During Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting, State Superintendent of Public Instruction introduced his proposed Fiscal Year 25 budget to fund education. The Oklahoma State Department of Education would ask for $3.92 billion in funding under Walters’ plan. That’s a decrease from the current funding of $3.97 billion due to the way a three-year pilot program is being funded.
Walters is calling his budget and policy proposal “Back to Basics.”
“Schools have been too focused on social experimentation and not on basic instruction that lies at the heart of our schools’ mission,” said Walters. “That’s why we are launching $8 million worth of initiatives focused on improving student outcomes. We will focus on the Science of Reading, implement the most comprehensive tutoring program in the nation, and pay our best teachers for growth in student outcomes and achievement. I look forward to expanding these programs into the future.”
Walters said an eye will be kept on student outcomes.
“Thanks to the Biden administration, inflation remains high, and Oklahoma has suffered its share of economic challenges. We are being responsive to the fiscal reality in our state and are taking historic action to direct funding toward a singular goal: student outcomes. Under my administration, OSDE will be fiscally responsible and maintain a constant eye on the return on investment of taxpayer money. We are maintaining funding levels for classroom instruction and helping to ensure that more money reaches the wallets of teachers around the state.”
The Legislature will begin to craft the education budget as part of the entire state appropriated spending plan when the next legislative session starts in February.
