Hofmeister, House Dems decry education reform measures

Birds of a feather flock together?

Hofmeister comments on passage of bills on open transfer and funding formula 

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 31, 2021) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister made the following remarks after the House and Senate today both passed education bills regarding open transfer and the school funding formula. 

"Today marks one step forward and two steps back for public education. While Senate Bill 783 holds real promise for many families and students, House Bill 2078 unfortunately compromises any gains that would come with open transfers. 

"Children in rural Oklahoma deserve to have a high quality education and HB 2078 potentially jeopardizes that. This bill removes financial safeguards meant to protect all students from the impact of abrupt changes in the local economy. Kids will lose when schools are forced to make sudden cuts in essential services and opportunities which provide access to a well-rounded education."

Democrats Want Substance, Not Show for Oklahoma Students

OKLAHOMA CITY -- Members of the Oklahoma House Democrat Education Policy Team released the following statement today in response to the passage of Senate Bill 783 and today’s signing by the governor of both SB783 and House Bill 2078. 

“Today, the governor and the Legislature fixed a problem that didn’t exist. Last year 25,000 kids successfully transferred schools. This is a solution looking for a problem.

The real obstacle public schools face is the lack of legislative interest in fixing the critical issues driving families to seek other schools.

Touted as ‘parent choice,’ the open transfer bill does not actually improve choices for parents. 

Parents and guardians are still forced to choose between one underfunded school and another underfunded school. 

Additionally, both of these bills were stage-managed from behind the scenes. A coordinated effort ensured that last-minute language was dropped in the bill, and the new language was treated as a foregone conclusion evidenced by a pre-scheduled ‘victory bill signing’ this afternoon.

Oklahoma students will continue to suffer until the Legislature and this governor deliver substance instead of show.”

Education Policy Team members signing the statement:

Rep. Andy Fugate, D-Del City
Rep. Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa (primary author)
Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater
Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa