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Education: Facts 'U' Should Know
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Originally posted October 23, 2012
Oklahoma public school enrollment has increased by 22,000 students since 2009 while state funding has been cut by 20.3 percent since 2008. As schools grapple with education concerns and funding, patrons and lawmakers are taking a closer look at education, especially with the looming election on Tuesday, November 6.
Please review some important facts below and click on the link above to view some statistical charts related to education. .... Also, click here to see a sample ballot and view infornation concerning two state questions on the ballot that could affect education funding.
Facts
Oklahoma public school enrollment has increased by 22,000 students since 2009.
-OK State Department of Education
State funding for common education has decreased $198M since 2009.
-OK Legislative Research Department
Fiscal year 2013 Activity/Program Budget underfunded by $36.8M.
-OK State Department of Education
Oklahoma ranks 49th in per pupil spending and 48th in teacher pay.
-National Education Association
Arkansas spends 49% more per pupil than Oklahoma.
-National Education Association
From 2009-2011, more than 4,000 jobs were lost from Oklahoma’s elementary and secondary schools.
-Bureau of Labor Statistics
Common education makes up 34.1% of the fiscal year 2013 total state appropriations, the lowest percentage of appropriations in over 12 years.
-OK Policy Institute
Since 2008, Oklahoma has reduced its spending per student by 20.3%.
-Center on Budget and Policy Priorities
Ratings of public schools was the number one most important quality of life issue for relocating an existing company to, or creating a new company in, a new state.
-Area Development Magazine
There will be no funding in fiscal year 2013 for: Adult Education ($2.3M in FY 2011), Literacy First ($3.0M in FY 2011), School District Professional Development ($2.3M in FY 2011).
-OK Department of Education
There will be funding shortfalls in fiscal year 2013 for: Increased cost of health insurance ($6.9M), ACE Remediation ($15.1M), Reading Sufficiency ($6.3M), Value Added TLE ($1.5M).
-OK Department of Education
Did You Know?
88% of Oklahomans are concerned about budget cuts to public schools.
-Sooner Poll
The fiscal year 2013 budget includes the annualization of a $52.4M supplemental for flexible benefit allowance for teachers and support staff and National Board Certified Teacher bonuses. This is additional dollars going into the Common Education budget, but not additional dollars going into the classroom.
The A-F letter grade of a school is only meaningful to parents and taxpayers if they understand and have confidence in the method used to calculate the grade.
SQ 766 and SQ 758 will have a negative impact on school’s local revenue source.
-OK Policy Institute
Fiscal year 2013 Budget overall appropriations increased by $253M (3.8%), and there was additional funding for human services, health care, transportation, and public safety.
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