy law brings science-of-reading training to hundreds of Oklahoma teachers
Oklahoma is beginning to implement a major overhaul of its approach to reading instruction after years of dismal literacy outcomes, with hundreds of teachers now receiving training grounded in the science of reading.Ray Carter | September 2, 2026
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Budget & Tax, Local Government
OKC rail gamble comes as transit systems nationwide face billion-dollar shortfalls
Oklahoma City metro area officials are proposing a $1.8 billion, 39-mile commuter-rail system from Edmond to Norman just as major transit agencies nationwide confront mounting structural deficits and seek new taxpayer funding.Ray Carter | September 2, 2026
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Local Government
OKC views Charlotte rail as model despite murder, crime
Oklahoma City metro officials continue to hold Charlotte’s regional rail system up as a model for the proposed commuter rail line connecting Edmond, Oklahoma City, and Norman—but Charlotte’s experience raises serious questions about that comparison.Ray Carter | September 1, 2026
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