OKPLAC
Parents can be the partners and advocates that public school educators need. We celebrate Teacher Appreciation Week with a review of our recent #oklaed Twitter chat.
OKPLAC
When parents are engaged in the election process, do their candidate research, and show up to vote, we can have the public schools we want for our children and our communities. Between now and election day, keep these tips in mind on how to identify a strong school board candidate.
OKPLAC
Regardless of what lawmakers call the program, any plan that diverts public education funds into individuals' hands for private or personal education usage is a school voucher.
OKPLAC & Betty Collins — Union Public Schools Teacher
As grassroots parent advocates, OKPLAC deeply values our public school teachers and all they bring to our kids every day.
We are also very worried about them and the teaching profession.
There is too much toxic rhetoric out there directed at our teachers, too much legislative interference with teaching, and too little pay and support for the important work they do.
Keri Knutson — Public school parent, former educator
I’m still processing Monday’s Public Schools Week Capitol Day, especially after somehow agreeing to a TV interview. Eek. I’m a public school parent of three and a former teacher, so celebrating Public Schools Week is especially important to me.
Meredith Exline — Former OK Central PLAC leader, former Edmond Public Schools board member
As a parent, what do you think most jeopardizes the future of our children’s education? Watch this short video created in 2016 by OK Central PLAC, before they grew into the united, statewide effort now known as OKPLAC.
OKPLAC Executive Board
Oklahoma’s next election day is February 8, 2022, and our schools are on the ballot across the state. 30 public school districts have school board primary elections, and 36 public school districts have ballot proposition elections.
It’s more important than ever to make sure you have a voting plan.
A Sneak Peek of the ‘22 Legislative Session, Part 2
Sherri Brown — OKPLAC Legislative Chair
You know the story. A tiny little mouse wears out an energetic boy by making more and more demands. First, he just wants a cookie. And when you give him that cookie, you’d better be prepared to give him more and more.
And so it goes with the story of privatization of our public schools in Oklahoma. If you give a privatizer a cookie, you can bet they will want more.
A Sneak Peek of the ‘22 Legislative Session, Part 1
Sherri Brown — OKPLAC Legislative Chair
Our public schools have been devastated by three school years of trauma caused by this global pandemic that continues today as we start the 2022 Legislative Session. As OKPLAC reviews 2022 bill proposals, we look for the helper legislators who are seeking ways to support our teachers and public schools and to support our children in overcoming the trauma and interruptions to learning they have experienced.
OKPLAC Executive Board
On Tuesday Jan. 11, 2022, Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters tweeted complaints about schools closing their doors due to the rapid spread of the latest COVID-19 Omicron variant. The secretary’s comments were arrogant, rude, unhelpful and detached from reality.
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
As taxpayers and parents, OKPLAC opposes all tax credit programs, new or expansions of existing tax credits, that are not focused on economic development, subject to review by the Oklahoma Incentive Evaluation Commission.
JJ Burnam — Tulsa PLAC
Oklahoma House Bill 2621 and Senate Bill 407 both aim to throw more public money to private schools, an interception that deprives Oklahoma public schools of the additional funding they so desperately need.
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.