One legislative work week is left until an annual deadline in Oklahoma.
"We’re trying to continue a dialogue about education funding and revenue sources for education funding, and we’re coming up on the April 1 deadline, the statutory deadline for us to fund education in Oklahoma," said Senate Democratic Leader Kay Floyd.
It appears lawmakers will again miss it the education funding deadline. Some have suggested it's no big deal. Sen. Carri Hicks said she’s already received a kindergarten enrollment packet for her son, indicating schools don't see it that way.
"So, they are already trying to get a good idea of their staffing needs and requirements, but what is a hindrance is to know how much funding you’re actually going to be able to receive in order to be able to fill those needs," Hicks said.
Some lawmakers have proposed scrapping the deadline because districts draw up contracts before that, but others say districts grapple with uncertainty until funding is set. Hicks said she recently spoke to a teacher with 28 years experience on her district’s "reduction in force" list with funding up in the air for now.
"Those are your most valuable assets, and that’s what’s being looked at whenever we don’t have the funding in order to meet the needs of our students," Hicks said.
Educators have been pushing lawmakers for increased classroom funding, but lawmakers’ main education-related spending bill thus far has been for a $1,200 teacher pay raise.
