Education
Oklahoma’s private school tax credits to launch Friday with influx of applicants expected
OKLAHOMA CITY — About 130 private schools across Oklahoma have registered for a new tax credit program launching this week that offers $5,000-$7,500 to students’ families. The Oklahoma Tax Commission will start accepting applications for the tax credits at 8:30 a.m. Friday at parentalchoice.ok.gov. Families can apply for their entire household but must submit a […]
Oklahoma fundraising campaign hopes to wipe out over $76,000 in school lunch debt
OKLAHOMA CITY — A fundraiser aims to relieve more than $76,000 in lunch debt for Oklahoma students, as struggles with outstanding meal fees continue in schools. That total would cover overdue cafeteria bills from seven school districts across the state. The largest of them, Stillwater Public Schools, reported $37,003 in student lunch debt from the […]
Public Montessori school approved to open in OKC, three other charters rejected
OKLAHOMA CITY — A public Montessori elementary school has been approved to open in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma Montessori Initiative would be the only public school in the city using the renowned Montessori method of student-driven, hands-on learning. It was the only charter school to gain approval out of four that have applied recently with Oklahoma […]
Nebraska’s $450 million Memorial Stadium project faces fundraising questions
LINCOLN — If Nebraska football is a state religion, recent efforts to raise private funds for a new NU football facility and to pay players are its offering plate. The people in the pews remain generous. Donors largely funded a still-under-construction $165 million indoor facility east of the stadium. History says they will continue to […]
Oklahoma schools turning to the new, old way of teaching students to read
In a classroom full of future teachers at Oklahoma State University, Robin Fuxa instructs her students to count sounds in words like “map” and “can,” by placing pennies on a corresponding chart. “Let’s look at ‘stop’,” Fuxa prompts. “Ss-tuh-ah-puh,” her students respond in unison. “Four,” they count and move four pennies into the sound boxes […]
Oklahoma board wants proposed textbooks altered after Moms for Liberty complained
OKLAHOMA CITY — A state board requested a major publisher remove portions of its math textbooks for students in pre-K through fifth grade after a local conservative group complained. Despite the textbooks receiving the top rating from a review team made up of dozens of teachers, the chairwoman of the Oklahoma State Textbook Committee on […]
Tulsa interim superintendent says district turnaround is a ‘beautiful challenge’
OKLAHOMA CITY — To Ebony Johnson, F stands for focused. It designates a school that needs time, money and talent from Tulsa Public Schools’ leaders. Recent state report cards show 22 Tulsa schools need that level of focus from the district after being graded an F for their performance last school year. Johnson has handled […]
Oklahoma public schools show continued academic struggle in state report cards
OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s public school system showed consistent levels of academic results but weakening growth in the 2022-23 school year compared to the year before. The Oklahoma State Report Card, released Wednesday, grades the success of every school in the state, as well as the overall performance of the public education system. Only 27% […]
Oklahoma charter schools rank in national top 10 for academic performance
OKLAHOMA CITY — A decade of testing data ranks Oklahoma near the top in the country for charter school performance. Oklahoma ranked No. 6 among 36 states for the academic success of its charter schools, according to test score data from 2009 to 2019, which Harvard University compiled in a report and released on Tuesday. […]
Proposed charter schools hope to add educational options in historically Black OKC community
OKLAHOMA CITY — With efforts underway to boost businesses and housing in Oklahoma’s City’s northeast side, LaTasha Timberlake saw a need to strengthen another core piece of the historically Black area — its schools. That’s why the longtime educator and nonprofit director is part of a group trying to found a charter middle school in […]
Ryan Walters’ administration tasked with offering Civil Rights Movement curriculum
OKLAHOMA CITY — A new law that took effect last week mandates that state education officials develop a curriculum on the Civil Rights Movement, a requirement that has raised doubts among Black leaders in Oklahoma. House Bill 1397 instructs the Oklahoma State Department of Education to develop and make available an optional curriculum on Martin […]
Four new charter schools applying to open in OKC
OKLAHOMA CITY — Four potential charter schools have applied to open in Oklahoma City, with three seeking to expand educational options in majority-Black neighborhoods. It marks the first time in four years that Oklahoma City Public Schools has received any charter applications. The district’s school board reviewed the applications for the first time on Monday. […]