Words from the Director

Dr. Pam Deering, CCOSA/OASA Executive Director

Oklahoma Legislators are proposing hefty investments in Education, BUT with a caveat—Tax Credits for wealthy parents with students in private schools funded with public tax dollars. How sad that we have to have a stick with the carrot for the 700,000 students in the state!

CALL TO ACTION: INVEST IN EDUCATION

CCOSA has sent Call to Action messages to our members as the Senate and House work toward a budget deal, although one has not been announced as of this writing. It was reported that state leaders are holding discussions at the Governor’s Mansion, with former Supreme Court Justice Steven Taylor mediating the education conversation. We await reports on the meetings.

➤ We urge our members to reach back out to their Senator and House Members and ask them to invest at least $650 million distributed equitably to schools that will support a significant teacher pay raise to recruit and retain teachers.

➤ Now is the time for you to talk with your legislators and help them to understand that you are making hiring and contract decisions for FY24. Describe for them some of the dilemmas you are facing as you try to plan and prepare for next year. Let them know your district decisions that are hanging in the balance as you await a final budget decision from the legislature.

➤ Continue communicating with your legislators. Talk with them about the real needs for an impactful investment in your district that includes equitable funding for students, a substantial teacher pay raise to help us retain and recruit the best teachers for our students, and sufficient funds to offset inflationary costs.

Here is the link to a graphic that CCOSA released earlier in session that illustrates why Oklahoma must make a real investment in Oklahoma students and our public education system this year in order to gain ground on our surrounding states in per pupil expenditures: https://adobe.ly/3ImL2QT

Our kids are worth the same or more than those students in the surrounding states.

As another school year closes, we have just celebrated Teacher Appreciation Week. It was our opportunity to thank the thousands of educators who dedicate their lives to Oklahoma students. The hurtful comments and rhetoric from partisan politics dims the spotlight on our wonderful educators. In the end with this negativity, Oklahoma loses teacher talent. In the end, without a significant investment in public education, Oklahoma loses momentum that we have made preparing public school students for the future workforce—the leaders that our state needs to succeed.

Let’s lead FOR our schools. Let’s invest in public education for the future of our state.

Respectfully,

Pam Deering, Ph.D.

CCOSA Executive Director ■