Coffee Talk

This past week, one of the major news stories out of Oklahoma City was a stabbing at a local high school—possibly gang related. As parents, we send our children to school with the assumption that they are learning in a safe environment. But from time to time, there are stark reminders that this is not always the case. Clearly, we need to consider new approaches and models for education.

Senate Republicans have made tremendous strides this session in education reform, passing legislation that will result in positive change which, if enacted, will benefit children, families and communities for years to come.

Sen. James A Williamson of Tulsa was successful in amending a bill to contain one of these proposals—the New Hope Scholarship Program. This legislation would provide a tax credit for people who contribute to organizations providing scholarships for low income children. Those scholarships would be used for those students to attend an elementary or secondary private school in counties with populations of more than 450,000.

Senator John Ford of Bartlesville was successful in passing Senate Bill 2100, which would create a trial program that would allow 10 entire school districts in Oklahoma to be removed from many state mandates and regulations. By giving these school districts this opportunity, they will be able to utilize innovative and creative approaches in order to help their students become higher achievers. It gives greater input to the locally elected school board, while still allowing the state to retain oversight to ensure students are learning and progressing as they should.

Finally, the Senate adopted my legislation to allow Native American tribes to establish charter schools in Oklahoma and Tulsa Counties. Again, this will allow greater innovation and creativity in these schools, with the goal of improving student achievement rates.

You’ve probably heard it said that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results. For years, that seems to have been the approach that the state took toward schools. But if we really are serious about preparing Oklahoma’s children for an increasingly competitive workforce and a better future, then we can no longer afford to live in the past when it comes to education.