Assessing Our Educational Accomplishments

Education is the most American of all public investments.

Early in our nation’s history we recognized that education was the key to our social and economic future. Publicly-funded colleges were created before the American Revolution and were expanded with federal assistance in the 19th century. Public schools were invented in the United States; a wave of immigration and the desire for all people to have greater economic opportunities demanded that children of every background and social status have access to a free, public education. In Oklahoma and most other states, public education became a matter of constitutional right.  Article 13 of Oklahoma’s Constitution declares: “The Legislature shall establish and maintain a system of free public schools wherein all the children of the State may be educated.”

Over time our conception of public education has expanded. We have created libraries, museums, technical schools, preschools, and other institutions. Education has increasingly been understood as an investment in economic development. America’s economy has grown fastest when education attainment has grown quickly. States with more educated citizens have higher income levels and more diverse economies. Even at the individual level, there is a close relationship between educational attainment and income. If Oklahoma wants to increase incomes and expand its economy, education is the way to do it.

Oklahoma has accomplished a lot through its educational efforts. Our schools serve all children regardless of background and are more equally funded than in many states. Our public school systems are controlled locally through their communities. We work harder than most states to be sure our youngest children are prepared for school on the first day. We also have a higher education system that offers affordable and quality education in every corner of the state and a career vocational system that is among the best in the country.

There are many areas where we have fallen short, though. We spend less on education and pay our teachers less than most states. In doing so we are reducing the chances we can increase student achievement and we are risking our ability to attract and retain the best teachers. Our students achieve less by many measures in spite of broad availability and relatively low costs, our rates of college attendance and graduation lag behind other states. Affordability is increasingly a problem since tuition and fees are rising faster than virtually any other cost faced by Oklahoma families.

Oklahomans also should be concerned about trends in education indicators. Over the last decade, Oklahoma’s ranks among the states fell from:

• 1st to 4th in access to preschool programs,
• 26th to 48th in overall education quality,
• 42nd to 49th in average teacher pay, and
• 45th to 48th in expenditures per student.

Investments in education pay off in the future. Oklahoma’s trend of investing less is producing unfavorable results and can be expected to continue to hold our state back in the future. The indicators below give a good picture of where Oklahoma education stands today.

Early Education and Family Support

Source: National Institute for Early Education Research, National Home Visiting Resource Center

Oklahoma was a pioneer, and remains a leader, in public pre-kindergarten. The state presently ranks fourth in percentage of four-year-olds served, down from first in 2007 but still well over the national average of 33 percent.

Home visiting helps families with young children improve their own and their children’s health, and prepare children for success in school. Oklahoma continues to be a leader in the field, ranking 10^th in percent of all families and 12^th in percent of high priority families served. High priority families are those with young or single mothers, low income or education levels, or infants in the home. While Oklahoma reaches more families than most other states, we should strive to serve more than just 1 out of 20 high needs families.

PreK-12 Education

Source: Education Week, U.S. Dept. of Education, National Education Association

Oklahoma ranked 48th in Education Weekly’s Quality Counts 2018. Oklahoma’s performance has fallen dramatically since 2011, when the state ranked 17^th.

According to the U.S. Department of Education, 28 percent of Oklahoma 8th graders read at or above the proficient level in 2017. Overall, changes in the state’s scores and ranking have been minimal since 2007. There has been little change in racial disparities. Hispanic students are the only group whose score has improved in that period, increasing from nine percentage points below whites to four points below.

Oklahoma’s average teacher compensation in 2018 was 49th among the states and District of Columbia. The average teacher compensation of $46,300 (which includes both salary and benefits) was $14,177 below the national average, according to the National Education Association. Since 2009, Oklahoma’s ranking fell from 42^nd, and average teacher pay fell $5,400 further behind the national average. Per pupil spending also ranks Oklahoma near the bottom of the states and was $4,425 (35 percent) below the national average. However, these measures do not reflect substantial statewide pay raises and education funding increases granted in 2018 and 2019. 

Higher Education

State Regents for Higher Education, National Education Association

Oklahoma’s universities are getting more expensive, both in terms of ability to pay and compared to other states. From 2008 to 2016, resident tuition and fees at Oklahoma’s research universities increased by 63 percent. This is roughly double the rate of median income growth during the same period. According to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, Oklahoma’s 2018-19 tuition and fees average is 31^st  highest among states for public 4-year universities, up from 36^th in 2008.

Oklahoma’s state college faculty continue to rank near the lowest in the nation for compensation. From 2007 to 2017, 2-year college pay fell from 39^th among states to 46^th. The decline for 4-year faculty was smaller, from 40^th to 43^rd.

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