September 24, 2010
MICKEY HEPNER
The Edmond Sun
EDMOND — It is already obvious that of the eleven state questions on the November ballot, the most intense and important campaign will involve State Question 744, which would significantly increase education spending. Unfortunately, in this campaign voters are forced to choose between enacting a flawed proposal or sticking with a flawed system.
State Question 744 is the result of years of frustration felt by Oklahoma’s teachers, parents, and school administrators that Oklahoma’s elected officials are unwilling to make the same investment in educating Oklahoma’s children as other states make—leaving Oklahoma’s children behind. According to the National Center for Education statistics, in 2007-2008 Oklahoma’s common education spending was $7,683 per student, which ranked 48th nationally (49th if you include the District of Columbia). By comparison the national average was $10,297 and the average in the six surrounding states was $9,147.
State Question 744 would eliminate this funding disparity and require policymakers to fund common education equal to the “average” of the six surrounding states. For example, if SQ 744 had been in effect for the 2007-2008 year, Oklahoma’s education funding would have increased to at least $9,147 per student—a 19 percent increase—or by a total of $950 million... FULL ARTICLE
Posted on
Fri, September 24, 2010
by Crystal Drwenski