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School voucher bills make a comeback in the Oklahoma Legislature

admin by admin
January 22, 2023
in Democratic


A heated debate over school vouchers may reignite in the Oklahoma Legislature this year after two lawmakers filed bills that would allow parents to use taxpayer dollars to pay for their child’s private or home school education.

Sens. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, and Shane Jett, R-Shawnee, filed legislation Thursday that would allow for education savings accounts, in which taxpayer funds could be used for private school tuition or other education expenses in lieu of a student attending public school.

Under Daniels’ bill, parents could create an account for their child with the State Treasurer’s Office to receive funds equal to what a public school district would receive to educate that student. The amount of money could vary depending on a student’s age and needs. Every year, 10% of the accounts would be audited.

Parents could use those funds on school tuition or fees, uniforms, tutoring, textbooks, transportation, concurrent enrollment in higher education courses, fees for advanced placement exams, college preparatory courses or other schooling expenses, according to Daniels’ Education Freedom Act.

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“It’s time to empower Oklahoma parents to be able to choose the best education for their own children, regardless of their ZIP code or financial circumstances,” she said in a news release.

Jett’s Senate Bill 943 is similar, but it stipulates students in counties with fewer than 10,000 residents could only qualify for a voucher if they attend a “trigger” school district.

He defines such districts as those that teach about climate change, promote animal rights activism, encourage the defunding of police, promote Marxist ideology, disparage the Second Amendment, own books that contain obscene material and those that have school staff or volunteers engaged in andromorphic behavior more commonly known as “furries.” Districts that teach banned concepts on race or gender and those that violate school bathroom laws or teach about gender identity in a way that promotes “gender confusion” would also be considered “trigger” districts.

Senate President Pro Tem Greg Treat, R-Oklahoma City, filed controversial voucher legislation last year, stirring fierce debate on the issue in the GOP-led Legislature. Treat did not revive his Oklahoma Empowerment Act this year after it failed in the Senate last spring.

In a statement, Treat said he’s still a firm believer in school choice.

“While I didn’t file a bill, I continue to be supportive of legislation that focuses on empowering parents and giving them more control over their children’s education,” he said.

Daniels proposes covering the costs of Senate Bill 822 by allocating an additional $275 million to the state funding formula. Daniels also wants to increase funding for some of the state’s smallest school districts, defined as those where the highest average daily membership is less than 529 students.

One of the major criticisms of universal school voucher proposals is that they could reduce funding for public schools. Educators in some rural districts, which typically have fewer students, have expressed concerns about the loss of funding that could occur should some students receive vouchers to attend private schools.







Provenzano



Tulsa World


Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said she was stunned on Wednesday when a leading Republican senator who has previously supported vouchers proposed the state put $541 million more into public education for teacher pay raises and other initiatives. Instead of taking money away from public education through vouchers, lawmakers should follow Sen. Adam Pugh’s plan and invest in public schools, Provenzano said.

“The dollar amount we have for public education is the dollar amount we have for public education,” she said. “I don’t begrudge any parent that wants to send their child to a private school. That is their choice. But you have to be willing to pay for that.”

Gov. Kevin Stitt and Superintendent Ryan Walters have advocated for school vouchers. In a news release, Walters applauded Daniels and Jett for filing bills to expand school choice.

“Every option is on the table to make our education system better,” he said. “We must innovate and advocate for change at all levels in education.” In a recent video posted on social media, Walters said he wants Oklahoma to have the most comprehensive school choice policies in the country.

Jan. 9, 2023 video featuring Cindy Byrd (state auditor) Gentner Drummond (attorney general) Todd Russ (treasurer) Leslie Osborn (labor commissioner) Ryan Walters (state superintendent) Glen Mulready (insurance commisioner) Kim David (corporation commissioner). Video courtesy/OETA


Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, said additional voucher bills could be filed in the coming weeks. Although Thursday was the deadline for lawmakers to file legislation for the session that begins Feb. 6, there are some workarounds that allow certain legislators to file or change bill language even after the session begins.

Any voucher bills filed now will likely change over the coming months as lawmakers debate and compromise on the details, said Caldwell, a school choice proponent.

“A lot of those big-ticket policy items evolve throughout the session,” he said. “I’m sure this will be no different.”

Tulsa-area state legislators and how to contact them

Sen. Nathan Dahm





Sen. Nathan Dahm

DISTRICT 33

Sen. Nathan Dahm (R)

Hometown: Broken Arrow

District area: South and east Tulsa County

Phone: 405-521-5551

Email Sen. Dahm


Sen. Jack Stewart





Sen. Jack Stewart

DISTRICT 18

Sen. Jack Stewart (R)

Hometown: Yukon

District area: Wagoner County; also includes small part of Broken Arrow and some of Tulsa

Phone: 405-521-5590

Email Sen. Stewart


Sen. Dana Prieto





Sen. Dana Prieto

DISTRICT 34

Sen. Dana Prieto (R)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Owasso and northern Tulsa County

Phone: 405-521-5566

Email Sen. Prieto


Sen. Jo Anna Dossett





Sen. Jo Anna Dossett

DISTRICT 35

Sen. Jo Anna Dossett (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: South and central Tulsa

Phone: 405-521-5624

Email Sen. Jo Anna Dossett


Sen. John Haste





Sen. John Haste

DISTRICT 36

Sen. John Haste (R)

Hometown: Broken Arrow

District area: Eastern Tulsa County, western Wagoner County

Phone: 405-521-5602

Email Sen. Haste


Sen. Todd Gollihare





Sen. Todd Gollihare

DISTRICT 12

Sen. Todd Gollihare (R)

Hometown: Kellyville

District area: Creek County

Phone: 405-521-5528

Email Sen. Gollihare


Sen. Kevin Matthews





Sen. Kevin Matthews

DISTRICT 11

Sen. Kevin Matthews (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Northern Tulsa, southeast Osage County

Phone: 405-521-5598

Email Sen. Matthews


Sen. Joe Newhouse





Sen. Joe Newhouse

DISTRICT 25

Sen. Joe Newhouse (R)

Hometown: Broken Arrow

District area: South Tulsa, Bixby, Broken Arrow and Jenks

Phone: 405-521-5675

Email Sen. Newhouse


Sen. Dave Rader





Sen. Dave Rader

DISTRICT 39

Sen. Dave Rader (R)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Central and south Tulsa

Phone: 405-521-5620

Email Sen. Rader


Sen. Cody Rogers





Sen. Cody Rogers

DISTRICT 37

Sen. Cody Rogers (R)

Hometown: Tulsa

District Area: West Tulsa County

Phone: 405-521-5600

Email Sen. Rogers


Rep. Meloyde Blancett





Rep. Meloyde Blancett

DISTRICT 78

Rep. Meloyde Blancett (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Midtown Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7334

Email Rep. Blancett


Rep. Jeff Boatman





Rep. Jeff Boatman

DISTRICT 67

Rep. Jeff Boatman (R)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Southeast Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7341

Email Rep. Boatman


Rep. Amanda Swope





Rep. Amanda Swope

DISTRICT 71

Rep. Amanda Swope (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Brookside in Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7361

Email Rep. Swope


Rep. Suzanne Schreiber





Rep. Suzanne Schreiber

DISTRICT 70

Rep. Suzanne Schreiber (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Midtown Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7359

Email Rep. Schreiber


Rep. Dean Davis





Rep. Dean Davis

DISTRICT 98

Rep. Dean Davis (R)

Hometown: Broken Arrow

District area: Elm Place in east Broken Arrow, east to 248th East Avenue

Phone: 405-557-7362

Email Rep. Davis


Rep. Mark Tedford





Rep. Mark Tedford

DISTRICT 69

Rep. Mark Tedford (R)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Jenks, Bixby and Tulsa between those cities

Phone: 405-557-7331

Email Rep. Tedford


Rep. Scott Fetgatter





Rep. Scott Fetgatter

DISTRICT 16

Rep. Scott Fetgatter (R)

Hometown: Okmulgee

District area: Okmulgee County and the southeastern tip of Tulsa County

Phone: 405-557-7373

Email Rep. Fetgatter


Rep. Ross Ford





Rep. Ross Ford

DISTRICT 76

Rep. Ross Ford (R)

Hometown: Broken Arrow

District area: West Broken Arrow

Phone: 405-557-7347

Email Rep. Ford


Rep. Regina Goodwin





Rep. Regina Goodwin

DISTRICT 73

Rep. Regina Goodwin (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Downtown and northwest Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7406

Email Rep. Goodwin


Rep. Kyle Hilbert





Rep. Kyle Hilbert

DISTRICT 29

Rep. Kyle Hilbert (R)

Hometown: Depew

District area: Westernmost Tulsa County, Creek County

Phone: 405-557-7353

Email Rep. Hilbert


Rep. Mark Lawson





Rep. Mark Lawson

DISTRICT 30

Rep. Mark Lawson (R)

Hometown: Sapulpa

District area: Sapulpa, Mounds, southwest Tulsa County

Phone: 405- 557-7414

Email Rep. Lawson


Rep. T.J. Marti





Rep. T.J. Marti

DISTRICT 75

Rep. T.J. Marti (R)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: East Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7356

Email Rep. Marti


Rep. Stan May





Rep. Stan May

DISTRICT 80

Rep. Stan May (R)

Hometown: Broken Arrow

District area: Southeast Tulsa County; small section of southwest Wagoner County

Phone: 405-557-7338

Email Rep. May


Rep. Monroe Nichols





Rep. Monroe Nichols

DISTRICT 72

Rep. Monroe Nichols (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Southeast corner of Inner Dispersal Loop to Owasso; also includes Turley and Sperry

Phone: 405-557-7391

Email Rep. Nichols


Rep. Clay Staires





Rep. Clay Staires

DISTRICT 66

Rep. Clay Staires (R)

Hometown: Skiatook

District area: Sand Springs, west Tulsa between Arkansas River and Osage County line and Riverview

Phone: 405-557-7390

Email Rep. Staires


Rep. Terry O’Donnell





Rep. Terry O'Donnell

DISTRICT 23

Rep. Terry O’Donnell (R)

Hometown: Catoosa

District area: Catoosa, east Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7379

Email Rep. O’Donnell


Rep. Melissa Provenzano





Rep. Melissa Provenzano

DISTRICT 79

Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: East and southeast Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7330

Email Rep. Provenzano


Rep. John George





Rep. John George

DISTRICT 36

Rep. John George (R)

Hometown: Newalla

District area: Southeast Osage County, northern Tulsa County

Phone: 405-557-7322

Email Rep. George


Rep. Lonnie Sims





Rep. Lonnie Sims

DISTRICT 68

Rep. Lonnie Sims (R)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: West Tulsa County from the bend of Arkansas River down to Glenpool

Phone: 405-557-7340

Email Rep. Sims


Rep. John Kane





Rep. John Kane

DISTRICT 11

Rep. John Kane (R)

Hometown: Bartlesville

District area: Bartlesville, north Tulsa County including Collinsville

Phone: 405-557-7358

Email Rep. Kane


Rep. Mark Vancuren





Rep. Mark Vancuren

DISTRICT 74

Rep. Mark Vancuren (R)

Hometown: Owasso

District area: Suburban Owasso

Phone: 405-557-7377

Email Rep. Vancuren


Rep. John Waldron





Rep. John Waldron

DISTRICT 77

Rep. John Waldron (D)

Hometown: Tulsa

District area: Northeast Tulsa

Phone: 405-557-7410

Email Rep. Waldron


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carmen.forman@tulsaworld.com

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