Budget & Tax

Senators seek information on Oklahoma school administrative spending

February 7, 2023

Ray Carter

Differences in school districts’ administrative spending, along with potential association with student outcomes, could become publicly available to parents under legislation that has advanced from a state Senate committee.

Senate Bill 45, by state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, would modify the mandate of the existing School Finance Review Commission by requiring the group to specifically examine “variances in per-pupil and administrative expenditures among school districts with comparable enrollment, demographics, and outcomes on statewide assessments,” and identify “expenditures that are not directly or sufficiently related to improving student outcomes.”

The School Finance Review Commission is already tasked with examining school spending practices and issuing a report by the end of 2023, but Bergstrom’s bill provides more specificity to the group’s mission.

“We’re saying give us this additional information so that we can really understand where we can make improvements and how we can better spend the funds that we’re putting into education, and maybe areas where we need to be putting more money (in),” said Bergstrom, a longtime teacher prior to winning election to the Senate.

The legislation also requires the commission to identify administrative costs “including administrative functions that may be shared between school districts,” as well as opportunities “for school districts to be operated in a cost-effective manner.” Bergstrom noted the latter category could include the potential need to break up large districts that have become top-heavy.

This is Bergstrom’s second attempt to identify the various forms of school expenses. Bergstrom authored a similar measure last year that passed out of the Senate that did not ultimately become law.

SB 45 passed out of the Senate Education Committee on a 9-2 vote that split along party lines with Democrats in opposition.