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In The Know is a daily synopsis of Oklahoma policy-related news and blogs. Inclusion of a story does not necessarily mean endorsement by the Oklahoma Policy Institute. You can sign up here to receive In The Know by e-mail.
Today you should know that the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services will have a special meeting 10:30 a.m. today to discuss and possibly appoint a new director of the agency. September tax collections were up just under 3 percent from the same month last year, though the collapse in tax collections on oil and gas drilling continues. OK Policy released a summary and analysis of each state question that will be on the ballot in November.
Nearly every one of the dozen Tulsa-area legislative candidates who spoke at an education forum Tuesday advocated increased funding for public schools. School officials and students told an interim study that end-of-instruction tests were not doing what they were intended to do. Hours after the state Board of Education voted to delay releasing A-F grades for schools statewide, the state Education Department told superintendents statewide that the grades could be released to the public.
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Oklahoma Department of Labor $242,322 to help reduce exposure to asbestos in schools and state buildings. Giving cities the ability to pass smoking laws stronger than state law will be the state Board of Health’s main priority during Oklahoma’s next legislative session. Oklahoma’s new voting machines are equipped with a system specifically for blind voters.
The Number of the Day is the percentage of public school students enrolled in charter schools in Oklahoma in 2011. In today’s Policy Note, the National Women’s Law Center examines September jobs data showing that women’s unemployment rate is at a three and a half year low.
In The News
DHS Commission to hire director
The Oklahoma Commission for Human Services will have a special meeting 10:30 a.m. today in the Sequoyah State Office Building, Room C-48, Oklahoma City, regarding the “interviewing and hiring of a permanent director of the Department of Human Services,” according to the meeting agenda. The commission has scheduled an executive session, which will allow members to discuss potential applicants for the DHS director position. Following the executive session, the commission will discuss and possibly vote “to select and appoint a director of Human Services and to fix a salary for the position pursuant to Article 25, Section 4 of the Oklahoma Constitution,” according to the agenda.
Read more from the Norman Transcript.
Tax revenue up 3 percent in September
September tax collections for Oklahoma’s main operating fund topped projections as well as receipts for the same month a year ago, state finance officials said Tuesday. The September report was better news for the state than August, when total receipts declined by 6.8 percent from the previous year mainly because of lower natural gas tax and income tax receipts. The expiration of a moratorium on energy tax credits also is causing natural gas tax collections to lag, he said. The state owes $294 million in rebates on oil from horizontal and deep wells; the state is paying back nearly $98 million a year for three years, beginning with this fiscal year.
2012 State Questions – Summary and Analysis
On November 6, 2012, Oklahoma voters will decide six state questions to amend the State Constitution. Two of the questions involve property taxes, with the other questions addressing affirmative action, DHS governance, parole decisions, and bonding authority. OK Policy’s summary and analysis of each question is listed below.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Tulsa-area legislative candidates voices views on education at forum
Nearly every one of the dozen Tulsa-area legislative candidates who spoke at an education forum Tuesday advocated increased funding for public schools. Sponsored by the 49th is Not OK organization and Tulsa Area Parent Legislative Action Committee, the forum was held at Rogers Early College Junior High and High School. Two nonincumbents questioned why funding for public education is commonly treated as a partisan issue. Katie Henke, a teacher and Republican running for House District 71, said Oklahoma needs to increase funding to attract and retain quality teachers and for its nationally recognized early childhood education program. Julie Hall, a Democrat running for Senate District 39, said economic development efforts can’t succeed without a “strong investment” in the state’s public education system.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
School officials, students ask Oklahoma lawmakers to change testing requirements
Local school boards should hear appeals from students who didn’t receive a high school diploma because they failed to pass a required end-of-instruction test, a public school superintendent suggested to a legislative panel Tuesday. Students also weighed in, saying the required tests are not doing what they were intended to do. A survey conducted by Watonga High School’s leadership class showed two out of three seniors didn’t try as hard on other tests after they passed the mandatory four end-of-instruction tests. A member of the House of Representatives Common Education Committee, however, said it’s too soon to pull the plug on the state tests, which are given in subjects including algebra, English, history and science.
Education Department OKs districts to release A-F grades
Hours after the state Board of Education voted to delay releasing A-F grades for schools statewide, the state Education Department told superintendents statewide that the grades could be released to the public. A voluntary embargo ended after all corrections had been made to the grade report cards, said Maridyth McBee, assistant superintendent for accountability and assessment. McBee sent an email to superintendents Monday afternoon telling them the grades could be released if they so chose. The situation is awkward for districts and state officials, she said Tuesday. A records request by The Oklahoman for the grades given to school districts was still being processed Tuesday evening, an agency spokeswoman said.
EPA gives Oklahoma $240,000 to reduce asbestos
The Environmental Protection Agency has awarded the Oklahoma Department of Labor $242,322 to help reduce exposure to asbestos in schools and state buildings through compliance monitoring. The funds will be used by the ODOL to complete audit inspections in local schools during the upcoming school year. Asbestos inspections are a traditional method of encouraging compliance with the Asbestos in School Rule which is designed to protect the health of school children, other occupants, and local communities. The ODOL will also use the funds to verify asbestos abatement workers are properly trained and accredited.
Smoking law to be legislative focus for Oklahoma Board of Health
Giving cities the ability to pass smoking laws stronger than state law will be the state Board of Health’s main priority during Oklahoma’s next legislative session. Oklahoma and Tennessee are the only states that restrict cities from passing smoking ordinances stricter than state law, according to the state Health Department. Dr. R. Murali Krishna, Health Board president, said at Tuesday’s board meeting that, through restricting tobacco use, Oklahoma can improve the health of its residents. The bill made it through the state House of Representatives, but, once sent to the state Senate, it didn’t make it out of the Senate Health and Human Services Committee.
New Oklahoma voting system aids the blind
Oklahomans who are blind will have an easier time casting their ballots in November’s election. This is the first campaign season Oklahoma is using new voting machines equipped with a system specifically for blind voters. The voting machines include what is called Audio Tactical Interface, or ATI. The ATI device, which is connected to voting machines, was used during the primary. But November will be the first time it’s used in a general election in Oklahoma. Previously, Oklahoma’s blind voters had to rely on precinct workers or friends or family to read the ballot and cast their votes for them.
Quote of the Day
I believed in the ACE (Achieving Classroom Excellence) initiative, but you know what? We never sent out the funding schools needed to do it. I never believed we were sending out the Titanic without lifeboats, but we proved we did this year when we had 561 kids not get their diplomas.
-Rep. Jeannie McDaniel, D-Tulsa
Number of the Day
1 percent
Percentage of public school students enrolled in charter schools in Oklahoma in 2011, 6,576 out of 659,615 total students
Source: Center for Education Reform
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
September jobs data show women’s unemployment rate at three and a half year low
We’re back this Friday with your monthly analysis on the BLS jobs numbers. September brought some good news, and here is what you need to know: In September, adult women’s unemployment rate hit a three and a half year low. Last month, adult women’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.0 percent – the lowest it’s been since February 2009. Similarly, adult men’s unemployment rate dropped to 7.3 percent – the lowest level since November 2008. The declines in unemployment rates from August to September show that we’re continuing to move in the right direction.
Read more from the National Women’s Law Center.
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