OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma lawmakers were returning to the state Capitol on Monday as teachers in the state’s largest school districts entered a second week of massive demonstrations to demand more education funding.
Teachers, students and supporters were again expected to flood the Capitol. Leaders of Oklahoma’s largest teacher’s union have said protests will continue unless lawmakers approve a repeal of a capital gains tax exemption and the governor vetoes a repeal of a proposed lodging tax.
The $5-per-night lodging tax for hotels and motels would generate about $50 million annually. It’s faced opposition from chambers of commerce and the hospitality industry. Axing the capital gains tax deduction would generate about $120 million annually.
The Senate sent Gov. Mary Fallin two bills Friday projected to generate $40 million more annually for education by expanding tribal gambling and taxing certain internet sales. Teachers said that wasn’t enough.
Fallin already approved raising teacher pay by about $6,100.
The state’s Department of Education agreed Monday to extend by week the testing period for students taking standardized tests. The testing period began April 2, but tens of thousands of students have been out of class since then because of the teacher walkout that began the same day.
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said she hoped the extension would prevent any penalties or loss of funding from the federal government, which mandates that 95 percent of students take the tests.
State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said she hoped the extension would prevent any penalties or loss of funding from the federal government, which mandates that 95 percent of students take the tests.
I thought they hated the Federal government
Income stream that flows to schools, resulting in the state not needing to raise even more money. They may “hate gubment” - but love the $.
That said, I don’t know that I would count on DeVos for making exceptions/waivers per testing requirements because the testing was delayed due to striking teachers.
Corrupt GOP politicians, tax the oil companies, raise the amount they pay for extraction royalties, instead they are trying to make out of state people to pay for their schools. Tax on hotel rooms works for Florida, lots of people want to go there, not so much for OK.
Far be it from me to hold up Kansas as an example, but they just increased their school finance budget by $534 million, and even that is not enough. What OK offers with a token of only $40 million seems laughable.