Oklahoma
Oklahoma is the 46th best state for a child. That’s no better than last year. Why?
The rankings are now out for child well-being in states throughout the U.S., and the numbers for Oklahoma are still abysmal, according to an annual nationwide report tracking trends and factors for childhood growth and development.
In the latest Kids Count report, Oklahoma ranks 46th overall for child well-being — a position no worse than last year’s ranking but also no better. The 50-state analysis, published Monday by the Annie E. Casey Foundation, ranks Oklahoma ahead of only Nevada, Mississippi, Louisiana and New Mexico.
Oklahoma’s individual rankings in major categories were:
- Education: 49th
- Health: 45th
- Family and Community: 40th
- Economic well-being: 39th
The report includes a comprehensive look at all 50 states in key areas of well-being affecting children and families. For the 16 components of the report, Oklahoma ranked within the top half of all states in just two indicators: the percent of children in single-parent families (34%) and the percent of low-birthweight babies (8.5%).
How is Oklahoma lacking in child well-being compared to other states?
According to an Oklahoma-specific datasheet shared with The Oklahoman, the state also ranked in the bottom 10 for eight of 16 indicators:
- 48th in the percent of 8th graders who scored below proficient math level (84%).
- 47th in the percent of 4th graders who scored below proficient reading level (76%).
- 47th in the percent of children and teens ages 10 to 17 who are obese or overweight (39%).
- 44th in the percent of high school students not graduating on time (20%).
- 44th in the teen birth rate, which amounted to 21 births per 1,000 females ages 15-19.
- 43rd in the percent of children without health insurance (7%).
- 43rd in the percent of children in poverty (20%), which was below $30,000 for a family of two adults and two children in 2022.
- 42nd in the percent of children in families where the head of the household lacks a high school diploma (11%).
Report shows abysmal rankings for child well-being in Oklahoma
To Shiloh Kantz, executive director of the nonprofit Oklahoma Policy Institute, a local affiliate within the Kids Count network, the poor rankings are a sign that Oklahoma’s leaders are not doing enough to invest in the state’s children and their futures.
“For two decades, lawmakers have chosen revenue cuts over meaningful, sustained investments in the shared services that are proven to help our children thrive,” Kantz said in a news release. “The latest KIDS COUNT results bear out the consequences of those choices. Oklahoma and its elected officials can turn these numbers around, but it will require purposeful action over time to make it happen.”
This year’s report is the 35th edition of the Casey Foundation’s Kids Count Data Book, which focuses on students’ lack of skills in basic reading and math. Educators and researchers have warned for decades about the severity of the issues, but the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic brought concerns about a dramatic loss of learning back to the forefront of national attention.
More: Most Americans are unhappy with the math taught in classrooms, new survey shows
Chronic absence from schoolchildren is on the rise, and the state’s share of high school students not graduating on time is up by 5% since 2019, according to data from the most recent school year (2021-2022) available. The report also asserts that test scores and state averages “mask wide and persistent disparities” affecting students of color, immigrant children, and low-income families attending low-income area schools.
According to Carly Putnam, policy director for Oklahoma Policy Institute, the “need for conservative values” that some state leaders have argued would improve conditions for Oklahoma families are not supported by the Kids Count data. By 2023, the state had fallen six spots in comparison to the previous year’s assessment and remains in the same position this year.
“While Oklahoma ranks among the top half of states for children in two-parent households, our state’s overall results show that this factor alone isn’t enough to help our kids get ahead,” Putnam said. “From math and reading scores to health insurance coverage to the teen birth rate, these results demonstrate Oklahoma is not doing enough to position our children for success.”
Guest: Poverty is a foe that can undermine children’s growth, lifelong well-being
What can Oklahoma do to address the problems?
The Casey Foundation warns that lower test scores indicate a lack of real-world readiness that will underserve the nation’s youth and harm the overall economy once they join the workforce. Students who don’t do better in math are more likely to see unemployment after high school, setting up millions of young people to struggle through adulthood, according to the foundation.
To turn the tide on the issues, the foundation is recommending various policy solutions:
- Ensuring access to low- or no-cost meals, a reliable Internet connection, a secure place to study and time with friends, teachers and counselors.
- Expanding access to intensive, in-person tutoring for students who might be behind in their classes.
- Prioritizing allocated pandemic relief funding by the Sept. 30 deadline toward the social, emotional, academic and physical well-being of students.
- Embracing positive approaches to chronic absenteeism and avoiding the criminalization of students and parents for attendance challenges, while also improving attendance tracking to inform future decision-making.
- Investing in community schools that provide wraparound support to children and their families on issues like mental health, nutritional aid and parental engagement, leading to better outcomes for students.
More: In OKCPS, behavior is communication. Simply suspending kids is not the answer | Opinion
Kip Lewis returning for his redshirt senior season with the Oklahoma Sooners was one of the biggest wins of the offseason. Lewis has built an impressive career in Norman, racking up 209 tackles, 18.5 tackles for loss and five sacks with two interceptions, both of which he returned for touchdowns.
Beyond his production, Lewis has become one of the emotional leaders of the Oklahoma locker room. Although the NFL was an option, Lewis believed another season learning under Brent Venables would put him in the best position for long-term success.
In a video shared by Oklahoma, Lewis explained the factors that led him to return to Norman for another season.
“I talked to a lot of people,” Lewis said. “Mostly, my family and then my dad. He was just giving me key points that he felt like I should have come back… Mostly talked to a couple of my teammates like John (Mateer) and Isaiah (Sategna), getting their thoughts on what their plan was. I asked Danny (Stutsman) for advice. Talked to him for a little bit. Advice from Danny really stood out to me.”
Getting advice from Stutsman likely played a significant role in Lewis’ decision. Stutsman was in a similar position following a strong 2023 season. Stutsman elected to return to Norman in 2024 and had another strong individual season. That resulted in him being taken in the fourth round of the 2025 NFL Draft.
Lewis’ decision to return gives Oklahoma one of the most experienced and talented linebackers in the country for another season. By following the same path as Stutsman, Lewis is betting on development and another opportunity to improve his draft stock.
If he continues to lead at the level he has throughout his career, his final season in Norman could be the one that cements him as one of the top defensive players in college football.
Contact/Follow us @SoonersWire on X (formerly known as Twitter), and like our page on Facebook to follow ongoing coverage of Oklahoma news, notes, and opinions. You can also follow Jaron on X @jaronspor.
TULSA, Okla — Tulsa has seen a boost in its food industry, thanks in part to a growing population.
Local News
Study shows Hispanic population boom boosting Tulsa economy
The Hispanic and Latino population has also contributed to the Oklahoma economy through restaurants, catering businesses, and food trucks.
According to a study conducted by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission, the number of Hispanic and Latino individuals who have gone into the state’s food service industry has grown by more than 12,000 between 2001 and 2021.
To help continue this growth, the Lobeck Taylor Family Foundation is starting up its “Lanzamiento Program” for Spanish speakers who are interested in pursuing a career in the culinary industry.
Local News
Mother Road Market hosts program for Hispanic, Latino food entrepreneurs
The classes are held in partnership with Mother Road Market for 12 weeks.
Wendy Henriquez is the owner of Sugar Crave and completed the program back in 2024.
She said it was a huge help when it came to learning the ins and outs of the industry.
It also helped her that it was all in Spanish, the language she prefers.
“All of the classes were focused on the regulations here in the United States and Oklahoma needing to be met,” she said. “In every class, we had experts talk to us about things like taking out loans, insurance, credit.”
“Wow, I mean it isn’t easy, but it’s possible,” she said. “Perseverance is important.”
Abel Aguilar is the Program Manager in charge of the Lanzamiento course.
“We believe it’s important because not only do we have a strong population of both Hispanic and Latin entrepreneurs here in Tulsa, they may not know the resources that they have available to them,” he said.
While tuition doesn’t start off as being free of charge, there are financial assistance options to help.
We Street Credit Union has also pitched in to offer funds for financial assistance so some weight can be taken off of the participant.
Aguilar also said Lobeck Taylor will work something out if finances are the only obstacle to applying.
For others interested in other resources to help kickstart their business, Avanzando Juntos is also a non-profit organization that can help.
Primarily for Spanish speakers, Avanzando Juntos helps connect business owners with grants and funding that can help eliminate some of the costs that come with starting a business.
For those interested in applying to the “Lanzamiento” Program, you can visit the Kitchen 66 website for the application.
Isabel Flores is your North & East Tulsa reporter.
Is there something you think she should know about or look into?
You can email her at Isabel.Flores@kjrh.com.
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1. Death of inmate at Oklahoma County Detention Center under investigation
Oklahoma County Detention Center.
• 33-year-old Dancing Feathers Whitecrow found unresponsive
• Taken to hospital where she was pronounced dead
• Active investigation ongoing
Officials are investigating the death of an inmate at the Oklahoma County Detention Center.
Officers found 33-year-old Dancing Feathers Whitecrow unresponsive just before 7 p.m. Sunday. She was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead. Whitecrow had been booked into the jail in April.
This remains an active investigation.
The Oklahoma County Criminal Investigations Division is investigating after Dancing Feathers Whitecrow, 33, died in custody.
2. Deadly hit-and-run in southwest Oklahoma City
• Pedestrian struck and killed near Southwest 61st and May
• Crash happened just before midnight
• No description of the vehicle yet
Oklahoma City Police are investigating a deadly hit-and-run that happened late Tuesday in southwest Oklahoma City.
One person was struck and killed by a vehicle near Southwest 61st and May just before midnight on Wednesday.
Police say they currently have no description of the vehicle involved.
3. Elderly Moore woman mauled to death by dog
• 86-year-old Beatrice Carruth found dead July 2nd
• Dog belonged to her son, who was previously arrested in a related incident
• Dog has been euthanized
An 86-year-old Moore woman was mauled to death in her home by her son’s dog.
Beatrice Carruth was found dead on July 2nd. Family members say the dog, a Labrador and American Pit Bull Terrier mix, had previously attacked her in May.
The dog was euthanized Monday.
The Moore Police Department arrived at the scene near Northeast 27th Street and Highland Drive to find a woman with severe injuries.
4. Cattle rescue after semi overturns on I-40 near Tinker
News 9
• Mayberry family from Oklahoma City Stockyards helped clear the scene
• 109 head of cattle in trailer; more than 80 survived
• Similar crashes have happened in recent years
A family of ranchers helped rescue cattle after a semi overturned on I-40 near Tinker Air Force Base.
The Mayberry family responded to the scene and worked to safely remove the animals. They say they’ve assisted with several similar crashes over the past four years.
A trailer carrying 62 head of cattle overturned Tuesday morning, leaving only a single westbound lane of I-40 open for hours as crews rescued trapped animals.
5. Attorney General Drummond sues Allstate over insurance practices
• Lawsuit accuses company of denying or underpaying wind and hail claims
• Alleges use of undisclosed restrictive standards
• Similar lawsuit previously filed against State Farm
Attorney General Gentner Drummond is suing Allstate, accusing the insurance company of running a scheme to deny or underpay wind and hail claims.
The lawsuit alleges Allstate used undisclosed restrictive standards to limit coverage for Oklahomans. Drummond says the company is putting profits ahead of policyholders.
A similar lawsuit was previously filed against State Farm.
The lawsuit was filed Tuesday in Cleveland County District Court and alleges violations of state consumer protection and anti-racketeering laws.
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Editor’s note: We used AI tools to help with editing and formatting this story. A human journalist reviewed everything before publication.
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