Public Schools Week Kicks Off At Oklahoma State Capitol

Public education advocates rallied at the Capitol Monday, hoping to put pressure on lawmakers to vote against universal voucher measures on the table this session. The Oklahoma Empowerment Act would create education savings accounts for parents to use their child’s state aid appropriated money to pay for private schools or homeschooling.  

“Public schools have to work. They have to work. They absolutely, positively have to be the best place for children. End of story,” said Keri Knutson, former teacher and Deer Creek Public Schools parent.  

There were about 200 people in attendance. 

In speeches, one of the top concerns was about funding cuts to Oklahoma’s historically underfunded public schools — which could happen if the bill passes in its current form. 

“What they’re proposing is that we stick our hand in that cookie jar, take the money out, divert it from public schools to pay for private schools,” said Erika Wright, founder of the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition.  

Wright said rural districts will feel the impact of lower levels of state aid money because lower income tax areas rely more heavily on state aid money to fund schools.  

“It is a rural schools killer from a funding perspective because rural schools depend so much on every penny coming from that pot,” Wright said.  

Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister expressed concern about the bill as schools continue to recover from the impacts of the pandemic.  

“We have fewer education dollars than most every state in the country. When we siphon away funds to prop up bigger government, to execute a plan that is experimental, at a time when our children need all hands-on deck, and every resource we can get, this is dangerous for our kids,” Hofmeister said.  

Labor Commissioner Leslie Osborn encouraged educators and parents in the crowd to talk to their legislators about increased funding for public schools.  

“To visit with legislators to resonate with them that the vast majority of rural counties have no options for a private school, that we must continue to do this, that we love what we do, that we need those resources, that we want to change the future of Oklahoma,” Osborn said.  

A former teacher and Deer Creek schools parent says all schools need to be great places to be.  

Communications staff with author of the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, Senator Pro Tem Greg Treat, say he will be available to comment on the bill later this week.  

Senator Treat’s voucher bill is expected to appear in the Appropriations and Budget committee as early as this week.