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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.
A new report by the National Council on Teacher Quality finds the lifetime earning of teachers in Tulsa and Oklahoma rank at near the lowest in the nation, even after adjusting for cost-of-living. Out of 125 large school districts nationwide, Tulsa ranked 101st and Oklahoma City ranked 113th. Before the lifetime earnings were adjusted for cost of living, Oklahoma City came in last, at 125th, and Tulsa was ranked 122nd. Oklahoma’s public school enrollment grew by 6,722 students this year compared with last year. State Superintendent Janet Barresi commented that the increase in enrollment is increasing the challenges of Oklahoma’s teacher shortage and budget cuts to schools. Legislators said a proposal by Sen. Brian Crain to take out very large bond issues to create a trust for boosting education funding will have ‘no chance’ in the House.
Oklahoma Senate Pro Tem Brian Bingman said lawmakers should not be involved in writing new academic standards. On the OK Policy Blog, we look at a new initiative seeking to require Oklahoma high schoolers to pass a civics test to graduate. The filing period for school board candidates in 14 Tulsa County school districts and Tulsa Technology Center District 18 ended Wednesday without a single contested race. The Oklahoman editorial board discussed how uncontested legislative races are becoming routine in Oklahoma. Oklahoma Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, was arrested on a misdemeanor charge of actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence after a sheriff’s deputy found him sleeping in his running pickup on a county road.
A federal judge is expected to hear arguments from attorneys for a group of journalists and news organizations who want to prevent the state from restricting the media’s access to executions. Oklahoma is among five states that struggle the most with high rates of mental illness and a lack of access to treatment, according to a national report released Wednesday. You can see the full report here. The Tulsa World looked at how a new Domestic Violence Court could impact Tulsa County’s out-of-control domestic violence problem. In the Journal Record, David Blatt discussed a new proposal to expand desperately needed health coverage in Oklahoma using a state-based model.
Bixby will be the first city in Oklahoma to have gigabit Internet connection speeds for residents. State Impact Oklahoma examined how a regional haze ruling in Texas could mean cleaner air in Oklahoma. The Number of the Day is the amount spent by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections on private prisons in 2013. In today’s Policy Note, an infographic by USA Today shows nearly 1,600 places where the disparity in black and white arrest rates is worse than in Ferguson, Mo.
In The News
OKC, Tulsa schools rank near bottom in teachers’ lifetime earnings
Typical teachers working for Tulsa Public Schools would make average lifetime earnings of $1.5 million, according to a new report released Wednesday by the National Council on Teacher Quality. That number, adjusted for cost of living, places them below their peers in 101 other districts nationwide that were analyzed by the council. Oklahoma City Public Schools teachers ranked 113th, with adjusted lifetime earnings of $1.4 million.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
School Enrollment Grows by 6,722 Students
Oklahoma’s public school enrollment grew by 6,722 students this year compared with last year, according to the state Department of Education. About 688,300 students are now enrolled in public schools across the state, a 1 percent increase over last year. This year’s numbers reflect a 4 percent growth since 2010.
Read more from Oklahoma Watch.
Oklahoma Senate leader says Legislature should stay away from writing new academic standards
The leader of the Oklahoma Senate on Wednesday said lawmakers should not be involved in writing new academic standards. Senate President Pro Tem Brian Bingman’s comments were made during a public affairs forum featuring legislative leaders in Oklahoma City. It was sponsored by the State Chamber.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
‘No Chance’ for Education Bond Proposal
A proposal to create bond-financed trusts for Oklahoma’s common and higher education systems will likely face a difficult path in the legislature, said veteran legislators on both sides of the aisle. On Nov. 2, state Sen. Brian Crain called on the legislature to create two $2.5 billion, 30-year bond issues to “to secure permanent additional education funding.”
Read more from Oklahoma Watch.
Should Oklahoma require a civics test to graduate high school?
A common stereotype of high school civics is a teacher who’d rather be coaching reading directly off slides as he unenthusiastically tells students about the branches of government. Admittedly, that stereotype is unfair to many creative and talented social studies teachers in our state; however, it’s true that civics has not typically been given the same importance as other high school academic and social goals.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
School board candidate filings close with no contested races
The filing period for school board candidates in 14 Tulsa County school districts and Tulsa Technology Center District 18 ended Wednesday without a single contested race. The election is Feb. 10.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Uncontested legislative races becoming routine in Oklahoma
Many of the Oklahoma legislators who took their oaths of office last month didn’t have to win an election to get there. They drew no opponent, a continuing occurrence here and elsewhere. Eight state Senate candidates (out of 25 possible) were unopposed in 2014, as were 50 state House candidates. Of the former group, seven were Republicans. Among unopposed House candidates, 35 were Republicans and the remainder Democrats.
Oklahoma state senator arrested on misdemeanor count
A state senator arrested early Tuesday smelled of alcohol when a sheriff’s deputy found him sleeping in his running pickup on a county road. Sen. Bryce Marlatt, R-Woodward, pleaded not guilty to a misdemeanor count of actual physical control of a vehicle while under the influence of an intoxicating substance and was released after posting $504 bail.
Hearing set on media access to Oklahoma executions
A federal judge is expected to hear arguments from attorneys for a group of journalists and news organizations who want to prevent the state from restricting the media’s access to executions. Arguments are scheduled before a judge Thursday in Oklahoma City. The Oklahoma Observer and Guardian US newspapers, along with two journalists, are asking a federal judge to ensure that media witness are able to view the execution of a condemned inmate from start to finish.
Report: State Beset With Mental Illness, Lack of Treatment
Oklahoma is among five states that struggle the most with high rates of mental illness and a lack of access to treatment, according to a national report released Wednesday. Oklahoma ranks 48th for the number of adults suffering with mental illness and access to care, and 43rd for youth in the same categories, according to a report from Mental Health America, one of the largest mental-health advocacy groups in the country.
Read more from Oklahoma Watch.
See the full report from Mental Health America.
There’s a new court in town
There’s a new court in town, and if it’s even partially as successful as other specialty courts, it could impact Tulsa County’s out-of-control domestic violence problem, save lives and help repair families. The Domestic Violence Court, overseen by District Court Special Judge Bill Hiddle, operates on the premise of accountability.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
There’s a way, where’s the will?
Just before Thanksgiving two years ago, Gov. Mary Fallin announced her rejection of federal funds the state was offered to expand health care to more low-income adults. The decision left some 150,000 of the poorest Oklahomans mired in a coverage crater, with incomes too low to qualify for tax credits to help pay for private insurance but too high to qualify for Medicaid. At the time, Fallin promised to offer state-based solutions to improve Oklahomans’ health.
Read more from The Journal Record.
Agency approves $23.6M for Indian Nation Turnpike
The Oklahoma Turnpike Authority on Tuesday approved $23.6 million for improvements on the Indian Nation Turnpike south of Henryetta. The funds will cover relocating the exiting toll plaza in McIntosh County underneath the bridge on State Highway 9 to the soon-to-be demolished service plaza just north of it, said Tim Stewart, turnpike authority executive director.
Environmentalists: Regional Haze Ruling in Texas Means Cleaner Air in Oklahoma
On Nov. 24, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced its determination that Texas’ plan to reduce haze-causing emissions from its coal-fired power plants wouldn’t do enough to clear the air at national parks and wildlife refuges, including the Wichita National Wildlife Refuge in southwest Oklahoma. Instead, the EPA will set the standards, which will likely force some plants to switch to natural gas or install expensive air scrubbers.
Quote of the Day
“A lot of people will tell you education is important, but you don’t see it at the polls on Election Day. Until people make the connection between saying they support education versus doing what it takes to support education, I don’t know that anything will ever change.”
-Patti Ferguson-Palmer, president of the Tulsa Classroom Teachers Association, speaking about a new report that ranks the lifetime earnings of Tulsa and Oklahoma City teachers near the lowest in the nation, even after adjusting for cost of living (Source: bit.ly/1rYP5SR)
Number of the Day
$79,285,938
The amount spent by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections on private prisons in 2013.
Source: Oklahoma Department of Corrections
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Compare arrest rates
Blacks are far more likely to be arrested than people of other races, and in some places, dramatically so. Using FBI arrest records, USA TODAY found nearly 1,600 places where the disparity in arrest rates is more pronounced than in Ferguson, Mo.
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