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State officials are concerned that Oklahoma is handing out millions of dollars in tax credits a year, but the state lacks basic information to predict their budget impact. As the political dust settles on third grade reading, the OK Policy Blog examined how the modified law is playing out in schools. In Tulsa, 9 more kids passed the reading test at the end of the summer and will advance to the 4th grade. Superintendent Keith Ballard is recommending Tulsa Public Schools partner with three new charter school operators.
Former lieutenant governor Jari Askins has been named interim executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. A lawsuit filed in federal court Monday alleges that the University of Tulsa failed to protect a student from one of its prominent basketball players who has a history of facing sexual assault allegations. The Tulsa World examined the various policies Oklahoma universities have in place to educate students about the dangers of sexual violence on campus and to deal with reports of assault. A new USDA report estimates that middle-income parents of babies born last year will pay about $245,340 for the child to reach legal adulthood.
Early voting for the Aug. 26 runoff election starts Thursday, and voters have until Wednesday to request an absentee ballot for the runoff. Patients of at least one Oklahoma medical center had their personal information stolen in a data breach affecting 4.5 million patients nationwide. Oklahoma City is partnering with Langston University’s Goat Research Extension Program to turn a small herd of goats loose along the canal between Northwest Expressway and Wilshire Boulevard to keep weeds and brush in check. Wind energy developers in the northeast corner of the state are facing opposition from both environmentalists and oil interests.
The Ethics Commission will seek additional public comment regarding whether its Financial Disclosure Statements will be made available online and, if so, what information they will contain. The Office of Juvenile Affairs may need to consider shutting down some juvenile facilities next fiscal year if the Legislature does not increase its appropriations. Members of the Alcoholic Beverage and Laws Enforcement Commission were informed Friday that federal funds intended as reimbursement for the agency were diverted to satisfy another Oklahoma state agency’s debt. Tulsa is conducting a study on barriers to fair and equal housing opportunities in the city.
Activists in Oklahoma City last week celebrated the second anniversary of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – a program that allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to be protected from deportation. Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma expect each campus will have about 2,000 students from other countries for the fall semester. The Washington Post examined how Oklahoma’s increase in immigration is connected to the state’s strong economy. The Number of the Day is Oklahoma’s unemployment rate in July, up slightly from June’s unemployment rate.
In The News
Tax credits hinder Oklahoma’s budget projections
Oklahoma hands out millions of dollars in tax credits a year, mostly to stimulate economic activity, but state officials lack basic information to determine their budget impact. State officials struggle to predict what Oklahoma’s revenue picture will look like, partially because they don’t know how many tax credits are being held by companies, which companies hold them or when they will be used. Also, a moratorium on using some of these tax credits during recessionary years created a pent-up demand to cash them in as businesses rebound.
As the political dust settles on 3rd grade reading, what’s happening in schools?
In 2011, Oklahoma amended the Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA), requiring schools to retain third grade students who score “unsatisfactory” on the reading portion of the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Test (OCCT), unless the student meets certain exceptions. The upcoming school year is the first year that third graders will be retained under the law. School districts and individual schools have implemented new strategies to comply with the law, including both preventative measures to increase OCCT scores and also remedial actions after the release of scores. While a focus on increased reading ability is important, some districts have experienced strain because of their increased efforts without sufficient funding.
Read more from the OK Policy Blog.
Nine More Tulsa Third Graders Pass Reading Tests
Tulsa Public Schools has new numbers Monday as third graders again test in hopes of moving onto the fourth grade. Back in April, 1,175 TPS third graders failed the reading tests which are required to advance. Students had another chance to pass just last week. TPS spokesperson Chris Payne says nine more kids have passed the tests, meaning they’ll get to advance. For those kids who didn’t pass, the district says parents are asking for another round of testing in September.
Tulsa board to hear pitch from three new charter school operators
Superintendent Keith Ballard is recommending Tulsa Public Schools partner with three new charter school operators. All three of the proposed school operators have been trained and are being supported by a Boston-based national nonprofit corporation called Building Excellent Schools, or BES. If approved, the new schools would open in 2015-16 — with two to be located in east Tulsa and one near 61st Street and Peoria Avenue.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Jari Askins Named Interim Director Of Pardon And Parole Board
Gov. Mary Fallin says a former lieutenant governor she defeated in the 2010 election has been named interim executive director of the Oklahoma Pardon and Parole Board. Fallin’s office said the board appointed Jari Askins on Monday. The governor called Askins a “dedicated and universally respected” public servant. Askins served 12 years as a state representative and eight years as a special district judge in Stephens County. She was elected lieutenant governor in 2007 and opted against a re-election bid in 2010. Fallin defeated her in the gubernatorial election that year.
Tulsa facing Title IX lawsuit
A lawsuit filed in federal court Monday alleges that the University of Tulsa failed to protect a student from one of its prominent basketball players who has a history of facing sexual assault allegations. The lawsuit, filed on behalf of Abigail Ross, a sophomore at Tulsa, states that basketball player Patrick Swilling Jr. raped her in January. It outlines three prior alleged incidents involving Swilling, from a woman who reported in 2012 that he raped her while the two were students at the College of Southern Idaho, a woman at Tulsa who reported a sexual assault to campus security, and a woman who said Swilling tried to sexually assault her before friends intervened. “Despite its knowledge of at least one, and as many as three prior allegations of sexual assault and misconduct perpetrated by Swilling, TU undertook zero investigation of his conduct and permitted Swilling to continue to attend TU,” the lawsuit states.
See also: Area universities strive to educate students about dangers of sexual assault from the Tulsa World.
Raising a child is not cheap, USDA report shows
Just like buying gas and milk, raising a child through age 18 is getting more expensive. Middle-income parents of babies born last year will pay about $245,340 for the child to reach legal adulthood. The figure jumps to $304,480 when adjusting for the projected inflation rate of 1.8 percent, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s report on the costs of raising a child. If there is good news to that steep price tag, it’s that the inflation estimate is lower than in past years, which have had about a 4 percent increase on average annually, said Kevin Concannon, USDA undersecretary for food, nutrition and consumer services.
Read more from the Tulsa World.
Data on 4.5 million hospital patients, including some in Oklahoma, stolen in cyberattack
Patients of at least one Oklahoma medical center had their personal information stolen in a data breach affecting 4.5 million patients nationwide, hospital officials confirmed Monday. Hackers stole data from Community Health Systems in Franklin, Tenn. The company operates 206 hospitals nationwide, including 10 in Oklahoma. The thieves obtained patient names, addresses, birth dates, telephone numbers and Social Security numbers. The data did not include credit card or medical information, the company reported Monday in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
Oklahoma City ‘Dreamers’ Recognize Anniversary Of DACA
Activists in Oklahoma City last week celebrated the second anniversary of the implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals – a controversial program that allows undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children to remain temporarily. At the gathering Friday afternoon at a bakery along SW 29th Street the group Dream Act Oklahoma cut a birthday cake and celebrated the 2012 implementation of DACA.
Students from around the world study in Oklahoma
A growing number of international students who arrived on the East and West Coasts are making their way inland to study in Oklahoma. Officials with Oklahoma State University and the University of Oklahoma expect each campus will have about 2,000 students from other countries for the fall semester, which begins Monday. Cost is a big factor, said Tim Huff, manager of international students and scholars at OSU. “We’re extremely competitive,” Huff said. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks Oklahoma higher education No. 7 in affordability.
Ethics Commission Seeks Input Regarding Financial Disclosure Availability
The Ethics Commission will seek additional public comment regarding whether its Financial Disclosure Statements will be made available online and, if so, what information they will contain. The report is required of state officers, certain state employees, and candidates running for office who file declarations of candidacy with the State Election Board. Currently, the reports are available publicly in printed form only.
Office Of Juvenile Affairs Needs Increase for FY16
The Office of Juvenile Affairs may need to consider shutting down some juvenile facilities next fiscal year if the Legislature does not increase its appropriations. Board members were told last month the agency would need a “substantial increase in the budget for 2016” to keep certain facilities operational. On Friday, the board discussed a potential budget for fiscal year 2016 that calls for an increase of $21.1 million in appropriations.
Diverted Federal Funds Leave ABLE Commission In Trouble
Members of the Alcoholic Beverage and Laws Enforcement Commission were informed Friday that federal funds intended as reimbursement for the agency were diverted to satisfy another Oklahoma state agency’s debt. Executive Director Keith Burt explained the funds are a reimbursement from the Food and Drug Administration and is given to the agency on a contract basis if they satisfy the requirements of tobacco compliance checks around the state. But the agency was informed last week, the funds had been “diverted.”
City Of Tulsa Gathering Research On Fair Housing
The city of Tulsa is conducting a study on barriers to housing choices in Oklahoma’s second largest city. The goal is to identify whether there are barriers or adverse policies in housing rentals and sales, lending, insurance and the public sector. Part of the study includes collecting the opinions and experiences of people who are involved in the housing industry, including housing consumers.
Deadline nears to request absentee ballot for Oklahoma runoff primary election
Early voting for the Aug. 26 runoff election starts Thursday, and voters have until Wednesday to request an absentee ballot for the runoff, state election officials said. People who would like to vote early in person can do so Thursday, Friday or Saturday. Early voting for the runoff will be available from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Thursday and Friday and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday. All 77 county election boards offer in-person early voting. Tulsa and Cleveland counties also have additional early voting locations.
Oklahoma City forms Hefner canal goat herd
Goats may be the solution to keeping weeds and brush in check along the Hefner Canal. Oklahoma City is partnering with Langston University’s Goat Research Extension Program to turn a small herd of goats loose along the canal between Northwest Expressway and Wilshire Boulevard. Mowing along that stretch is difficult, and city officials think goats could help them save gas, reduce use of chemical weed killers, prevent erosion, and reduce the risk of employee injuries. The city will check on the goats each day, water them and feed a guard dog.
Oklahoma Wind Power Companies Run Into Headwinds
Oklahoma is the nation’s fourth-largest generator of wind energy. But wind developers in the northeast corner of the state, where the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve lies, are up against stiff opposition from an unlikely pair of allies: environmentalists and oil interests. Bob Hamilton, director of the Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, has been fighting to block construction of a 68-turbine wind farm. “It’s a real estate issue — location, location, location,” says Hamilton. “So, where you put industrial wind development can be a tremendously critical decision, especially if you’re talking about at-risk species and ecosystems that are at risk.”
Quote of the Day
“Ever since DACA I’ve been able to do a lot of the things that I wanted to do. I volunteer at the YMCA as a soccer coach. I volunteer with the Make-A-Wish Foundation as well. I’m a wish-granter there. What’s next? I hope I don’t get deported.”
-28-year-old Angelica Villa Lobos, whose father brought her to the United States when she was 10. She is one of about 4,500 Oklahomans who have been protected from deportation by President Obama’s Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (Source: http://bit.ly/1BxhJS1)
Number of the Day
4.6%
Oklahoma’s unemployment rate in July, up slightly from June’s unemployment rate (4.5%)
Source: Oklahoma Employment Security Commission.
See previous Numbers of the Day here.
Policy Note
Immigration and growth go together in many states
I’ve suggested that the border crisis paradoxically may make it easier in the long run to achieve immigration reform. If everyone can agree to get serious about border security first, then other reforms may well be less contentious. Indeed, the most recent Fox poll shows that if given the choice between doing nothing and setting up a pathway for citizenship (not just legalization), the public favors the latter (65 to 20 percent) as do Republicans (56 to 28 percent). Once given more specific components of a reform bill borrowing heavily from what passed the Senate or has been suggested by House leaders, Republicans also favor reform by a large measure. One way to increase the chances of passing reform is to disabuse lawmakers of the notion that immigration is bad for our economy.
Read more from The Washington Post.
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