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In The Know is your daily briefing on Oklahoma policy-related news. OK Policy encourages the support of Oklahoma’s state and local media, which are vital to an informed citizenry. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. Some stories included here are behind paywall or require subscription. Subscribe to In The Know and see past editions.
Oklahoma News
Anything Goes: Parental Tax Credit Program Has No Standards for Accreditation: Only accredited private schools qualify for the state’s Parental Choice Tax Credit program, a voucher-like state subsidy for parents to use toward tuition. But schools need only report the name of their accreditor. There is no verification beyond that, and any accreditor goes. Among the schools approved are Goodland Academy, a middle school in Hugo that shuttered for two years but maintained accreditation and reopened in February with five students, all of whom received a tax credit. [Oklahoma Watch]
- From OK Policy: Vouchers: Another Wrong Turn for Oklahoma Schools (2023)
State Government News
DHS director’s resignation not tied to Woolley state custody case, governor’s office says: After several days of silence about the situation, Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office addressed Thursday the ongoing drama surrounding the abrupt resignation of Dr. Deborah Shropshire as executive director of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services. In an email to The Oklahoman, a Stitt spokesperson wrote that Shropshire’s resignation “is not at all related to the Woolley case or any other case pending at DHS.” [The Oklahoman]
State Superintendent Ryan Walters and lawmakers at odds again over executive sessions: Despite a recent formal opinion from Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond, the Oklahoma State Department of Education voted to delay any vote on allowing lawmakers into executive sessions during a meeting Thursday. [KOCO]
- Despite AG opinion, State Board of Education still resistant to legislators observing executive session [NonDoc]
- Oklahoma’s Board of Education delays getting courts involved in executive session dispute [KOSU]
- State Board of Education struggles with AG’s opinion on lawmakers in executive sessions [Tulsa World]
Federal Government News
Oklahoma daycare funding cuts to hit hard as COVID-era subsidies end: COVID-related funding is soon ending at the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, which could impact daycare centers across the state. [Fox 25]
Tribal Nations News
Autopsy for Native teen found in well on former top cop’s ranch brings no answers: Of all the death Emma Sanders has experienced lately, it’s the loss of her cousin, 19-year-old Trey Glass, that haunts her. She’s become the spokeswoman around the teenager’s mysterious death at the request of Glass’ father. [Public Radio Tulsa]
FCC approves alert that could aid in MMIP crisis, bring missing adults home in Oklahoma, beyond: The Federal Communications Commission unanimously approved the MEP alert, which could be a critical tool for Indian Country, as research from the FBI shows more than 3,000 Native American and Alaskan Native adults went missing last year. [KOSU]
- From OK Policy: No more delayed justice, HB 1077 is good tribal-state policy
Voting and Election News
Area Republican runoffs likely to have big impact on state Senate: Winners of Tuesday’s Republican primaries for state Senate District 3 and 33 aren’t guaranteed a place in the 60th Oklahoma Legislature when it convenes in February, but they will be heavy favorites in November. [Tulsa World]
What to know about runoff candidates for House District 53, outgoing Rep. McBride’s seat: Two newcomers, Nick Pokorny and Jason Blair, are running to replace outgoing Republican state Rep. Mark McBride, who reached his term limit this year. And, in an echo of McBride’s tenure as a state official, public education remains top of mind in the south metro area district. [The Oklahoman]
Del City leaders uncertain if petition effort against OK County commissioner met threshold: Del City officials turned in last week what they thought would be enough signatures to have an Oklahoma County commissioner investigated by a grand jury. Now, however, uncertainty over how many verified signatures were needed on their petition has one side declaring victory and the other confused about what’s next. [The Oklahoman]
Tulsa City Election Roundup:
- Tulsa City Council District 3: Jackie Dutton, Susan Frederick want better infrastructure [NonDoc]
- Tulsa City Council District 8: Chris Cone looks to unseat Phil Lakin on homelessness, street issues [NonDoc]
- We asked the Tulsa mayor candidates: How will you address homelessness? [Tulsa World]
- We asked the Tulsa mayor candidates: What will you do in your first 90 days? [Tulsa World]
Education News
Oklahoma state superintendent confirms new student test results are ‘very different’: Despite calling media reports on the topic “fan fiction,” Oklahoma’s top education official acknowledged the state’s student assessment process changed significantly without any announcement informing the public. State Superintendent Ryan Walters said Thursday that Oklahoma’s scoring data and annual tests are now “very different.” He said there has been no public announcement because his administration is busy explaining the new results to school districts. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Lawmakers, superintendents upset with lack of communication from OSDE on changes to state test scores [KFOR]
Former Norman High School teacher’s certificate revoked after two years of turmoil, Walters says: Two years after promising to ban a former Norman High School educator from ever teaching in Oklahoma again, state Superintendent Ryan Walters said that teacher’s certification is now revoked. [Oklahoma Voice]
- Former Norman teacher Summer Boismier’s teaching license is revoked, others face hearings [The Oklahoman]
State Board of Education refers complaint over online course to third party: A complaint stemming from content in an online course at Union High School is being directed to a hearing officer for further consideration after a state official indicated that it was not a House Bill 1775 violation. [Tulsa World]
Oklahoma State Board of Education to consider adjusting TPS reporting requirement: Members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education expressed interest Thursday in potentially ending Tulsa Public Schools’ mandatory monthly appearances. At Thursday’s meeting, board members voted to request that State Department of Education staff members develop and propose a new monitoring procedure for TPS for consideration in September. [Tulsa World]
- State education board stops short of ending Tulsa reports [Public Radio Tulsa]
Jenks, Bristow appealing out-of-district student transfers in court: Two Tulsa-area school districts have gone to court seeking judicial review of the State Board of Education’s move to try to force them to continue admitting out-of-district transfer students with serious behavior infractions. [Tulsa World]
Education Watch: Dept. of Education needs to improve handling of federal grants, report shows: The U.S. Department of Education found much room for improvement in a recent review of the Oklahoma Department of Education’s handling of federal funds. [Oklahoma Watch]
Why enrollment’s up at University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma State: Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S. grew for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic last fall with 176,000 more students registering for classes than in fall 2022, according to the latest National Student Clearinghouse research. [Journal Record]
Opinion: It’s time to think differently about how we educate Oklahoma children. Community schools would help: Oklahoma’s dismal bottom 10 rank in education outcomes highlights a need to think differently about how we’re educating our children who continue to struggle with academic performance, chronic absenteeism and emotional and behavioral issues. It’s time for our education leaders to take a hard look at the evidence-based benefits that come from increased investments in the community school model. [John Thompson / Oklahoma Voice]
- From Capitol Update: What are community schools?
Health News
Updated COVID-19 vaccines are on their way. What to know about the newly approved shots: U.S. regulators approved updated COVID-19 vaccines on Thursday, shots designed to more closely target recent virus strains — and hopefully whatever variants cause trouble this winter, too. [AP via Tulsa World]
Opinion: NSU responds irresponsibly and dangerously to the discovery of a fetus on campus: A recent incident at a nearby college campus raises important concerns for the health and well-being of women in Oklahoma. The school’s response reflects fundamental misunderstanding of reproduction and reproductive rights while scaring college-age women from seeking medical care. [Janet Koven Levit / Tulsa World]
Criminal Justice News
First Watch: Stuff You Should Know: It took seven years, but lawmakers finally allocated $12.5 million to the County Community Safety Investment Fund. [Ted Streuli / Oklahoma Watch]
Opinion: What a loss of congressional funding will mean for child crime victims in Oklahoma: When a child walks through the doors of a Child Advocacy Center (CAC), the first few minutes are some of the most vital in their recovery. For decades, Oklahoma’s CACs have served children involved in the most severe types of child abuse investigations. Across the state, these centers are consistently the first line of defense for these children and their families. [Carrie Little / The Oklahoman]
Community News
Focus: Black Oklahoma was at the DNC in Chicago. Here’s what they heard (audio): Reporters from Focus: Black Oklahoma visited Chicago to cover the DNC with an eye toward Oklahoma. [Focus: Black Oklahoma / KOSU]
This Oklahoma nonprofit helps people from all backgrounds share their stories and work together: A local nonprofit is on a mission to make Oklahoma a better place for one race — the human race. That’s how anthropologist Suzette Chang describes the goal of her organization called Thick Descriptions, which became a nonprofit almost 10 years ago. [The Oklahoman]
Oklahoma experts hope research, goats will encourage climate-resiliency on farms: How to use goats to purge pastures of woody plants is one of the topics expected to be covered at a Climate Resilient Farming and Living Workshop in Okmulgee this weekend. [KOSU]
‘Journal Record’ honors Empowering Women, Beacon Award winners: Oklahoma businesses and nonprofit groups were recognized Thursday night by The Journal Record for promoting women and encouraging public service. [Journal Record]
Opinion: Every parent aspires to have a Tim Walz moment with their kid: We strive to live our lives in ways that make our kids proud enough to claim us on a world stage. [Ginnie Graham / Tulsa World]
Quote of the Day
“The Oklahoma State Department of Education dropped the ball on telling school administrators, parents or anyone about the change in the way they would determine student performance on state tests. This left districts shocked and surprised when they saw this year’s scores, and it puts a false narrative out there.”
-Reps. Mark McBride, R-Moore, and Dick Lowe, R-Amber, commenting on a change to the method for scoring state academic tests they say was not communicated to statewide educators, parents or the public. [Oklahoma House of Representatives]
Number of the Day
31.9%
Percentage of households in Oklahoma that had some or lots of difficulty paying for usual household expenses, which is was the nation’s sixth highest rate and higher than the national average of 27.3%. [Prosperity Now]
Policy Note
Practical Steps To Build Strong Political Norms and Stop Political Violence: As American democracy faces significant challenges, people must work together to help set healthy political norms and reject a culture that allows political violence to flourish. [American Progress]
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