A new study shows Oklahoma's per-student education funding from the Legislature is more than 23 percent below where it was in 2008, more than any other state.
The Washington, D.C.-based Center on Budget and Policy Priorities released figures on Thursday that show Oklahoma is among at least 30 states providing less per-pupil funding for grades K-12 now than before the start of the recession.
The study shows Oklahoma is spending about $857 less per student than it did in 2008.
But a spokesman for Oklahoma Gov. Mary Fallin notes the study does not take into account increases in non-legislative sources of funding for education such as property taxes.
The report also highlighted Oklahoma, Arizona, Idaho, Kansas, North Carolina and Wisconsin as states that worsened their education funding problems by cutting personal or corporate income taxes.
Linda Hampton, president of the Oklahoma Education Association teachers union, said the report’s findings are not surprising.
“It is long past time for Oklahomans to hold politicians and policy-makers accountable for adequately funding public education for the state’s children, both at the ballot box on November 4 and beyond,” Hampton said.
While the Legislature increased education funding this year, the report found per-pupil funding is still down 0.8 percent compared with last school year.
Superintendent Janet Barresi said part of the problem is that funding increases have not kept up with the state’s needs.
“While we are slowly regaining the funding levels of previous years, we also are experiencing growth in student enrollment in our public schools, which makes for a challenge for school districts,” she said.
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