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
Oklahoma Senate leader seeks limit on virtual school days
The new leader of the Oklahoma Senate says he plans to renew the effort to restrict virtual and distance-learning days in Oklahoma public schools, saying routine use of virtual days outside of actual emergency situations has been “disastrous” for children’s learning.Ray Carter | December 19, 2024
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Education
Poll finds Oklahoma school-choice model popular nationwide
A new survey finds that 76 percent of parents of school-age children support an Oklahoma-style school-choice tax credit program.Ray Carter | December 18, 2024
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Higher Education
Study: OU practices not caused by state ‘disinvestment’
It is commonly argued that tuition in Oklahoma has been rising to offset cuts in state funding for higher education. A new study says that is incorrect.Ray Carter | December 17, 2024
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Higher Education
Declining interest in colleges hits OU
In 2015-2016, 49 percent of Oklahoma high school graduates went on to college the following year. By 2022, that number was 36 percent.Ray Carter | December 16, 2024
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Education
Class-action lawsuit filed over bogus reading instruction
Parents whose children were taught to guess (rather than taught to read) have filed a class-action lawsuit.Ray Carter | December 16, 2024
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Higher Education
Most OU freshmen are not Oklahomans
An analysis published by OU shows that 47.8 percent of first-time freshmen are from Oklahoma. An OU spokesman said the school remains committed to serving Oklahomans while welcoming students from across the country.Ray Carter | December 13, 2024
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Education
Despite huge funding increases, schools cling to four-day weeks
Even though school spending has exploded and teacher salaries have surged since 2018, the Broken Arrow school district is considering a shift to a four-day week.Ray Carter | December 11, 2024
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Budget & Tax
Second lawmaker seeks Oklahoma income-tax repeal
State Rep. Jay Steagall has become the second lawmaker in recent weeks to file legislation that would gradually lead to the full elimination of Oklahoma’s personal income tax.Ray Carter | December 10, 2024
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Higher Education
Startling gap between political views of OSU professors, students
The gap between the political views of OSU professors and the views of the students they serve may be among the most gaping nationwide.Ray Carter | December 10, 2024
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Education
School choice benefits rural Oklahoma students
School choice opponents have long argued that rural families aren’t interested in private educational opportunities. Parents in Blanchard and Chickasha are proving otherwise.Ray Carter | December 6, 2024
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