Topic: Education

Governor should sign bill easing third-grade retention mandate

By: David Blatt
May 16, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
On May 9th, the State Department of Education announced that 7,970 third graders, or 16.4 percent of Oklahoma’s third grade population, scored unsatisfactory on the state’s standardized 3rd grade reading test, the OCCT. These children and their families will be… Read more [More...]

A better way to understand and improve school performance (Guest Post: Ryan Miskell)

By: Guest
May 13, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Ryan Miskell is an OK Policy Research Fellow and a research associate with the Oklahoma Center for Education Policy. He is working on his Ph.D. in Education Leadership and Policy Studies from The University of Oklahoma. Oklahoma, like most states,… Read more [More...]

Infographic illustrates why Oklahoma should end drilling tax break

By: Gene Perry
May 7, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A new infographic from Together Oklahoma, a coalition which includes Oklahoma Policy Institute, shows why Oklahoma needs to reign in a tax break for horizontal drilling. [More...]

Mandatory retention law down to 11th hour

By: David Blatt
April 23, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Earlier this month, some 50,000 Oklahoma third-graders came head-to-head with high-stakes testing. These 8- and 9-year old children took the state standardized reading test known as the OCCT.  Under revisions to the Reading Sufficiency Act passed in 2011, beginning this… Read more [More...]

What the horizontal drilling tax break is costing your kids’ school

By: David Blatt
April 22, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
For Oklahoma’s elected officials looking to increase funding for education, the sensible solution can be found right under our feet. By doing away with what has become an increasingly unnecessary and unaffordable tax break, every school district and every school… Read more [More...]

Fact Sheet: Investing In Education Is Key For Growth And Job Creation

By: Gene Perry
April 17, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Download this fact sheet as a PDF. “Years ago, I often heard companies say the cost of doing business was their No. 1 concern. During my time in the Tulsa Regional Chamber and now as secretary of state, I am… Read more [More...]

Education rallies, then and now (Guest Post: Steve Lewis)

By: Guest
April 11, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
Steve Lewis served as Speaker of the House of Representatives from 1989-1991 during the time of HB 1017. He currently practices law in Tulsa. I don’t know how much was accomplished by the education rally at the Capitol last week,… Read more [More...]

Education follows the ROADS to guaranteed funding growth

By: David Blatt
April 9, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
A decade ago, following the overwhelming defeat of a referendum to boost state taxes on motor fuels, supporters of increased transportation funding hit on a new approach.  In 2005, the legislature approved HB 1078,  creating the Rebuilding Oklahoma Access and… Read more [More...]

That’s a Whopper: Total revenue is a false measure of school funding

By: David Blatt
April 3, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
In making the case against additional funding for public schools, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) has recently asserted that “Oklahoma’s per-pupil revenues — – a whopping $12,206 in fiscal year 2013 — – are at record levels.”  The… Read more [More...]

With the right choices, we can restore education funding

By: David Blatt
March 31, 2014 // Updated: May 2, 2019
These are the prepared remarks delivered by David Blatt at the Oklahoma Education Rally on March 31st It’s amazing to see such a huge crowd standing up for public education and Oklahoma’s children. Thank you all for being here. My… Read more [More...]