Who governs Oklahoma’s public school system?

The fundamental problem with public education is the lack of accountability. The best school accountability is parental choice, but reforms to the system’s governance structure can also help.

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by Greg Forster, Ph.D.

Critics denounce secrecy of Oklahoma judicial nominating process

Following a judicial bribery scandal in the 1960s, Oklahoma adopted a “Missouri plan” system in which an outside commission selects judicial nominees and the governor is barred from considering any other applicants.

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by Ray Carter

Tulsa Public Schools accused of breaking state law

The State Board of Education voted Thursday to send a charter-school application back to the Tulsa Public Schools district and urged the district to vote on the application within 30 days. That action was taken after charter supporters said Tulsa officials have violated state law and the district’s own policies.

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by Ray Carter

Oklahoma tribes pursue casinos in states with higher rates

In arguing against Gov. Kevin Stitt’s call for the State of Oklahoma to receive higher exclusivity payments for monopoly casino rights, Oklahoma’s tribal casino operators often argue that the benefits of the state’s low rates accrue to Oklahoma anyway because they have nowhere else to go with their earnings.

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by Ray Carter

State savings may increase even in flat budget year

State lawmakers will likely face a flat budget in the 2020 session, with possibly less revenue than what was certified last year. But state savings could increase, nonetheless.

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by Ray Carter

Lawmakers adopt rules to impede abuse of audit office

Members of the Oversight Committee for the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) approved rules that would prevent any single legislator or LOFT employee from unilaterally targeting an agency or government official with audits.

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by Ray Carter

OU, Tulsa professors promote impeachment

Seven Oklahoma law professors have signed a letter supporting the impeachment of President Donald Trump even though they “take no position on whether the President committed a crime.”

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by Ray Carter

Speaker touts benefits of healthy nationalism

Rich Lowry, syndicated columnist and editor of National Review, says a healthy nationalism is foundational to national purpose and self-government and has been for centuries.

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by Ray Carter

Oklahoma Medicaid growth crowds out other priorities

Over the past 20 years, Medicaid’s share of total state spending has grown faster than any other category of state spending. 

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by Kaitlyn Finley

Teachers’ union encourages members to politicize Thanksgiving, Christmas gatherings

The parent organization of the Oklahoma Education Association is encouraging its members to “incorporate your commitment to social justice at your celebrations this year.”

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by Ray Carter

Never enough: Here come the state agency wish lists

So far, Oklahoma state agencies have requested $454 in additional funding for the next fiscal year—and the wish list keeps getting longer.

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by Curtis Shelton

Lawmakers learn shady management companies could benefit from Medicaid expansion

Medicaid expansion has been touted as a way to shore up financially troubled rural hospitals, but at a recent legislative study, lawmakers learned the beneficiaries of Medicaid expansion may include management companies that have run several rural Oklahoma hospitals into the ground.

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by Ray Carter

Proud to be an American?

The Oklahoman recently printed the obituary of a remarkable man whose life story should put protestors to shame.

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by Mike Brake

Economists use beer to highlight socialism’s failings

Socialism may be gaining in popularity among certain groups, but it remains a thoroughly discredited economic system, as two experts highlight in their book Socialism Sucks: Two Economists Drink Their Way Through the Unfree World (Regnery, 2019).

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by Ray Carter

Funding structures, not union politics, driving teacher pay

During 2018, many Oklahoma school districts shut down for up to two weeks as part of a union-led walkout campaign targeting the state legislature. Just days before the shutdown, the legislature had passed a package of tax increases in order to raise teacher pay by an average of $6,100. One of the most salient arguments leading up to the pay raise and walkout was that Oklahoma was losing teachers to Texas due to higher pay south of the Red River.

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by Curtis Shelton

Expert warns against legal games with pension protections

During a recent legislative study that included a review of a pension-protection law, the head of one state pension system offered lawmakers a recommendation for improving such laws: Stop allowing bills to self-exempt from pension protections.

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by Ray Carter

Officials urge caution in passing unfunded pension benefits

Under legislation passed by the Oklahoma House of Representatives this year, retired state workers’ benefits would have been increased by 4 percent. But that bill, which did not advance in the Senate, included no funding to cover the additional cost, making the measure an unfunded mandate.

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by Ray Carter

Governor, tribal officials discuss casino compact dispute

Gov. Kevin Stitt said state-tribal negotiations over casino compacts have reached an impasse, but said he remains committed to an improved agreement that will require state casino operators to pay market rates for monopoly gaming rights.

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by Ray Carter

How do Oklahoma’s casino fees compare to other states?

One fact stands out above all others: Oklahoma has more slot machines than all but a handful of states—yet collects less revenue than most. 

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by Curtis Shelton

Officials say state’s ‘merit protection’ system harms workforce quality

Under the “merit protection” system used in Oklahoma government, it’s too hard to fire bad employees or give promotions to good employees, according to several officials. That has some officials calling for a major overhaul, or even repeal, of the system.

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by Ray Carter

OKC district’s effort to penalize charter schools for attracting students prompts lawsuit

Under Oklahoma law, an entity that sponsors a public charter school—in this case the Oklahoma City school district—is allowed to assess the charter school a fee of up to 5 percent of the charter’s state funding “for administrative services rendered.” While charter schools have substantial independence, they are required to have a sponsoring entity, typically a local traditional school district.

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by Ray Carter

Father of Parkland shooting victim says Enid Public Schools’ actions dangerous

The recent action of Enid Public School administrators who fired a school resource police officer for seeking prosecution of at least two students who had threatened classmates sent precisely the wrong signal, nationally known school safety crusader Andrew Pollack has told OCPA.

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by Mike Brake

Parole overhaul, diversion funding sought to address SQ 780 shortcomings

Supporters and critics alike are calling for reforms and/or new funding to address the perceived shortcomings of State Question 780, a voter-approved initiative that reduced penalties for theft and drug use in Oklahoma, with one lawmaker even advocating “radical” change.

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by Ray Carter

Oklahoma academic decline prompts concern, calls for change

Results from two national measures of academic performance— the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and the ACT college-readiness exam—show continued decline in Oklahoma schools’ academic outcomes.

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by Ray Carter

Data suggest Oklahoma economic growth is slowing

Continuing the pattern of recent months, new data indicate Oklahoma’s economic growth is slowing, suggesting lawmakers may have far less growth revenue to spend next year, based on information provided by State Treasurer Randy McDaniel.

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by Ray Carter