Since the teacher walkout in April 2018, the state of Oklahoma has increased the school funding formula, a combination of local, state and federal revenue that is then distributed according to each state’s specific “formula,” by 19 percent, according to Center on Budget and Policy Priorities — one of the biggest increases of any state […]
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Charting education
Charter schools were envisioned as institutions of innovation where teachers could have freedom to test new ways of educating students. However, many contend that the vision was lost when charter school proponents started promoting them as competitors for traditional public schools. As of May 2019, more than 7,000 charter schools existed across 44 states and […]
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Political yearbook
The Nov. 6 election results ushered in a new class of elected officials in Oklahoma scheduled to begin work during the start of a new legislative session in February, or in some cases, before then. Oklahomans showed preference for female candidates like never before and demonstrated a newfound respect for political outsiders. Those outsiders include […]
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In session
Long before an estimated 30,000 teachers marched at the state capitol for 10 days in April, educators met with their state representatives and urged them to enact legislation that would increase school funding. Oklahoma was ranked one of the lowest in the nation for per-pupil spending and teacher pay, and the damning statistics could be […]
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Oklahoma divided
Results from Oklahoma’s Nov. 6 elections caused emotions to stir across a state that ushered in new governor Kevin Stitt and turned representation in Oklahoma’s 5th congressional district over to a Democrat for the first time in 43 years. Political scientists said election outcomes are indicative of changes that reach far beyond individual mind shifts. […]
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Battle cry
Northwest Classen High School’s cafeteria was filled Sept. 22 with teachers, students, families and politicians who eagerly trickled in and stood up in the crowd to hear Oklahoma born and raised Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Massachusetts, speak about education reform in the Sooner State and across the country. If the crowd anticipated a somber speech by […]
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Chicken-Fried News: Teaching lessons
As the two-week teacher walkout failed to get the increased school funding that it hoped in April, teachers and Oklahoma Education Association licked their wounds around the rallying cry of “Remember in November.” If last week’s primaries were any indication, the education coalition is following through on its call to action. Two of the 10 […]
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Walk, run
The moment Lauren Richter, a fifth-grade teacher in Shawnee, decided to run for office came during the fourth day of the statewide teacher walkout, when educators and their allies continued to demand additional funding for public schools. Educators filled the state Capitol to capacity. Thousands of teachers remained outside the building. “There was no one […]
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Chicken-Fried News: Strike!
Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education recently passed a resolution supporting a statewide teacher walkout.
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Many lay out plans to improve teacher pay
Educators and lawmakers voice concerns and ideas to improve teacher pay in Oklahoma.