Former Executive Director David Blatt joined OK Policy in 2008 and served as its Executive Director from 2010 to 2019. He previously served as Director of Public Policy for Community Action Project of Tulsa County and as a budget analyst for the Oklahoma State Senate. He has a Ph.D. in political science from Cornell University and a B.A. from the University of Alberta. David has been selected as Political Scientist of the Year by the Oklahoma Political Science Association, Local Social Justice Champion by the Dan Allen Center for Social Justice, and Public Citizen of the Year by the National Association of Social Workers.
By: David Blatt
February 21, 2025 // Updated: February 21, 2025
Public school students are defined as chronically absent if they miss ten percent or more of school days, which in Oklahoma would would be approximately 18 days in a normal 180-day school calendar. Both excused and unexcused absences (known as… Read more [More...]
Oklahoma is one of 39 states where voters have a role in selecting judges. While judges to the Oklahoma Supreme Court, Court of Criminal Appeals, and Court of Civil Appeals – known collectively as appellate judges – are appointed initially… Read more [More...]
Ranked choice voting (RCV), also known as instant run-off or single transferable vote, is a system of voting where voters rank multiple candidates in their order of preference. If a voter’s top-ranked choice is eliminated and no candidate receives a… Read more [More...]
Charter schools are public schools that are typically subject to fewer regulations and restrictions than traditional public schools. Charter schools operate under a formal, written contract – or charter – with a sponsoring or authorizing entity, such as a school… Read more [More...]
The Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) was a signature piece of legislation promoted by the Biden administration and passed by the Democratic majority in Congress in August 2022. The legislation included three major components: $369 billion in investments aimed at reducing… Read more [More...]
Premium Tax Credits are one of the major mechanisms established by the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to subsidize private health insurance and make it more affordable for low- and moderate-income Americans. Under the ACA, individuals with family incomes from 100… Read more [More...]
The Legacy Capital Financing (LCF) Fund is a fund created in 2023 by the Oklahoma Legislature to provide increased self-financing and liquidity options for the state’s current and future capital needs. The Fund is administered by the the Oklahoma Capitol… Read more [More...]
Impeachment is the process of formally charging a public official with misconduct in office that can result in the official being removed from office.
In Oklahoma, the impeachment process is enshrined in the Constitution and statutes and is reserved for… Read more [More...]
Attorney General (AG) opinions are written interpretations of existing law issued by Oklahoma’s Attorney General. They may be requested by a member of the Legislature, a district attorney, or by any state officer, board, commission or department on matters in… Read more [More...]
In every state, children between certain minimum and maximum ages are subject to compulsory attendance laws, and are deemed truant if they miss one or more days of school for unexcused reasons. Truancy is related but distinct from chronic absenteeism,… Read more [More...]
OKPOLICY.ORG
Ranked choice voting (RCV), also known as instant run-off or single transferable vote, is a system of voting where voters rank multiple candidates in their order of preference. If a voter’s top-ranked choice is eliminated and no candidate receives a… Read more [More...]
