Parent's Guide to Private Schools: The Current Private Schools

(4/20/2023) With the Oklahoma legislature preparing the final text of a school choice funding formula, SoonerPolitics undertook the task of compiling a couple of interactive maps, indicating the established private schools across the state. Some of these institutions are accredited by the Oklahoma Private School Accreditation Commission (OPSAC), but several dozens are decidedly not accredited, even though some are over 125 years old.

Can Governor Stitt find a middle ground for House Speaker McCall and Senate Pro Tem Treat to come to? He's giving it his best shot. We'll see how it goes.

GOVERNOR STITT CALLS FOR COMPROMISE, PROPOSES THE OKLAHOMA EDUCATION AND PARENTAL CHOICE PLAN

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 21, 2023) - Governor Kevin Stitt today unveiled his proposed education reform compromise, the Oklahoma Education and Parental Choice Plan, after weeks of meetings with House and Senate leadership, Speaker Charles McCall, Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, and members of both chambers.

With the House GOP and Senate GOP locking horns over their competing school choice funding plans, their Democratic colleagues are out with a press release - short on details - touting their own plan as an alternative. 

With Democrats holding a superminority in the legislature, this won't go anywhere.

Senate and House Democrats Announce $800 Million Education Plan Amid Stalemate Over Education Funding Tied to Vouchers

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 20th) – Democratic leaders in both chambers say there is a better way to fund education and it starts with collaboration.

After a bill that would have legalized sports betting in Oklahoma failed to advance through a State Senate committee before a crucial legislative deadline, the authors of the measure are lamenting the fact that Oklahoma is "missing out" on all that juicy tax revenue that would have resulted from passage of the bill.

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Josh Brecheen will hold in-person town hall meetings on Tuesday, May 2nd and Friday, May 5th. Constituents are invited to attend and share their thoughts and ask questions on policy issues impacting Washington, D.C. and Oklahoma.

Congressman Brecheen has so far held 28 in-person town halls throughout Oklahoma’s 2nd Congressional District with more to be announced soon. 

Means-testing education?

Here’s a quick thought experiment. There are two proposals to fund K-12 education. With one, families would get up to $7,500 for a child’s education. In another, families would receive nearly $13,000 per child in educational services. Some lawmakers want an “income cap” on one of these programs, to limit which families can use it. Can you pick which one?

It’s not the $13,000 one—nobody is suggesting a limit there. The income cap would apply only to the $7,500 option.

In Bartlesville, OK, a Christian street preacher has been silenced and threatened with arrest by activist judges for daring to - on his social media acocunt - use the Bible to denounce same-sex marriage and public drag shows. The LGBTQ insanity seems to have gripped local law enforcement and judges in Bartlesville. For much more information, the Substack blog The V1SUT Vantage has covered this ordeal extensively.

The Rutherfor Institute, a nonprofit civil liberties organization, is taking up the case on behalf of the preacher, Rich Penkoski:

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (April 13, 2023) — Pushing back at attempts by the courts to silence individuals whose religious views may be perceived as intolerant or hateful, The Rutherford Institute is challenging a five-year restraining order against a street preacher who has been threatened with arrest after citing Bible verses on social media to express his moral concerns about a church that endorses same-sex marriage and raising awareness about a public drag queen performance that occurred in front of children.

(Oklahoma City) - State Election Board members met Monday, April 3 to elect a new Chairman and Vice-Chairman. Heather Mahieu Cline (Oklahoma City) was elected the Chairman of the Board and Dr. Tim Mauldin (Norman) was elected Vice-Chairman. The Board also welcomed new member Mignon Lambley (Hooker).

The biggest change comes in the second press release, posted further down this post, in which Gov. Stitt announces that he is replacing State Superintendent Ryan Walters as Secretary of Education - a cabinet-level position. Walters has drawn quite a bit of criticism for simultaneously holding both education-related positions - one elected statewide, the other appointed by the Governor - and "double-dipping" with two government salaries.

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 11, 2023) - Today, Governor Kevin Stitt issued the following statement after restructuring the Executive Cabinet by Executive Order-2023-08:

“I’m very excited about our new cabinet structure. We are always learning more and trying to improve how we run state government and I believe our cabinet structure should reflect our state’s changing needs.

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 27th) – Sen. Joe Newhouse, R-Tulsa, received unanimous approval for Senate Bill 1070 Wednesday, which allows mothers to receive a temporary disability placard to use for six months after giving birth. If signed into law, Oklahoma would become the first state to provide this assistance to new mothers.