Oklahoma
It's time to think differently about how we educate Oklahoma children. Community schools would help • Oklahoma Voice
Oklahoma’s dismal bottom 10 rank in education outcomes highlights a need to think differently about how we’re educating our children who continue to struggle with academic performance, chronic absenteeism and emotional and behavioral issues.
It’s time for our education leaders to take a hard look at the evidence-based benefits that come from increased investments in the community school model.
Community schools provide students with “wraparound services.” They focus on holistic approaches to educating children, understanding that for a child to thrive in school an integrated support system is also needed for their families at home. The model focuses on student and family engagement, collaborative leadership, enriched learning opportunities and integrated support systems.
Fortunately, in part by the pandemic and federal Covid funding, the Federation of American Scientists found that in 2023, “60% of public schools were utilizing a “community school” or “wraparound services model.” That was up from 45% the year prior.
If you think this model won’t work in a state that has an abundance of charter and private schools and is known for perpetually underfunding our public school systems, think again.
Tulsa Union is an example of an Oklahoma public school district that has successfully integrated the model. As one of the earliest adopters, the district received national attention for its student success.
Education expert, David Kirp, wrote in a New York Times opinion piece that contrary to the pressure to focus on rapid academic test score growth, former superintendent Cathy Burden understood that “focusing entirely on academics wasn’t enough, especially for poor kids.”
Instead, Union, which at the time reported 70% of students received free or reduced-price lunches, laid a foundation for meaningful learning by offering a “cornucopia of activities — art, music, science, sports, tutoring — that middle-class families routinely provide.”
Kirp wrote that the district opened its schools early. It helped families access health care. It worked to connect parents with job-training opportunities. It provided clothing, furniture and food to struggling students. It even offered daycare for teen mothers so they could graduate.
U.S. News and World Report now ranks Union High School as one of the nation’s top high schools. It is over 70% minority, and nearly 50% low-income, but it is basically tied with Oklahoma’s high schools for academic achievement.
Other districts have also experimented with the model.
In 2017, when a bus load of Oklahoma City partners visited Rosa Parks Elementary School, we toured their health center, the “Tinker Lab” for hands-on learning, and their organic gardens built around the theme of “Peace.” The key to success was teamwork. The students selected the crops they wanted to grow and built a kiln in the garden. A teacher created “Wind Wonders” to teach aeronautics.
My favorite story was about the Rosa Parks teacher who rushed out of the building, saying she had to go to Jiffy Lube. The teacher had been trying to track down a parent for a conference and she’d just learned that the mom was about to take her lunch break.
Drawing on Tulsa Union’s success, a scientific consensus, and the work of Linda Darling-Hammond’s Learning Policy Institute regarding the benefits of community schools, a grassroots movement created the David R. Lopez Community School at Edgemere.
Despite its great success, Oklahoma City School Public Schools shut it down during the implementation of its Pathway to Greatness plan.
In spite of that setback, I see the community school model as being one that could increase our academic outcomes by acknowledging a holistic model is needed for our children — and their families — to thrive in a post-pandemic landscape.
But in order to achieve greatness, we’d need visionary leadership. We need leaders who are patient enough to lay the groundwork today in hopes of netting substantial gains years down the road.
The model won’t succeed if our leaders are looking for a short-term, easy political victories and immediate results because wraparound services are more expensive and take considerable resources to get off the ground.
I’m hoping we have some visionary education leaders.
Because I don’t see a path forward for improving the academic and social outcomes for low-performing schools until we commit to implementing community schools statewide.
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Oklahomans are reacting to a nearly $44 million settlement between the state and six poultry companies, with a Creek County farmer warning of statewide impacts and an environmental group calling the deal a win for the watershed.
Attorney General Gentner Drummond announced the settlement Monday, resolving a lawsuit over poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed.
Farmer worried about statewide impact
Matt Barton is a fifth-generation farmer in Oilton. He doesn’t live near the Illinois River Watershed, but he’s worried the new settlement could affect farmers across the state.
“It doesn’t have to be the Illinois watershed with the current settlement. It says any at-risk watershed. And anyone can define a watershed as at-risk at any time,” Barton said.
Barton isn’t a poultry farmer, but he uses poultry litter as fertilizer, and says it’s hard to beat.
“It’s much better for the soil, much better for growth. It lasts three years compared to one year with commercial fertilizer,” Barton said.
Rising fertilizer costs add to concerns
Barton says at a time when alternative fertilizer prices are going up, he’s worried the new regulation could have a downstream effect that hurts rural farmers.
Regular fertilizer prices have climbed due to conflicts overseas, making chicken litter even more cost-effective by comparison, Barton says.
“We love the idea of using an all-natural product that’s processed through another animal, to use to feed our animals with growth from the land,” Barton said.
Environmental group sees settlement differently
The group Save the Illinois River sees the settlement differently. In a statement, the group said clean water and agriculture can coexist, and that the settlement will finally allow people to start removing the pollution after nearly two decades of fighting in court.
“Save the Illinois River, Inc. (STIR) is pleased to see that the State of Oklahoma and all of the Defendants have reached a settlement in the long-standing lawsuit involving poultry litter pollution in the Illinois River Watershed. We have continued to believe that a comprehensive settlement would be beneficial to the community at-large, the environment and water quality in the watershed, our local farmers and agricultural growers, and the settling defendants. We have continually stressed that clean water and agriculture interests can co-exist for the benefit of all. We commend the Oklahoma Attorney General’s pursuit of this decades old lawsuit and Judge Gregory Frizzel’s well-reasoned opinion on behalf of Oklahoma’s most prized scenic waters. We also commend the defendants in the lawsuit for recognizing their corporate responsibility in reaching a settlement. Most importantly, as we continue to analyze the terms of the settlement, we hope and trust that this process will lead to the remediation of previous pollution and that the restoration of impaired waters can immediately begin. STIR has advocated for greater protection for the waters in the Illinois River Watershed. The United States District Court’s Judgment offered that protection. We look forward to seeing if the Court will approve the proposed settlement.”
Barton says farmers care about the land just as much.
“No one’s going to take better care of the land than the guy who has to feed his family from that land,” Barton said.
Lawmaker cautiously optimistic
State Rep. David Hardin, a former poultry farmer who represents part of the Illinois River Watershed in the House, said he’s cautiously optimistic about the settlement but says it remains to be seen what impact it will have once implemented.
What’s next
The state still has to formally set aside a previous December judgment and dismiss the lawsuit before the settlement takes effect.
Previous Stories:
Oklahoma reaches $44 million settlement in poultry waste lawsuit
‘Please don’t let our way of life die’: Gov. Stitt hears from poultry producers in Adair County
Stitt to meet with state poultry producers amid waste runoff lawsuit
Federal judge approves poultry lawsuit settlement between Tulsa and 6 poultry producers
Published July 14, 2026
TVSHKA HOMMA, Okla. – The Choctaw Nation hosted a new and exciting Boom in the Valley Friday, July 3 with more than 400 colorful drones lighting up the Tvshka Homma sky. Almost a dozen food trucks, three Choctaw artists’ booths, activities that included cultural games such as a stickball toss and rabbit sticks, as well as karaoke, dunk tank, face painting, and more were set up on the Historic Choctaw Nation Capitol Grounds. All ages from across the region attended the free, public celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.
Photo
Photo by Choctaw Nation
Sen. Paul Rosino, R, Senate Health & Human Services Chairman, is renewing an effort to create a single Oklahoma agency focused exclusively on children after similar legislation failed to advance last year.
Senate Bill 1570 passed the Senate but never received a hearing in the House. Sen. Rosino, who is behind the proposal, says growing concerns about child welfare and the well-being of Oklahoma children prompted her to bring the idea back.
A “holistic approach” to children’s services
The proposal would combine several child-focused programs and agencies under one umbrella, including child welfare, foster care, behavioral health services, the Office of Juvenile Affairs and other youth-related programs.
The goal, he said, is to create a more coordinated system that addresses the full range of children’s needs.
“We need to have a sole agency that really concentrates on kids,” said Sen. Rosino. “By having a holistic approach, everything in one agency would be helpful to children.”
Concerns about child welfare
Sen. Rosino says Oklahoma must do more to protect abused and neglected children, noting that intervention doesn’t always mean removing a child from a home.
In some situations, he said, families simply need education, support or services. However, safety concerns can require children to be placed elsewhere.
He also pointed to growing behavioral health challenges facing Oklahoma adolescents as another reason for restructuring services.
DHS already handling broad responsibilities
The proposal is not intended as criticism of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, he said.
DHS currently oversees a wide range of programs, including aging services, childcare, family support and services for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“DHS is a behemoth,” said Sen. Rosino. “Those people work very hard over there.”
Still, the senator believes child welfare is an area where Oklahoma can improve by creating a dedicated agency focused solely on children.
Not a quick fix
The senator acknowledged the proposal is not a “silver bullet” and would take time to implement.
He said he worked with stakeholders, including foster care advocates, and revised the legislation multiple times based on feedback.
According to the proposal, most existing funding would move with the programs into the new agency, limiting the need for significant new spending outside of administrative costs.
Building support for a long-term change
Sen. Rosino described the effort as a multi-year project requiring lawmakers to understand why a structural change is needed.
While disappointed the bill stalled in the House last year, he said she believes support is growing.
“It’s going to take some time to change hearts and minds,” said Sen. Rosino. “I’m hoping this year we can make some headway there.”
Key Takeaway
Supporters say a standalone children’s agency would give Oklahoma a more focused approach to child welfare, foster care and youth behavioral health, while opponents and lawmakers continue to weigh the costs and logistics of a major government reorganization.
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