Oklahoma House Republicans unveil teacher pay raise, school choice plans

The proposal earmarks a further $500 million for public training whereas additionally making a refundable tax credit score for folks who choose to homeschool their youngsters or ship them to personal college. 

The tax credit score is Home Republicans’ various to controversial college vouchers proposals that might permit dad and mom to make use of taxpayer {dollars} deposited into an training financial savings account to pay for his or her baby’s personal or dwelling college training.

“Good training coverage ought to work in every single place within the state of Oklahoma,” Home Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, mentioned in a information convention. “We imagine that this plan advantages each pupil, mum or dad and trainer.”

The plan units apart $150 million to supply across-the-board trainer pay raises of $2,500 to educators within the classroom within the 2023-2024 college yr.

Now, Republicans in each chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature have proposed across-the-board trainer pay raises, bucking calls from Gov. Kevin Stitt and State Superintendent Ryan Walters for merit-based trainer pay raises.

GOP Sen. Adam Pugh, who chairs the Senate Training Committee, desires to offer all trainer a pay bump of $3,000 to $6,000 primarily based on their years of expertise. Pugh’s proposed pay raises could be tied to the state minimal wage schedule for academics, however the pay raises included in McCall’s Home Invoice 2775 wouldn’t. 

Below Home Republicans’ plan, one other $300 million would be distributed on a per-pupil foundation decided by a college’s common each day membership of scholars. Each district would obtain further funding, however no district would obtain greater than a $2 million improve, McCall mentioned.

The proposal additionally units apart a further $50 million to be distributed based on the Redbud Faculty Funding Act, which supplies grants to brick-and-mortar districts that obtain below-average native tax {dollars} for development and upkeep of college amenities.

McCall’s HB 2775 would additionally create the Oklahoma Parental Selection Tax Credit score Program. Dad and mom could be eligible to obtain a tax credit score of $5,000 a yr for every baby enrolled in a personal college. Dad and mom of homeschool college students could be eligible for a tax credit score of as much as $2,500 per baby every year.

The important thing distinction between the tax credit score and college vouchers is that the previous wouldn’t draw cash away from public training, mentioned McCall, who has been vital of voucher proposals prior to now. 

“With a tax credit score, with this methodology, you are not harming the appropriated cash for training,” he mentioned. “You are not drawing from these appropriations.” 

He additionally famous that with a tax credit score, the transaction stays between the dad and mom and the varsity. There isn’t any authorities middleman distributing funds. 

Dad and mom could be required to supply proof of personal college tuition or different training bills in an effort to declare the tax credit score, McCall mentioned. 

“The state’s not passing out checks,” he mentioned. 

McCall’s HB 2775 does make an exception for low-income households who can not entrance the prices of personal college tuition. Upon proof of enrollment in a personal college, low-income households might request from the Oklahoma Tax Fee an advance on the tax credit score, as much as $2,500 per semester, McCall mentioned. 

The tax credit could be tied to the brand new base stage of widespread training funding. If the Oklahoma Legislature cuts public training funding sooner or later, the tax credit could be suspended, McCall mentioned. 

It is a breaking information story and shall be up to date.