Oklahoma Teacher Walk Out


On April 2nd, many Oklahoma school districts shut down in support of increased funds for schools. Protesters stormed the state capitol to endorse a raise for teachers and an investment in education.

Why did the protest occur?
  
In 2008, the great recession in the U.S. left Oklahoma in an even more dire situation regarding funding for education. Tax cuts were intended to boost the economy, however, they created a larger budget gap. Tax cuts have been repeated over the last decade, decreasing the top income tax rate from 7% to 5%. These cuts have proved beneficial to Oklahoma's wealthiest individuals, but have been detrimental to the rest of its society. The cost of these cuts has been $1.022 billion, money that could have been put towards education. The Oklahoma Policy Institute declares that "Since the 2009 fiscal year, state support for schools through the state aid formula has been cut by $198 million while enrollment has grown by over 45,000 students." In response to this, class sizes have grown, programs have been cut, the number of teachers has decreased, teacher experience and quality has decreased, there are four-day weeks, limited school supplies, elimination of support staff, and there has been an increase in emergency certifications because many teachers are leaving. 

With the introduction of horizontal drilling, Legislature provided tax breaks for oil and gas. The tax breaks were supposed to end in 2015 and return the tax rate to seven percent. However, in 2014, Legislature approved a tax rate of two percent for the next three years. According to the Oklahoma Policy Institute, "The lost revenue from taxing oil and gas less than 7 percent is projected to rise to $513 million in FY 2018." The Oklahoma Policy Institute also asserted that "Oklahoma now taxes oil and gas production at rates below any other significant oil and gas producing state," at 3.2 percent. More taxes need to be placed on the gas and oil industry to drum up the revenue needed to support education. Gas and oil companies should no longer benefit at the expense of the state. It is paramount that taxes are raised and the money generated is distributed to teachers and schools. Change needs to happen and it can start with valuing education over the oil and gas industry.

Currently, Oklahoma has one of the lowest average salaries for teachers, ranking 49th in the country. Teachers' median pay is $45,000, and they have not seen a raise in over a decade. These less-than desired conditions have led to many teachers leaving the state in search for more promising jobs. In addition, Oklahoma had the largest funding cut for schools in the U.S., reaching a whopping 28.2%. It is evident that the state does not have enough money to keep up with education. 

What is being done about the issue?

A Vox article, "Oklahoma teachers are protesting 10 years of low pay. Here’s what their walkout looked like," states that "Oklahoma educators presented a list of demands to state lawmakers in February. They gave legislators about a month to pass a bill." The teachers demanded a $10,000 raise along with more school funding. This bill was passed in the state legislature on March 28th, but teachers were not satisfied with the result. According to the article, "Oklahoma Legislature passes tax hikes for teacher pay," the law calls for an increase in the average teacher pay by $6,100; a tax on gas and oil production, cigarettes, fuel, and lodging. Although, there is a raise in teacher pay, it is not enough. The CNN article, "There's a looooong history behind today's teacher walkout in Oklahoma," claims that "not enough was done to reverse decades of school funding cuts, which have totaled around $200 million since 2008." School funding has only been increased by $18 million, a long cry from the money needed. In addition, the revenue bills are expected to generate $488 million, but the 2019 costs are expected to be $543 million. This does not leave a lot of room for education.

However, the passing of this bill is a big step for the Oklahoma Legislature. According to the New York Times article, "Teachers in Oklahoma and Kentucky Walk Out: It Really Is a Wildfire," the tax on oil, gas, tobacco, and motor fuel was the "first new revenue bill to become law in Oklahoma for 28 years." Many Republicans in the Legislature are unhappy about the tax on gas and oil, because the state needs to uphold favorable standings with the companies. The article, "Nation's Least-Funded Schools Get What They Pay For," asserts that "oil and gas account for more than 11% of the economy." 

For more information

Education Week
Provides the latest news and stories on the teacher walk out.

Oklahoma State Department of Education
Provides information on the state superintendent, state education boards, and news pertaining to school districts.

U.S. Department of Education
"Our mission is to promote student achievement and preparation for global competitiveness by fostering educational excellence and ensuring equal access."


~ by Emily Hancz

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