[Weekly Wonk] Effective democracy requires more transparency in state government | History repeating in education turmoil? | Student loan crisis

The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know.  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌  ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌ ‌

Having trouble viewing this email? View it in your web browser Sunday, September 4, 2022 Subscribe  //  View latest headlines This Week from OK Policy Effective democracy requires more transparency in Oklahoma state government Oklahoma's government is one of the least transparent in the nation. In contrast to other states, the general public is largely left out of the budget process and deprived of basic expectations of government such as public debate. Business as usual — including inadequate time for budget reviews, no process for public feedback, and circumventing legislative rules — means state government cannot truly represent the values and needs of our state. [Sabine Brown / OK Policy] Policy Matters: The real issue behind the student loan crisis Policy Matters Column: Is history repeating with state's current education turmoil? (Capitol Update) Capitol Update Save Our Democracy: VOTE! | Sept. 20 Online Event To Highlight Oklahoma's Voter Registration Activities Together Oklahoma, the grassroots advocacy program for the Oklahoma Policy Institute, will host a virtual event on Sept. 20 to highlight voter registration activities across the state as part of National Voter Registration Day. "Save Our Democracy: Vote!" will be livestreamed on Tuesday, Sept. 20. Any groups planning voter registration events are encouraged to contact the event organizers.  Read More Numbers of the Day 30% - Women in the United States earned 30% less than men and that pay gap increased with age, according to Quarterly Workforce Indicators reports for the 3rd Quarter of 2020, the most recent national data available [U.S. Census] 3 - During the 2021 legislative session, Oklahoma's state budget was available for public deliberation for three days, which was the nation's third shortest such timeframe that year. The average state deliberated about their budget for 82 days. [OK Policy] 65% - Percentage of counties in Oklahoma (50 out of 77) that are designated as mental health professional shortage areas, meaning these counties lack mental health care providers. [U.S. House Committee on Ways & Means, Oklahoma Health Equity Fact Sheet]  355% - The percentage change of the nation's total student loan balance between 2004 and 2021. Americans owed nearly $1.57 trillion in outstanding student loans at the end of 2021. [New York Federal Reserve, 2022 Student Loan Data] | [Excel] $817 million - Estimated federal education funds that Oklahoma will receive in 2023 for U.S. Department of Education agency programs that allocate funds to states or local educational agencies using statutory formulas. This does not reflect all Department of Education funds that a state receives from department funds awarded on a competitive basis. [U.S. Department of Education] Weekly What's That Open Meetings Act  Oklahoma's Open Meetings Act (25 O.S. Sections 301-314) requires all public bodies to file advance notice of regularly scheduled and special meetings with the Secretary of State, as well as advance notice of changes in date, time, or location of regularly scheduled meetings. Under the Act, agendas for regular and special meetings must be posted in a publicly-accessible location for at least 24 hours prior to its meeting, and agendas must identify all items of business of the meeting. Look up more key terms to understand Oklahoma politics and government here. Quote of the Week "I can't think of a single example in history where the folks who have been banning the books turn out to be the quote-unquote good guys." -Former Norman High School teacher Summer Boismier, who resigned four days after a parent complained about a bookcase in her classroom covered in paper with the message "books the state doesn't want you to read" due to HB 1775. [The Oklahoman] Editorial of the Week Enid News & Eagle: Flaws in new law should be looked at by lawmakers As Oklahoma State Board of Education last week refused to reconsider sanctions it handed down to two districts last month under a state law prohibiting certain conversations on race, one lawmaker seems to be having a little "buyer's remorse." His remorse comes because it impacts a school district he represents. Rep. Brian Hill, R-Mustang — who voted for the law — released a statement in defense of the Mustang Public Schools district, whose accreditation was downgraded by the state board. "Regardless of the implications of this ruling, I know that our Mustang Public School teachers, administrators, coaches and support staff are among the best in the state," Hill said. He added that legislation is needed to ensure "due process" for school districts faced with a similar situation. "I'm looking into filing legislation to ensure Oklahoma's schools and citizens have protections of their rights to due process, even from unelected boards," Hill said. Well, duh. What happened with both the Tulsa and Mustang school districts is exactly what school districts had feared when House Bill 1785 was passed. District leaders complained they had very little guidance and that the verbiage of the legislation was vague and too easily up for individual interpretation. Enter the state board members hand-picked by Gov. Kevin Stitt, who led the sanctioning and warning of the two school districts, and who doubled down last week. The Oklahoma State Department of Education has rules that call for notifying a district of the department's recommendation prior to the annual accreditation meeting. With Mustang Public Schools, they did not get a chance for explanation before the board's decision to downgrade their accreditation. While we think this law was a bad idea in the first place, the least that can be done is for a school district's due process rights to be clarified and strengthened. Other state representatives and senators should take notice, because the school districts they represent may be the next targeted by the state board under this law. [Editorial / Enid News & Eagle] This Week We're Reading... Women's Equality Day: Celebrating Those Advancing Gender Equity [U.S. Department of Labor] A Better Path Forward: Focus on Transparency [Emma Morris & Paul Shinn / OK Policy]  How the Minimum Wage Affects the Health Insurance Coverage, Safety Net Program Participation, and Health of Low-Wage Workers and Their Families [Urban Institute]  Looking Back to Move Forward: A History of Student Aid [Lumina Foundation] States Can Choose Better Path for Higher Education Funding in COVID-19 Recession [Center on Budget and Policy Priorities] What's up this week at Oklahoma Policy Institute? The Weekly Wonk shares our most recent publications and other resources to help you stay informed about Oklahoma. Numbers of the Day and Policy Notes are from our daily news briefing, In The Know. Click here to subscribe to In The Know. Your support makes this possible. OK Policy is here to cut through the noise and look at the bottom line for what this means for everyday Oklahomans. Tax-deductible donations from individuals like you makes our work possible. Support with Donation Contact Oklahoma Policy Institute 907 S. Detroit Ave. #1005 | Tulsa, Oklahoma 74120 918-794-3944 | info@okpolicy.org Connect with us: Unsubscribe or Manage Your Preferences