News and updates
Oklahoma Legislature to Send Landmark School Choice Legislation to Gov. Kevin Stitt
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 15, 2023
Media Contact:
Alex Weintz: aweintz@amberintegrated.com
OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, the Oklahoma Legislature and Governor Kevin Stitt announced an agreement to send a landmark school choice bill to Gov. Stitt’s desk for his signature. House Bill 1934, which is part of a larger education funding deal Stitt and the Legislature agreed upon, makes a tax credit of at least $5,000 available for every school-aged child, with the credit eligible to help offset private school tuition. The credit for private school tuition increases to $7,500 per child in households making less than $75,000 annually. Additionally, parents of homeschool students can claim a $1,000 tax credit per child for online curricula, tutoring, instructional materials, and other qualified expenses. HB 1934 goes into effect in January 2024.
Statement from Jennifer Carter, Senior Advisor, American Federation for Children-Oklahoma:
“At the end of the day, this is all about helping more students achieve their full potential by increasing choices for parents. This development is truly transformative for Oklahoma’s education landscape. Broad-based school choice produces better academic outcomes as more children have access to the environment that best suits their unique needs, whether that’s in a public school, private school, or homeschool. Our lawmakers should be proud of what they have accomplished. The work done this session increases opportunity for many, many students and will benefit them for the rest of their lives.”
Details:
HB 1934 establishes a tiered system of tax credits for parents or guardians who send their children to accredited private schools based on a household's total adjusted gross income. The credits are available on a per-student, per-yearbasis. If the tuition and fees are less than the maximum tax credit amount, the credit will be limited to the cost of tuition and fees.
The tiers for household income are as follows:
Less than $75,000 – a parent may receive up to a $7,500 credit
$75,000-$150,000 – a parent may receive up to a $7,000 credit
$150,000-$225,000 – a parent may receive up to a $6,500 credit
$225,000-$250,000 – a parent may receive up to a $6,000 credit
$250,000 or more – a parent may receive up to a $5,000 credit.
The bill also establishes a $1,000 per student income tax credit for qualified expenses related to homeschooling. Qualified expenses include:
Tuition and fees for nonpublic online learning programs
Academic tutoring services
Instructional materials
Fees for nationally standardized assessments
The bill also caps the total amount of credits that may be claimed each year:
Total tax credits for homeschooling expenses are capped at $5 million per year.
For tax year 2024, credits for private school expenses are capped at $150 million.
For tax year 2025, credits for private school expenses are capped at $200 million.
For tax year 2026 and subsequent tax years, credits for private school expenses are capped at $250 million.
American Federation for Children Launches Statewide TV Campaign Supporting School Choice Legislation in Oklahoma
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 2, 2023
Media Contact:
Alex Weintz: aweintz@amberintegrated.com
OKLAHOMA CITY – The American Federation for Children (AFC) today launched a statewide six-figure television ad campaign in Oklahoma in support of universal school choice legislation. Oklahoma lawmakers are currently considering different versions of the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act. The new ad, “Every Parent,” will appear on cable outlets like Fox News and urges lawmakers to work together to pass a version of the legislation that benefits all parents and students. The ad also urges parents to go to schoolchoiceoklahoma.com, where they can send lawmakers a message of support.
“We have an opportunity to deliver a once-in-a-generation win for Oklahoma parents and students,” said AFC-Oklahoma Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter. “The governor and legislative leadership are aligned on school choice. By working together to develop a final compromise, they can deliver a historic victory for all families this year.”
Different versions of the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act provide parents with tax credits ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 to support the cost of private school tuition. The legislation also provides homeschool families with a $1,000 credit that can be used to purchase online curricula, to cover the cost of concurrent enrollment in Oklahoma college courses, or other approved educational expenses.
“We don’t believe educational success should ever be defined by a family’s income or zip code and today, there are many children in Oklahoma who are essentially trapped in a school that’s not a good fit for them,” said Carter. “Maybe they are being bullied; maybe they have special needs; or maybe they would just do better in a different environment. Our goal is to help change the trajectory of those children’s lives by giving parents the resources they need to have meaningful options in education.”
AFC-OK Statement Following School Choice Rally at Oklahoma Capitol
March 30, 2023
Parents, faith leaders, and Governor Kevin Stitt rallied at the Capitol today to urge lawmakers to pass some form of HB 1935, the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act. After the rally, American Federation for Children – Oklahoma Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter released the following statement:
“Thanks to the leadership of Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, Speaker of the House Charles McCall, and Governor Kevin Stitt, Oklahoma is on the cusp of delivering major legislation to empower parents to choose the schools that are the best fit for their children. At this time, both the Oklahoma House and Senate have indicated their support for expanding educational options through their support for the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act. The respective versions that have advanced allow parents to claim significant tax credits to cover the cost of private school tuition, and somewhat smaller credits to help parents who choose homeschooling. The impact for parents and students should either of these bills pass will be life-changing for kids.
“In the strongest terms possible, American Federation for Children—Oklahoma urges lawmakers in both the House and the Senate to work together to pass some version of this legislation and send it to Governor Stitt for his signature. Oklahoma’s students cannot afford to wait any longer. Lawmakers must put students first and craft a policy that will ensure that every child in the state of Oklahoma has access to the school of their choice regardless of income or geography. We are heartened by the fact that they have successfully crafted these policies already and urge them to put internal divisions aside for the sake of the children who are relying on them.
“Legislators, as you’re contemplating these policies, I urge you to remember the faces of the families who have begged you to help change the trajectory of their kids’ lives and deliver a major victory for all Oklahomans.”
Oklahoma parent Blessing Omeke speaks at Thursday's rally at the Oklahoma Capitol
AFC-OK Applauds House Passage of Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act
February 22, 2023
OKLAHOMA CITY – American Federation for Children – Oklahoma (AFC-OK) Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter today released the following statement praising the Oklahoma House of Representatives for passing House Bill 1935, the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act. After its 75-25 passage in the House, the bill now moves to the Oklahoma State Senate for consideration.
"The hard work that House Speaker Charles McCall, Common Education Chairwoman Rhonda Baker and their leadership team put into this legislative effort shows they have listened and responded to the needs of parents across Oklahoma. Today’s overwhelming passage of House Bill 1935 is a major step toward allowing every child to have access to a high-quality education and puts Oklahoma on the path to become a national leader in education freedom. Because every family in Oklahoma would qualify for a $5,000 per child education tax credit, this bill will put private school within reach for children across the state, including those from working-class backgrounds, and opens the door of opportunity to all.” - Jennifer Carter, Senior Advisor for AFC-OK
AFC-OK Applauds New Legislation Introducing Universal School Choice in Oklahoma
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 19, 2023
Media Contact:
Alex Weintz: aweintz@amberintegrated.com
OKLAHOMA CITY – American Federation for Children – Oklahoma (AFC-OK) Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter today expressed support for new legislation filed by Sen. Julie Daniels and Sen. Shane Jett introducing comprehensive school choice programs for families with school-aged children.
Senate Bill 822, by Daniels, titled the Education Freedom Act, allows parents to use a portion of their child’s state education tax dollars to pay for a variety of education services, including tuition. The bill also proposes increasing spending for public education by $275 million.
Daniels also filed a companion bill, SB 825, to raise the funding weight for smaller, rural public schools.
Senate Bill 943, by Jett, also provides a dramatic increase in parent empowerment for most families.
“School choice is about ensuring that every family in Oklahoma can pick the school that is right for their child,” said Carter. “For many students, that will be their local public school or a public charter, and we want those schools to be well-funded and high performing. SB 822, SB 825 and SB 943 support that goal.
“Some families will choose private schools that cater to unique needs, or skillsets, or offer a faith-based curriculum,” continued Carter. “Those options should be available to every family regardless of income-level, and it is entirely appropriate for families to have access to their own education tax dollars to assist in covering the cost of private education.”
“The legislation filed by Senators Daniels and Jett will benefit every student in Oklahoma and strengthen the state’s educational systems in both rural and urban parts of the state,” said Carter. “There are no losers in these bills, and we encourage every lawmaker to support SB 822, SB 825, SB 943, and all comprehensive school choice measures introduced during this legislative session.”
AFC-OK Applauds AG Opinion on Religiously Affiliated Charter Schools
12/1/2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – American Federation for Children – Oklahoma (AFC-OK) Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter today released the following statement in response to an opinion issued by Attorney General John O’Connor stating that the non-sectarian and non-religious requirements of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Act violate the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution and should not be enforced:
"We applaud Attorney General John O’Connor’s opinion that underscores the right of families to access the best educational options for their kids. Today's AG opinion is entirely in keeping with the spirit of what charter schools are meant to be: free public schools that offer tailored experiences to students in addition to those available in traditional public schools.” - Jennifer Carter, Senior Advisor for AFC-OK
AFC-OK Congratulates Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent-Elect Ryan Walters on Campaign Victories
11/8/2022
OKLAHOMA CITY— The American Federation for Children, the nation’s voice for educational choice, congratulates Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and Secretary of Education Ryan Walters on their election victories. American Federation for Children-Oklahoma Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter released the following statement tonight on Gov. Stitt’s re-election and Sec. Walters’ successful campaign for State Superintendent of Public Instruction:
“Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent-elect Ryan Walters are steadfast champions of students and parents, and Oklahoma voters rewarded them tonight for that commitment. On the other hand, teachers’ unions and the education establishment did everything in their power this cycle to sling mud at school choice champions and prop up defenders of the status quo – and they still lost. They spent millions trying to redefine school choice. They spread lies and mistruths, but the public has seen through it and embraced those who advocate for parents and students instead of institutions and bureaucrats.”
“We look forward to Gov. Stitt and Superintendent-elect Walters building on the momentum they earned tonight and fighting to make sure the voices of parents are heard in the 2023 legislative session. It is past time for our Republican policymakers to unite and deliver a victory for Oklahoma families by providing true educational freedom in Oklahoma public education.”
About AFC-Oklahoma
The American Federation for Children-Oklahoma seeks to empower families, especially lower-income families, with the freedom to choose the best K-12 education for their children. We are a project of the American Federation for Children (AFC). For more information, visit https://www.afcoklahoma.org/.
Oklahoma’s Education “Report Card” Shows Devastating Student Learning Loss
State’s Decline in Reading and Math Scores are Twice as Bad as National Average
10/24/22
OKLAHOMA CITY – American Federation for Children – Oklahoma (AFC-OK) today called on state leaders in education to pursue systemic change to address plummeting student achievement.
A report released today by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows alarming declines in student performance in both math and reading in Oklahoma. While attributable in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, student performance in Oklahoma has declined throughout Superintendent Joy Hofmeister’s tenure, which began in 2015.
NAEP results, published as part of “The Nation’s Report Card,” show an eight-point decline since 2019 in fourth grade reading and a seven-point decline in eighth grade reading in Oklahoma. The national average was a three-point decline in both grades. Only two states had worse declines in 4th grade reading (Delaware and Virginia). Only one state showed a worse decline in 8th grade reading (Maine).
In 2015, 33 percent of Oklahoma’s fourth grade students scored proficient in reading. That percentage declined to 29 percent in 2019 and further declined to 24 percent in 2022. Eighth graders experienced a similar decline in reading levels, with 29 percent proficient in 2015, 26 percent proficient in 2019, and just 21 percent proficient in 2022.
In math, Oklahoma’s fourth grade scores dropped eight points, compared to a five-point drop across the nation. Oklahoma eighth graders dropped 13 points, compared to an eight-point national decline. That 13-point drop for Oklahoma 8th graders was the largest decrease in performance in the nation.
Like reading, proficiency in math has declined substantially during Supt. Hofmeister’s tenure. Thirty-seven percent of Oklahoma 4th graders were proficient in reading in 2015, compared with 35 percent in 2019 and 27 percent in 2022. In 8thgrade, 23 percent of Oklahoma students were proficient in 2015, 26 percent in 2019, and just 16 percent in 2022.
“The release of Oklahoma’s NAEP scores should be a wakeup call to parents and to the education establishment,” said AFC-OK Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter. “We should be in crisis mode. There is a generation of students that has suffered severe learning loss. That is a national phenomenon, but it has hit Oklahoma students harder than the rest of the country.”
Carter said that, while the national, across-the-board decline in student performance can be attributed in-part to COVID, Oklahoma’s particularly poor performance is evidence of deeper, systemic problems in the way the state approaches education.
“School closures and the switch to online learning in many districts have no doubt contributed to learning loss, absenteeism, and lower academic performance,” said Carter. “But Oklahoma fared worse than other states, like California, that had far more stringent COVID restrictions and more prolonged closures. In fact, learning loss in Oklahoma is about twice as bad as the national average.”
Carter also rejected the claim that Oklahoma’s poor student performance can be blamed on funding.
“The decline in student performance follows record funding increases for public schools as well as subsequent boosts for teacher pay raises and other educational costs,” said Carter. “Our poor educational outcomes cannot be blamed on lack of funding.”
Carter said leaders in public education must accept that the status quo is failing our students and work with lawmakers to pursue meaningful systemic change.
“Our current system has led to stagnation,” said Carter. “It rewards mediocrity and complacency while rejecting any change or competition. State leaders, including Governor Kevin Stitt and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, have dared to challenge that system by working to give parents more choices when it comes to educating their kids. At every turn, they are met in opposition by teachers unions and defenders of the establishment, who oppose any threat to the status quo. Chief among those obstructionists is State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, who has catered to every union whim while doing nothing to address declining student performance. Her administration and her devotion to the status quo is quite literally delivering some of the worst education outcomes in the nation.”
“If we are going to reverse these disturbing trends, we need to give parents the ability to choose the schools that best fit their children, to leave schools that are not good fits, and to give them resources to support these choices,” said Carter. “If we do not, our children will find themselves, for the first time ever, less capable of basic reading, writing and arithmetic than the generation before them.”
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SB 1647 Defeated in Senate, But Fight for School Choice Continues
3/24/22
“Yesterday, the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, SB 1647, was narrowly defeated in the State Senate. SB 1647 would have given students more options if, for whatever reason, they are not thriving in their local public schools. It’s defeat is a blow to these students and their families, who will now remain stuck.
“Our thanks go out to those lawmakers who voted ‘yes’ on SB 1647, as well as Governor Kevin Stitt and Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, who fought courageously on behalf of Oklahoma families. Sadly, their messages of parental empowerment and education freedom were overwhelmed by a chorus of misinformation coming from teachers’ unions and other self-interested groups.
“The struggle to expand school choice in Oklahoma, and everywhere, will continue for the remainder of this legislative session and in every legislative session thereafter. Lawmakers looking to empower families with more choices and more freedom have many ways to do so. We hope they will make good on the promises they have made to parents to represent their interests – not those of unions and special interests – at the State Capitol.”
National Conservative Leaders Speak Out in Support of the Oklahoma Empowerment Act
3/9/2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – National leaders in the conservative and school choice movements are speaking out in support of Oklahoma’s push to create Empowerment Accounts that would put parents in control of a portion of their children’s education tax dollars. Senate Bill 1647, the Oklahoma Empowerment Act, would give each parent at least $3500 to cover private school tuition or to cover other approved education expenses. As Governor Kevin Stitt told an audience at CPAC, passage of SB 1647 would make Oklahoma a nationwide leader in school choice and parental empowerment.
Former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum said the bill represents a push for education freedom and choice.
“Oklahomans have a great opportunity to take power away from largely unaccountable education bureaucrats and give it to families by passing SB 1647,” said Santorum. “By putting parents in charge of their children’s education funds, SB 1647 will allow true education freedom to flourish in Oklahoma and families to obtain the best schooling possible for their children, including instruction that aligns with their religious values. If this bill has a flaw, it is that homeschool families are currently not included—but lawmakers can easily fix that oversight through amendments, and I encourage them to do so.”
Also lending his support to SB 1647 is David Barton, founder of WallBuilders, an organization dedicated to “presenting America’s history … with an emphasis on the moral, religious, and constitutional foundation on which America was built.”
“SB 1647 by Oklahoma Senate Pro-Tempore Greg Treat falls in line with the beliefs of our nation’s Founders and their fundamental belief that individual families know best when it comes to educating their children," said Barton. "It’s your money, so you should be able to use it to educate your children how you see fit free of any government mandates on curriculum. Senator Treat’s SB1647 will help Oklahoma return to founding principles that are the very bedrock our great country.”
Patriot Academy Founder Rick Green said SB 1647 would help to ensure that families, not bureaucrats or anti-American ideologues, are steering their kids’ educations. Patriot Academy is a leadership training program specializing in applied civics with a Biblical, historical, & Constitutional Foundation.
“Across the nation, families have been alarmed as many local schools teach children that the United States is an inherently corrupt and racist nation, but those families often face fierce resistance from administrators when they object,” said Green. “SB 1647 will empower parents over education bureaucrats and put families at the center of education policy in those disputes. By allowing money to follow a child to any education provider, including private schools, SB 1647 puts parents in control of the steering wheel and ensures a school system that responds to families’ needs, not the whim of anti-American ideologues.”
Also weighing in is Mark Meckler, president and co-founder of Convention of the States, the organization that was the primary focus of former U.S. Sen. Tom Coburn prior to his death.
“Our nation’s future cannot be assured without an educated citizenry," said Meckler. "That goal is best achieved by putting parents in charge of education so that those who know a child best are the ones who decide how that child is educated. SB 1647 furthers that goal and deserves support. Tomorrow’s leaders are in today’s classrooms. Shouldn’t we want to provide them the best schooling possible?”
Viewpoint: Oklahoma tax dollars should fund school choice for students, not lobbyists
By Jennifer Carter | February 25, 2022
“In Oklahoma, we fund students, not systems.” So said Gov. Kevin Stitt in his State of the State address earlier this month, in which he laid out a bold vision for increasing educational choices.
At the center of that plan is the Oklahoma Empowerment Act (SB 1647), a proposal to allow families to claim a portion of their education tax dollars to assist in paying private school tuition or other approved education expenses. If SB 1647 is passed, every parent of a school-age student will have access to an Empowerment Account containing at least $3,500 to support the educational experience they feel is best for their child.
SB 1647 is based on the reality that parents — not bureaucrats — should be empowered to make education decisions for their children and that parents are the primary owners of the tax dollars they put into the system. If this seems like a slam dunk proposal, it is.
Still unclear is whether some Republicans in Oklahoma will have the necessary fortitude to take on the teachers’ unions and school administrators that oppose the bill.
The public education bureaucracy currently employs 21 registered lobbyists representing the teachers’ union, school administrators and school districts. Combined, there are more public education lobbyists than members of either the Senate or House committees dealing with public education. That’s a lot of voices representing the system, and very few speaking for students.
During the course of my work at American Federation for Children – Oklahoma, I have had the honor of meeting with students and parents. Some are thriving in their local public schools; some are not. All would benefit from at least having the ability to choose a school that works best for them.
Patrick, for instance, is a young man who has been diagnosed with autism. He moved here recently from a state with robust school choice options, but because he wasn’t enrolled in an Oklahoma public school last year, his mom doesn’t get to pick the best school to serve him.
Lorenzo lives in a suburban school district and has tested into the gifted and talented program. Are his needs being met? His mother says, emphatically, no. She says he needs to be challenged more.
Then there are the parents whose lack of options leave them feeling helpless. Christina, a single mother of four, lives on a very limited income and scrapes by to ensure that her two children with special needs get the education they deserve. At any moment, she and many parents like her are one paycheck away from having to yank their kids from private school and send them to a local public school that is unequipped to help them.
Most disturbingly is the story of Bob, whose child was sexually assaulted by a school employee. He doesn’t have the means to make another choice for the safety of his child. If SB 1647 passed, he could send his child to a safer environment.
It is these families, not education bureaucrats, that our education tax-dollars are meant to serve. The Legislature now has a choice. It can pass the Oklahoma Empowerment Act and choose to fund students. Or fund the system and perpetuate a flawed status quo.
Statement: AFC-Oklahoma Thanks State Senators for Advancing the Oklahoma Empowerment Act
2/15/2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – American Federation for Children – Oklahoma (AFC-Oklahoma) Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter today released the following statement after the Senate Education Committee advanced Senate Bill 1647, the Oklahoma Empowerment Act. SB 1647 allows parents to use a portion of their state education tax dollars for private school tuition or approved education expenses.
“Oklahoma Empowerment Accounts will put parents back in charge of their children’s education, making it clear that in Oklahoma we fund students, not systems. The senators who voted ‘yes’ today should be applauded for siding with parents and empowering them to choose the best school for each child.
“The opponents of SB 1647, and of school choice in general, are regurgitating misleading talking points from both national teachers’ unions and the Biden Administration designed to scare voters. It won’t work in Oklahoma, where voters have made it very clear that they want more choices, more freedom and less bureaucracy.” - Jennifer Carter, senior advisor, AFC-Oklahoma
American Federation for Children - Oklahoma Praises Governor Kevin Stitt for Emphasizing School Choice in State of the State Address
2/2/2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – American Federation for Children – Oklahoma (AFC-Oklahoma) today praised Governor Kevin Stitt for making education, and specifically school choice, a focal point of his annual State of the State Address. In the speech, Gov. Stitt pledged “to support any legislation that gives parents more school choice” and endorsed Senate Bill 1647, the Oklahoma Empowerment Act. SB 1647 allows parents to use a portion of their state education tax dollars to offset expenses for private school tuition or approved homeschooling costs.
“All parents should be allowed to select the school and educational experience that best serves their child,” said AFC-Oklahoma Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter. “Our current system leaves too many working families stuck in failing schools, perpetuating a cycle of poverty and inequality. SB 1647 will help break that cycle by giving parents the means to pursue other options if their local school is not a good fit for their children.”
Carter also said the governor made it clear that parent voices should be respected and honored when the state fashions education policies.
“Our thanks go out to Governor Stitt for making it clear that parents – not unions or bureaucrats – are the people we need to be listening to when it comes to educating our kids. The Legislature should follow the governor’s lead and ensure they are prioritizing parents and students over systems and institutions.”
Statement: AFC-Oklahoma Issues Statement in Support of Oklahoma Empowerment Accounts:
1/21/2022
OKLAHOMA CITY – American Federation for Children-Oklahoma Senior Advisor Jennifer Carter today released the following statement in support of the Oklahoma Empowerment Act (SB 1647), filed today by Senate Pro Tempore Greg Treat. The bill gives every parent a portion of their education tax dollars, in the form of “Empowerment Accounts,” to support K-12 education needs.
“The COVID-era has made it obvious that our system of public education is not responsive to parental needs or input, even on matters as important as school closures, virtual learning, and curricula. All across the country, parents are fighting back and demanding more control over how their kids are being taught, who is teaching them, and what they are learning.
“The creation of Oklahoma Empowerment Accounts will ensure that all parents have real options for their children when it comes to education. That, in turn, will force schools to listen to parents and to ensure they are meeting the needs of the families they are supposed to serve, rather than simply ignoring them at the behest of unions and special interests. Our thanks go out to Pro Tem Treat for his support of parental rights and education freedom. We are excited to help make his bold vision a new reality for Oklahoma parents and families.” – Jennifer Carter, senior advisor, AFC-Oklahoma
Fox News:
Lawmakers/voters take Education Freedom Pledge:
OSDE:
Oklahoma Department of Education Touts Critical Race Theory:
NewsOn6:
Jenks Public School Suspends Mask Mandates
