The Oklahoma Legislature has reached an agreement on this year’s budget, with a strong focus on education.
The new budget adds $25 million to the state’s school funding. This money will allow school districts to add an extra day to their instruction calendar.
Veteran teachers in Oklahoma will also see a pay increase. Currently, the state’s step-up pay raises for teachers stop after 25 years of service. Starting next year, this pay increase will extend up to 40 years of service.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert (R-Bristol) spoke at a news conference on Sunday. He said, “We’ve said time and again that public education needs investment in recruiting and keeping great teachers. This pay raise encourages teachers to stay in the classroom. It also encourages those who left to return because they will receive a significant raise.”
The budget deal also includes progress on House Bill 1727. This bill would allow children of teachers who have worked at least 10 years in Oklahoma public schools to qualify for the Oklahoma Higher Education Access Program, also known as the Oklahoma Promise. The program offers tuition scholarships for colleges, universities, or technical centers in Oklahoma. The bill is still under review.
To qualify, teachers must be certified classroom teachers for grades 8 through 11 when the student applies. The 10 years of teaching do not have to be consecutive. The program does not apply to certified teachers who work as school administrators.
Financial eligibility depends on the family’s size and income, unless the child is considered independent for financial aid:
- For families with two or fewer children, the federal adjusted gross income must be below $175,000.
- For families with three or four children, the income limit is $185,000.
- For families with five or more children, the limit is $195,000.
The budget also sets aside $5 million for targeted tutoring programs. Teachers participating in this “high-dose tutoring” will receive extra pay. Additionally, $4 million is allocated to help cover costs related to teacher maternity leave.
On the other hand, CareerTech requested more funding but will face cuts. The Legislature approved an 8.8% reduction in CareerTech’s budget. This includes a $27.6 million cut in workforce development funding and $950,000 for new programs, such as an inmate transition program. However, CareerTech will receive an increase of $9.3 million to expand its enrollment capacity.
Overall, the budget signals a commitment to improving education in Oklahoma while balancing funding across various state programs.
