Oklahoma's House Republicans revealed their educational plan for the state, aiming to improve teachers' salaries and increase funding for public schools.
The House Republicans introduced House Bill 2775, authored by House Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, which includes a $500 million increase in funding for public schools throughout the state.
If this House bill gets approved, educators, schools, students, and families will all benefit from the policies.
Educational plan of Oklahoma's House Republicans
The Oklahoma City Sentinel reported that the proposed increase in funding for public schools in Oklahoma amounts to $500 million.
This additional funding will be used in three areas: giving every teacher who is not an administrator a $2,500 pay raise, distributing $50 million to schools with below-average funding from annual local tax revenue, and allocating $300 million to public school districts on a per-pupil basis.
Apart from the increase in funding, there is also House Bill 1935, which is the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act.
This bill will allow for a $5,000 annual tax credit for parents or eligible students that attend private schools and a $2,500 credit for homeschooled students.
According to McCall, providing an excellent education is the key to future success. House Republicans are dedicated to ensuring that every student can attend the school that meets their needs.
This educational plan aims to benefit students and support parental involvement in their child's education. McCall emphasized that this policy and funding plan are designed to set every kid up for success.
If approved, the education plan is expected to have a significant impact, as it will raise Oklahoma's per-pupil expenditure to be at par with Florida and just behind Texas.
The additional funding will also place Oklahoma ahead of Arkansas and Missouri and at par with Kansas for average teacher pay.
According to the State of Oklahoma, the funds appropriated per pupil through the school funding formula are subject to the specific use, which includes increasing teacher and support staff salaries, acquiring STEM-related programs, textbooks, instructional materials, technology for classrooms, and instruments or accessories for music or art courses.
The funds can also be utilized for increasing classroom capacity and additional institutional space, fees for nationally standardized assessments, summer and specialized after-school education programs, and student support services like health and mental health.
Oklahoma's previous educational plan
The previous educational budget of Oklahoma has been on the low end compared to other states in the region.
According to the Oklahoma Education Association and the National Education Association's latest report on the Ranking of the States, Oklahoma's average teacher pay is ranked 34th nationally, and the state's per-pupil expenditure is among the lowest six in the country.
Additionally, the state's school support staff earnings are ranked 50th nationally. Although the state's average teacher salary increased slightly by $666 from the previous year, it still falls behind the regional and national averages.
However, the state's per-pupil expenditures have slightly improved, reaching 45th nationally in 2020-21. Despite the slight increase in the state's per-pupil spending and average teacher pay, it still lags behind regional and national averages.
However, if the proposed $500 million educational plan by the House Republicans in Oklahoma is approved, it would be a significant increase that will be felt by students, teachers, and schools throughout the state.
The plan includes funding for teacher pay raises and additional funding for schools, which could improve Oklahoma's quality of education.
