Oklahoma churches against kids

Oklahoma’s schools continue to perform poorly. But instead of standing up for children, some pastors and pastrixes are only interested in profits for their government friends.

Oklahoma needs grants for education deserts

Oklahoma embraces parental choice in education and child-rearing—but only for children of certain ages. Let’s make it universal.

Having school board elections on Election Day? Brilliant!

"The special interests that run Oklahoma's government school monopoly for their own profit are opposed to having elections on Election Day," Greg Forster writes.

Let parents (not the state) decide on pre-K

"Though it comes as no surprise to anyone who’s been paying attention to the evidence on pre-K programs, a blockbuster new study found that a state pre-K program long held up as a national model actually harms students both academically and behaviorally," Greg Forster writes. "It’s time to empower parents through school choice programs to make the right decision for their own children."

The solution to groomer schools? Parent choice

"Traditionalists are right that the government school system has proven that it can’t be trusted," Greg Forster observes. "That’s precisely why they’re wrong to think they can take control of it. The best way to cope with the challenge of sexualized schools is to put parents back in charge by letting them take the public funding that supports their children’s education to the school of their choice."

School choice makes homeschoolers and private schools more safe from government — not less

Yes, eternal vigilance is the price of liberty. It's important to be vigilant, Greg Forster reminds us, but it's also important not to see a monster under every bed.

We can share this country: School choice in a divided America

"From masks and vaccine mandates to critical race theory, it seems like Americans are at war over everything," Greg Forster observes. "It’s time to live and let live: Put parents back in charge through school choice."

Parents' children, parents' choice

"Looks like I was right this summer when I predicted that in Oklahoma’s coming legislative year, opponents of school choice would focus their media messaging on 'accountability,'" Greg Forster writes. "In fact, the only effective accountability system for schools is to give the power back to the people who ought to have had it in the first place—the parents. The results of government 'accountability,' by contrast, are on display in the government school system."

OCPA, BLM decry Oklahoma's segregated public schools

Some wealthy public school districts, where geographic boundaries have the effect of keeping education segregated, enjoy lavish facilities—such as this $2 million Deer Creek media center that boasts its own café.

The workings of Oklahoma’s segregation system are laid bare in stark images produced by a liberal think tank, Greg Forster points out in his latest article for OCPA. For her part, the head of the OKC Black Lives Matter chapter looked at the maps—and concluded that "racism and education disparities are still consistent and seemingly intentional even in 2021."

Seize the moment to give families a universal ESA in 2022

"There has never been a better time for Oklahoma leaders to give every family in the state control over their children’s education," Greg Forster writes. "The time is always right to do what is right, but momentum for school choice has also never been stronger."

To increase funding in Oklahoma’s public schools, give families a universal ESA

"School choice actually puts more money into the budgets of government schools, and saves money for state budgets as well," Greg Forster reminds us.

To improve public schools, give families a universal ESA in 2022

"The empirical evidence from school-choice programs across the country is clear and consistent: letting parents choose their schools makes all schools better," Greg Forster writes. "Believe it or not, the best way to improve educational outcomes in the government school monopoly is to break the monopoly."

Real accountability to parents trumps fake accountability to government

"Oklahoma passed a major expansion of one of its school choice programs this year, and the education special interests aren’t happy," Greg Forster writes. "They’re signaling that they’re about to try the same futile gambit they usually try after this kind of major legislative defeat: fake 'accountability' that takes away parental control."

Secularization and schooling

"Education policy may well be the primary contributor to the secularization of modern societies," Greg Forster writes. "Universal school choice—letting parents use their public education dollars at the school of their choice—would allow all schools (including public schools) to educate the whole person for a whole life."

Time for some genuinely critical race theory

Oklahoma's HB 1775 is a good law, Greg Forster writes.

The future of vocational education: flexibility and choice

"School choice is the future of vocational education," Greg Forster writes. "It’s better for students, better for industry, and better for our economy. Innovative approaches in Oklahoma and West Virginia can help show the way."

School choice as prophetic justice

Greg Forster marvels that some Oklahoma pastors defend a school monopoly that often destroys children’s lives in order to line the pockets of greedy, politically connected special interests.

Put parents in charge with a universal ESA

"Education is child-rearing, and it belongs to parents," Greg Forster writes. "Putting parents in charge of education through universal Education Savings Accounts is the best way to help schools cope with the challenges of the Covid crisis in a way that will actually deliver the best possible education."

School choice: The best criminal justice reform

"We hear a lot about the 'school-to-prison pipeline,' political scientist Greg Forster writes. "School choice is literally the only policy with a proven track record of doing something about it. It’s time for criminal-justice reformers to put up or shut up."

An economy of all people, by all people, and for all people

"An economy built on equal rights and freedoms for all people" is now seen by many (including those pushing The 1619 Project in schools) as a form of white supremacy, Greg Forster writes.