OKLAHOMA EDUCATION FUNDING: STILL SUCKS AFTER ALL THESE YEARS
Welcome to the land of tornadoes, oil rigs, and education funding that still sucks after all these years. That's right, folks, we're talking about Oklahoma. But don't fear, because school choice is here to save the day! Or destroy public schools, depending on how you look at it.
Let's take a deep dive into Oklahoma's 2023 education budget, shall we? According to StateImpact, the budget includes a whopping $6,100 pay raise for teachers. Finally, they can afford to upgrade from ramen noodles to something a little fancier, like spaghetti.
But wait, there's more! The budget also includes funding for 12 weeks of paid maternity leave for teachers. That's right, folks, Oklahoma has finally entered the 21st century. We're just a few decades behind the rest of the country.
And if that wasn't enough, there's a new literacy program in town. It's funded by a $100 million grant from the federal government, so you know it's legit. This program will provide additional support for students who are struggling to read. Because apparently, reading is hard.
But let's not forget about school districts. The budget includes $150 million for them to use for a variety of purposes, including teacher pay raises, school safety, and technology upgrades. So if your school still has chalkboards and overhead projectors, you might finally get an upgrade.
Now, let's talk about the Redbud Fund. This little gem provides scholarships to students who attend public schools in Oklahoma. Because why fix the public school system when you can just give kids money to go to private schools?
And speaking of private schools, the budget includes $150 million for tax credits for private school tuition and homeschool funding for families in the state. Because apparently, public schools just aren't good enough.
But don't worry, folks, the budget also includes $50 million for security upgrades at schools across the state. Because nothing says "safe learning environment" like metal detectors and armed guards.
All in all, the 2023 education budget is a step in the right direction for Oklahoma's public schools. But let's not forget that the state still ranks near the bottom in the nation in terms of per-pupil spending. So while teachers may finally be able to afford something other than ramen noodles and students may finally get some extra help with reading, there's still a long way to go.
But hey, at least we can take comfort in knowing that school choice is here to save us. Or destroy us. Whichever way you want to look at it.
StateImpact breaks down Oklahoma's 2023 education budget https://www.kgou.org/2023-06-01/stateimpact-breaks-down-oklahomas-2023-education-budget