Is Public Education in Jeopardy?

By Dr. Pam Deering CCOSA/OASA Executive Director

It’s a question that we, as educators, must ask ourselves. Another question, “Do we believe that public education is the foundation of American Democracy and is the primary vehicle for preparing each generation of adult citizens to become contributing members of a democratic society?”

If you answered “yes” to both of these questions, then I believe you are right, but how do we go about ensuring that it is NOT in jeopardy and ensuring that our current and future generations truly believe that public education is the foundation of our democracy?

What did our proponents of public education advocate for?

■ Education for all children

■ Schools funded by a general tax

■ Schools must meet minimum standards set by the State

■ Schools must be nonsectarian

What were the three major battles that our advocates fought for?

1. Free public schools supported by taxes

2. The establishment of state control

3. The elimination of sectarianism (away from religion as an example)

The journey to the current crises in public education started in the 1990s and early 2000s. Things expanded for public education; then, things faltered… why?

■ Education rights in state constitutions, courts, and laws provoked legislative change.

■ Culture norms changed.

■ Social anxieties created irrational decisions.

In 2008, the recession hit with states seeing large cuts in public education nationwide. States used this excuse to NOT continue investment in education.

In the mid-2010s, some states funding for public education did rebound, but many did not. Some decided to spend less than what they had available. Some states took money from public education and gave to tax cuts, shored up other government programs, or expanded alternatives to public education.

What was happening Nationally?

Charter Schools expanded under a Democratic President along with the push for states to adopt procharter policies in order to receive federal innovation money.

Goals to shrink and re-shape public education in a state (Florida) with private school vouchers and tax credits gained popularity, but the “old” vouchers were tied to helping disadvantaged students. “Old” voucher ideas didn’t have much traction and gave way to new, and real reasons—the wealthy didn’t like their high taxes, and private schools were expensive; conservatives didn’t like public school values; thus, the motives were revealed and state legislation began to reflect the changes.

A false premise was “sold” to those who chose to believe it: “Rather than ensuring a robust public education system for all…, states should promote individual autonomy and freedom. Public education was the problem, not the solution. The public school system stood in the students’ way, whereas private schools could liberate them.” — Derek W. Black, author, Schoolhouse Burning

Florida led the way with vouchers or “scholarships” in 2006. In 2019, it renamed the program, “Family Empowerment Scholarship.” Indiana, Nevada, Arizona, South Carolina, and Tennessee joined in on the voucher movement.

Ed reformers didn’t let the recession crisis go to waste…they created a new narrative to meet their agenda by targeting:

4. Teacher salaries—paid too much5. Teacher benefits—have too many

6. Students not learning (poor test scores)—ineffective teachers

7. Teacher tenure—protection for ineffective or lazy teachers

8. Tradition—not enough innovation

9. Unions—too controlling, too monopolizing (caters to teachers not students)

Who are the National groups who are taking aim at Public Education?

■ Students First

■ Democrats for Education Reform

■ ExcelinED

■ Chiefs for Change

■ American Legislative Exchange Council

■ The Heritage Foundation

Who are the Oklahoma groups who are taking aim at Public Education?

■ Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

■ American Federation for Children

■ Americans for Prosperity

■ Every Kid Counts Oklahoma

Recognize any of these? If you are in education, you should. The most recent primary election advertisements were evidence of their targeted money and attempted influence AGAINST many Republican legislative members who did not support vouchers or who were viewed as Republicans who supported the education establishment. Fortunately, these legislators worked hard and our Oklahoma citizens didn’t fall for the false narrative by these anti-public education groups.

Keep this list of entities that take aim at Public Education in mind when you apply for a grant or join an organization. Always look into the funding source. These include the Gates Foundation, Walton Family Foundations, Broad Foundation, and the Koch Brothers, to name a few. Their market-based goals for overhauling public education coincide with choice, competition, deregulation, accountability, data-based decision-making.

Oklahoma’s journey almost parallels the national level for the beginning of choice. Governor Frank Keating and Democratic controlled legislature authorized the first OK charter schools; they were expanded with the Charter School Act of 2010.

In Oklahoma, there are threats to public education. We have identified a few:

■ State choosing NOT to invest in public education in robust budget year despite record inflation and the need for teachers, enhanced teacher pay and new recruits into the profession

■ Vouchers, Tax Credits, Education Savings Accounts

■ Charter School Expansion

■ Erosion of Ad Valorem property tax base (continued tax protests, tax exemptions, caps on valuation)

■ Money following students: Translation is that money would be moving away from the over 90% of students who choose traditional public schools

■ Continued Teacher Shortage; few pay raises; legislation to reduce teacher union support; little action to incentivize a new generation of teachers. As for the teacher shortage, Derek Black states that, “Between 2009-2012, schools lost 300,000 teaching positions. Nationally, the number of people pursuing education degrees fell by 30 percent.”

■ Legislative proposal to eliminate/ devalue teacher evaluation and teacher professionalism

■ Erosion of local board control —— board elections and bond issues during general elections

■ Legislators who do not support public education

■ Continued Governor partisan appointments to education boards and to offices that hold anti-public education ideologies

■ Apathy combined with a lack of understanding about the historical value and importance of public education

At the local level, you must be informed; support your local district, tell about the good work of your schools in your community; get to know your current legislators, hold them accountable; work with your district and community to start a Parents Legislative Action Committee (PLAC); vote Pro-Public Education; visit your legislators at the Capitol; and, communicate frequently.

If we care about public education, we need to be on guard: “If those who care about public education concede the war over the fundamental concept of public education or make the war about something other than its fundamental values, they will wake up one day with nothing left to fight for. They may even wake up without a democracy.” — Derek W. Black

Thanks to Dr. Jeanene Barnett, CCOSA Education Policy Analyst and to Dr. David Pennington, USSA Executive Director for their contributions to this information.