By News Director Jared Atha
A bill that seeks to correct funding disparities for brick-and-mortar public schools in low property value areas while addressing charter school funding passed the House on Wednesday.
Senate Bill 229, co-authored by Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, creates the Redbud School Funding Act, which proposes using medical marijuana taxes and the Common School Building Equalization Fund to provide annual per-student funding grants to eligible school districts and charter schools.
The bill came after the State Board of Education’s recent settlement with the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association would have granted charter schools access to local property tax dollars that at present, only traditional public schools have the ability to access. If unchanged, the decision would shift tens of millions of local property tax dollars away from traditional public schools and into public charter schools. The decision was made in part because charter schools receive $3
Charter schools slapped with new $10.5 million penalty by state Education Department
OKLAHOMA CITY, Oklahoma (Tulsa World) Epic Charter Schools has been hit with another big financial penalty by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
For the second year in a row, education officials say Epic’s own spending reports to the state reflect administrative costs well above statutory limits for all public schools and the school remains out of compliance with mandatory school cost accounting.
The state’s largest school system was notified in a Wednesday letter that it is being assessed penalties totaling at least $10.5 million over the remainder of the fiscal year ending June 30 for both its schools, Epic One-on-One and Epic Blended Learning Centers.
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Accompanied by lawmakers, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed legislation Wednesday afternoon on an open public school transfer policy and a change to the statewide funding formula.
Credit Governor s office
Gov. Kevin Stitt wasted no time in signing bills to implement major education policy reforms he asked for in February during his state of the state address.
The Senate passed HB2078 on a 27–19 vote. It changes the statewide funding formula so it’s based on a district’s attendance the prior year, not the higher of the past two years as is in law currently.
Opponents said the change could trigger devastating cuts if a district sees a sudden drop in enrollment, like some did during the pandemic. Sen. Jo Anna Dossett (D-Tulsa) told HB2078 s sponsor, Sen. Zack Taylor (R-Seminole), she’s heard from many constituents who are already anticipating less state funding because of the measure.
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Supt Hofmeister Unsure Whether She ll Sign Settlement After Board Vote To Incorporate Charter Schools Into State Funding khits.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from khits.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.