State Board Of Education Votes To Rescind Charter Schools Settlement

The settlement was meant to resolve a 2017 lawsuit from the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association.

Tuesday, May 25th 2021, 5:40 pm

By: Erica Rankin

OKLAHOMA CITY -

Monday the State Board of Education voted to rescind a settlement which would have given charter schools local tax revenue. The settlement was meant to resolve a 2017 lawsuit from the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association.

The settlement was reached about two months ago and right away it was met with criticism from multiple public school districts. State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister also had questioned the constitutionality.

“The recension of their March 25th vote was the right step and it now undoes the reason for a lot of other lawsuits,” said Hofmeister

In rescinding that initial vote, the passage of Senate Bill 229 the Redbud School Funding Act, must also happen.

Lawmakers said it would put a targeted investment of $38.5 million of medical marijuana tax dollars to

give grants to public schools and charter schools that earn below the state average in revenue to support school facilities.

President of the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association and the Superintendent of Santa Fe South Charter Schools said this outcome is a win.

"The money would go to basic things like science labs,” Brewster said. “Buses, being able to build auditoriums and classrooms, it will put roofs on facilities, and we might be able to build a gym. We've only just now been able to think about for the first 20 years of charter schools in our state."

SB 229 is on governor Stitt’s desk. He has said he plans to sign it.