Nearly half of homeschool parents worried about liberal viewpoints in public schools, poll shows

At the website of Oklahoma City's FOX 25, Jackson Walker has the story.

Skiatook Public Schools removes Christian displays from classrooms

 The Skiatook Journal has the story.

Former Tulsa Public Schools administrator charged with felony wire fraud conspiracy

KGOU has the story.

Deer Creek teacher fired after allegedly giving kids 'special gummies'

News 9 has the story.

Oklahoma school staff hired despite sex-crime allegations

A drag queen as an elementary-school principal? Good plan!

Student apprehended after taking gun to Muskogee High School

The News on 6 has the story.

More kids report being bullied at school, survey finds

2 News Oklahoma has the story.

Tecumseh elementary school teacher resigns after officials say she was drunk at work

KOCO has the story.

6 in 10 Enid students 'fall short' in math

"Math knowledge—one of the basic skills for all of us to function in our complex world—still is lagging among school-age youth," the Enid News & Eagle editorializes. "Although some students and even entire school districts are excelling in math scores overall, statewide proficiency tests ranking student scores against grade-level expectations show really uneven progress. In the large Enid Public Schools district, only 38% of students are at or above the expectations. The other 62% fall short."

Enid teachers, staff undergo active shooter training

KOCO has the story.

Sex ed for 'social change'

This left-wing organization (funded by the Tulsa-based Charles and Lynn Schusterman Family Foundation, among others) is pushing sex ed for “social change” in our nation’s schools. 

Surveys reveal little improvement in Oklahoma’s literacy rates since 2012

"About 1 in 5 Oklahoma adults struggle to read and comprehend written English," Oklahoma Voice reports.

Oklahoma parents have had enough

For too long, the education "experts" and "professionals" have patted Oklahoma parents on the head and said, "Who you gonna believe—me or your own lying eyes?" As you can see, many parents gave the good sense to believe their own lying eyes.

• Oklahoma City Public Schools and Putnam City Public Schools "offer the pornographic book Let's Talk About It to students. The book encourages exploring kink on the internet, watching porn, and using sex toys," the Twitter account Libs of Tik Tok reported, adding later that OKCPS "removed this pornographic book today after my post."
• A pornographic book in Owasso, Blankets, depicts sex, masturbation, and a child getting raped.
• Tulsa has the pornographic books Gender Queer and Flamer available for students in many of their schools. 
• Pro-LBGTQ+ Owasso teacher Tyler Wrynn told his students, "f***" your parents if they "don't love and accept you for who you are—I'm your parents now." 
• Wrynn moved on from Owasso but (naturally) was hired by Tulsa where he continues to indoctrinate students. Wrynn's principal, wary of undercover journalism, begged her staff not to record her at staff meeting.
• An Oklahoma Teacher of the Year nominee in Bristow touted a transgender book because she says it's important to be supportive of children exploring transgender transition. 
• School materials in Edmond and Bristow are drawing the ire of parents.
• Stillwater dad Riley Flack is fed up with the sexually explicit material being made available to children.
• An elementary school librarian in the Tulsa Union district is pushing a “woke agenda” with an “emphasis on social justice.”
• A teacher at a Tulsa charter school proudly decorates her classroom with Black Lives Matter and transgender flags.
• An elementary school principal in the Western Heights school district is a drag queen who was previously arrested on child porn charges, V1SUT reports. That principal then hired another drag queen as a kindergarten para-professional, V1SUT reports. Both men hold "Miss Gay Oklahoma" titles.

[This post is, alas, updated as needed.]

Edmond five-year-olds left at wrong bus stop, wander around for an hour

The Oklahoman has the story.

Elite Oklahoma high school plagued by sexual harassment complaints

Oklahoma Watch has the story.

Fully 19 years ago, back when OSSM was expensive but much cheaper than its current taxpayer expense of more than $68,000 per student, OCPA recommended zeroing out OSSM’s appropriation and having its facilities sold or leased. We noted at the time: "Taxpayers will be disappointed to learn that only 58 percent of OSSM graduates stay in Oklahoma for undergraduate education and that only 46 percent of OSSM graduates are currently employed in the state. Something is amiss when Oklahoma’s hardworking waitresses, single moms, and truck drivers—whose own children are trapped in substandard schools—are paying taxes to supply Texas and other states with top-flight graduates."

Owasso teacher charged with murder

KTUL has the story.

Perkins-Tryon third-grade teacher arrested for intoxication at school

KFOR has the story. Inside Edition has the video.

Former Ninnekah coach pleads guilty in sexual grooming case

The Oklahoman has the story.

Midwest City students allegedly assault school staff

KFOR has the story.

Owasso Public Schools adding more armed officers

"Owasso Public Schools is upping school security by adding new School Security Officers to work in tandem with its School Resource Officers," KTUL reports. "The added security is meant to prevent danger or dangerous situations as they become more prevalent in public schools."

‘There shouldn’t be another kid that has to go through this’

NonDoc has the latest on the Kingfisher hazing lawsuit.

Former Oklahoma teacher, school district named in lawsuit with sexual abuse allegations

"A former Oklahoma teacher and the school district he worked at have been named in a new lawsuit with disturbing allegations of sexual abuse," KOCO reports.

Trial set for Bartlesville teacher accused of providing student cocaine

The Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise has the story.

Former Morris school teacher sentenced for sexual abuse of minor

KTUL has the story.  

Former Stilwell teacher charged with six counts of abuse of a minor under 12

"The Federal Bureau of Investigation announced serious charges against a former Stilwell Public Schools teacher," KJRH reports.

Pocola school officials being sued by parent

5NEWS has the story.

Teachers concerned about school safety

The American Psychological Association (APA) conducted a survey of almost 15,000 school stakeholders from July 2020 to June 2021, asking them to rate their experiences since March 2020. "Almost half of all teachers reported they desire or plan to quit or transfer their jobs due to concerns about school climate and school safety," the APA reports. A startling 22 percent of school staff reported at least one incident of student physical violence.

School choice research bibliography

"If you’re looking for a proper bibliography of the empirical literature on the effects of educational choice programs, look no further," EdChoice writes. Here is the up-to-date, comprehensive list of empirical studies with links to the original sources.

Owasso schools to add five armed security guards

FOX 23 has the story.

Former Durant student teacher to stand trial in tribal court

"A former student teacher at Durant Middle School, who was charged last year for having an inappropriate relationship with a student, will now stand trial in Choctaw Nation Tribal District Court," KXII reports. Court documents from the Choctaw Nation indicate that the accused "is facing charges of first-degree rape, child sexual abuse, and soliciting a minor. The victim is a 14-year-old girl from Durant Middle School."

Oklahoma student with special needs allegedly molested by teacher’s aide in closet

 KFOR has the story.

Lawsuit says Edmond schools violated bathroom law

Ray Carter has the story.

Court documents show hundreds of thousands of dollars taken from TPS

FOX 23 has the story.

Every Oklahoma parent now has educational options

Survey data tell us that roughly one in three Oklahomans would choose a private school for their children if given the option.

Well, now they have the option. Oklahoma has three private-school-choice programs from which to choose.

1. Beginning in tax year 2024, a refundable income-tax credit (in effect, a voucher) is available to parents who incur private-school tuition expenses or homeschool expenses. Student eligibility is universal, meaning it extends to any Oklahoma resident who is eligible to enroll in a public school. More details here and here.
2. Many students in Oklahoma—special-education students, foster kids, children adopted out of state custody, and more—are eligible for a Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship. More details here.
3. Most students in Oklahoma are eligible to apply for a private-school scholarship funded by private donations (for which donors receive a state tax credit). Learn more about the program here, and explore schools and scholarship opportunities here, here, here, and here.

Ed choice and test-score gains

"I find strikingly large test score gains for states that have adopted voucher programs and/or Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), swamping the effect of per pupil K-12 spending on test scores," John Garen writes in The American Journal of Economics and Sociology.

Longtime Mustang teacher charged after allegedly raping former student

KFOR has the story.

State Superintendent says Tulsa public schools are failing our kids

He's not wrong.

It's a good question

"If educators are the experts," asks one longtime Oklahoma public school teacher, "then why are the majority of our schools failing at teaching our kids to read and do math on grade level?"

Oklahoma homeschoolers deserve school choice

"Not all homeschool groups are glad to see the movement become larger and more diverse," my colleague Trent England observes. "It threatens their political clout to have too many homeschool families who see the world differently than they do. They are trying to keep it harder to homeschool."

At Norman schools, ‘inclusion’ may trump student safety

Ray Carter has the story.

‘Beat the hell out of him’: Blanchard bus driver caught egging on fight between students

KFOR has the story.

TPS illiteracy is 'commonplace'

KTUL has the story of "one of many" Tulsa children who can't read.

Former Durant student teacher facing charges of first degree rape, child sexual abuse, and soliciting a minor

KXII has the story.

Pauls Valley Junior High drug bust leads to arrests

KFOR has the story.

Kingfisher football culture 'has led children to attempt and commit suicide'

Nolan Clay has the latest.

‘Wicked, despicable, and reprehensible’: Kingfisher hazing lawsuit intensifies

KFOR has the story.

Wewoka principal charged with sexually assaulting students; more victims expected

KFOR has the story.

Former Wellston substitute teacher facing charges after alleged relationship with student

FOX 25 has the story.

Okmulgee school bus fight caught on camera

KTUL has the story.

Little Axe teacher suspended for allegedly possessing drug paraphernalia in classroom

News 9 has the story.

Police investigate stabbing of 13-year-old girl on TPS bus

KTUL has the story.

Child abuse and neglect among homeschoolers?

"Opponents of homeschooling associate it with unchecked and unreported abuse and neglect of children, often arguing for more regulation of or an outright ban of home education," Brian D. Ray and M. Danish Shakeel write in the Journal of School Choice.

Do homeschool students experience more maltreatment than those in schools and, if so, is it happening in or outside the home? Empirical evidence to answer this question is lacking, data collection during schooling age poses several constraints, and school-age children may under-report incidences due to fear. To address this gap in information and literature, we draw nationally representative data from 1,253 previously homeschooled and conventionally schooled (public and private schools) adults to anonymously report about their abuse and neglect experiences during school age. Cross-sectional findings suggest that school sector is a non-issue after considering the role played by demographics (e.g., family structure, years in foster care, large family size, and household poverty) in the maltreatment of children. The incidences of abuse and neglect for homeschool children are statistically significant only at community or some type of school, and the occurrence rates there are double or more than at family where the rate is not significant. Results suggest that policymakers should consider the larger role of demographics in framing policies to protect children from abuse and neglect.

Oklahoma state rep says state superintendent shared 'pretty graphic material' with lawmakers

"An Oklahoma state representative said the state’s superintendent shared pornographic materials with state lawmakers on Thursday, claiming the content was found in Oklahoma schools," The Hill reports. "State Rep. Mark McBride (R), one of several lawmakers who received the email from Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters, told The Hill that it included 'pretty graphic material. If that’s going on in Oklahoma schools, yes, we need to address it."

School choice and accountability

"No system of schooling is perfect," former teacher Michael Q. McShane writes. 

It is a tall order to educate hundreds of thousands or millions of students from diverse backgrounds and with diverse needs. There will always be some number of schools that underperform. You cannot micromanage that away.

Ultimately parents are closest to their children, know their children better than anyone else, and have the strongest incentives to get the best possible education for them. That doesn’t mean that they are perfect. That just means that they’re better. Safeguards must be put in place as a fall-back (and things like regular audits are part of existing education savings account programs in other states and should be part of any program going forward), but they should be designed to support and work with parents and give them the best information they need to make informed decisions.

That is how we hold schools truly accountable.

LGBTQ2S+ activists try to circumvent Oklahoma law

Oklahoma's colleges of education and the state’s largest teachers union "are in the vanguard of promoting transgenderism to children, even in the lower grades," Steve Byas writes.

‘Stalking and grooming’: Ex-McLoud High School teacher facing felony charges

KFOR has the story.

OEA advises teachers to hide information from parents

"In recent years, Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to restrict access to school bathrooms based on sex, and have voted to prevent males from competing in girls’ sports as transgender females," Ray Carter reports. 

But even with those laws on the books, a guidebook provided by the Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) to its members advises teachers to do the opposite. That same guidance also advises teachers on ways to keep parents in the dark if a child expresses interest in a transgender identity, apparently even in situations where the child is in pre-K and/or has intellectual disabilities.

Edmond principal hit with strip search lawsuit

"A principal in Edmond Public Schools faces a lawsuit after allegations of an unlawful strip search," KFOR reports.

Moore cheer coach charged with second-degree rape

KOCO has the story.

OKC student could face charges for allegedly bringing gun to school

FOX 25 has the story.

Ponca City substitute teacher under investigation

 KFOR has the story.

Colbert Public Schools fires bus driver over child porn charges

Colbert Public Schools fired a bus driver, KTEN reports, after he was arrested and charged with buying and possessing child pornography.

Perkins police seek to arrest teacher for sexual battery

"The Perkins Police Department says it wants to arrest a Perkins-Tryon High School teacher for having an inappropriate relationship with an 18-year-old student," FOX 25 reports.

Another ringing endorsement

Why do many children attend public schools? "It’s not like they’re choosing to go to a public school," state Rep. Regina Goodwin (D-Tulsa) remarked yesterday. "It’s like they wanted their folks to be educated. The school is in the neighborhood. It’s free. Would you agree that’s probably why most folks, probably 90 percent of our children, go to public schools because it’s there and it’s free?"

Tulsa Union security guard charged with seven counts of sexual communication with minors

"A Union Public Schools security guard has been charged with seven counts of using technology to engage in sexual communication with a minor," KTUL reports.

El Reno six-year-old escapes from school

"My kid could've got run over," his mother said. "Somebody could've picked up my kid. I could've never seen my kid. I'm upset. I'm very upset."

Tulsa teacher: 'I do think someone’s going to get killed at school'

A Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) teacher has seen "weapons brought into school and has heard of gang members recruiting students right outside campus," FOX 23 reports.

Mustang teacher arrested for alleged sexual involvement with student

"A Mustang Public Schools teacher has been arrested after facing accusations of being sexually involved with a student from 2014 to 2017," FOX 25 reports.

Moore Public Schools alleges inappropriate relationship between coach, student

KOCO has the story.

Putnam City Schools worker arrested after child-predator sting operation

FOX 25 has the story.

School choice timeline

"School choice may seem like a new idea," the Cato Institute points out. "But as this timeline shows, empowering families to choose has a long history, both as an idea and in practice."

School choice doesn't harm rural schools

“Opponents of education choice often make two arguments about its effect on rural areas: (1) Education choice will not help in rural areas because there are few or no alternatives to the district school system, and (2) education choice will destroy the district school system because so many students will leave for alternative options. These two claims are mutually exclusive. They cannot both be true, but they can both be—and indeed are—false.”

The sky won't fall

The special interests who run Oklahoma's public school system need to show a little more confidence in their schools, especially rural schools. If parents are satisfied, they won't leave.

Piedmont father says son expelled for opposing transgender bathrooms

Ray Carter has the story.

Former Byng Public Schools employee charged with sex crime

Tres Savage has the story.

Oklahoma legislation seeks to prevent mass shootings

"A proposed Oklahoma law would require every public school building to undergo a risk and vulnerability assessment within the next three years in an effort to harden them against active shooters," CNHI reports.

Many teachers think civics education is about promoting activism

"A new RAND survey of K-12 teachers found that more K-12 teachers think civics education is about promoting environmental activism than 'knowledge of social, political, and civic institutions,'" Rick Hess and RJ Martin write.

Oklahoma teacher says 'trans girls are girls'

 He also claims to teach history through an "antiracist" lens.

Former Marlow band director sentenced to federal prison

"A former band director with the Marlow Public School system was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison for a sexual offense involving a student," KOKH reports.

‘Civics’ group says HB 1775 will ‘limit civic education’

This left-of-center organization promotes activism in Oklahoma schools, decries HB 1775 as a “censorship law,” and wants to lower the voting age to 16. Oklahoma’s lawmakers and state superintendent should push back.