Lorrie Bamford, Deer Creek School Board Member
As a sitting School Board Member for the Deer Creek Public School District, we had a patron recently yell at us from the podium during the public speaking portion of the business meeting, “Who in the hell do you think you are?” I am certain her question was rhetorical; nonetheless, I have often thought about my answer since that meeting.
Erin Gillogly Brewer — Deer Creek PLAC, OKPLAC Communications Chair
Like many of you, I have watched the progression of this session's bills attempting to increase the cap on tax credits offered to donors to Oklahoma's Equal Opportunity Scholarship Fund.
Wouldn't it be great if ALL schools got enough funding from the State to provide technology, STEM labs, Art and Music programs, new textbooks, smaller class sizes and all the things they needed to be their best for their students? Rather than give $30 million away, let's just put that into the common education funding formula.
Lisa Kramer — Bixby PLAC Co-Chair, OKPLAC Chair
Rather than reducing the State’s limited revenue by increasing generous tax credits with Senate Bill 407, Oklahoma must conserve its tax base and invest all available revenue in critical core services including public education. To reduce class sizes and improve teacher recruitment and retention, public schools need recurring public funding not grants dependent on donors.
Erin Gillogly Brewer — Public school parent, OKPLAC Communications Co-Chair
Private School Tuition Tax Credits are making the rounds again this legislative session. Senate Bill 407 (SB407), carried over from 2019, boils down to a simple choice: divert $30 million to corporations and individuals who contribute to school grants and private school tuition? Or collect taxes owed for equitable appropriation to public schools, mental health, law enforcement, the disabled, transportation and other state services?
OKPLAC Executive Board
Advocacy is exhausting! If it seems like we are constantly in an education reform vortex, it’s because we are. Thinking back on the past decade, TLE, ACE, EOI, PASS, CCSS, RSA, SPED have all been implemented, changed, or eliminated during our legislative sessions. This means every year something has changed for our districts and students. For a parent, just deciphering education acronyms can be a challenge much less keeping up with all the legislative changes which have occurred over the last ten years.
OKPLAC Executive Board
Parent and grassroots education advocate leaders have had a significant impact on changing the dialog regarding public education in Oklahoma during the past decade. We are thrilled about the recent formation of Oklahoma Parent Legislative Action Committee (OKPLAC) - a statewide coalition of education advocacy groups.
