Senate and House Dems tout own $800M education plan among GOP stalemate

With the House GOP and Senate GOP locking horns over their competing school choice funding plans, their Democratic colleagues are out with a press release - short on details - touting their own plan as an alternative. 

With Democrats holding a superminority in the legislature, this won't go anywhere.

Senate and House Democrats Announce $800 Million Education Plan Amid Stalemate Over Education Funding Tied to Vouchers

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 20th) – Democratic leaders in both chambers say there is a better way to fund education and it starts with collaboration.

“Our Senators and Representatives can come together to create a plan that meets families where their children are—in public schools,” House Minority Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City said.

“Ninety-five percent of parents in Oklahoma choose public schools, so that’s where we want to invest,” Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd said.

The Oklahoma Kids First Plan calls for $800 million to spend on public school students including:

• Smaller class sizes: Research shows that kids in smaller class sizes perform better on all assessments.
• Clean Teacher Pay Raises: Oklahoma teachers are leaving the classroom because of low pay and few resources. A significant pay raise—up to $12,000—would be a game changer for our teachers and they would choose to stay. Research shows that a highly qualified teacher is the most important factor for student success in the classroom.
• Wrap-around Supports: We know that things outside the classroom impact student learning. Our plan calls for more mental health counselors to be integrated into classrooms across Oklahoma and for increased school safety.

“We have the funding to really improve public education in Oklahoma. We want to put Oklahoma’s kids first, not adult egos or pet projects for the wealthy elite,” said Assistant House Minority Leader Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa.