OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s governor on Tuesday vowed to sign a measure that he said would “level the playing field” between property-poor rural and property-rich urban and suburban school districts.
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Oklahoman
A polarizing lawsuit settlement by Oklahoma s top school board is no more, almost two months to the day that the board shocked the state by granting local tax revenue to charter schools with the agreement.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted unanimously Monday evening to rescind the settlement, pending certain stipulations.
The original agreement, approved March 25, resolved a lawsuit the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association filed in 2017. The charter school group sued for access to local tax dollars, a revenue source that supports school facilities.
The board voted then 4-3 to allow charter schools a share of local tax revenue. Until then, local dollars, such as property and motor vehicle taxes, were reserved for traditional school districts.
State Board Of Education Rescinds Charter School Funding Decision
The Oklahoma State Board of Education voted unanimously on Monday to rescind its controversial plan of providing more state funding to Oklahoma charter schools.
The narrow vote on March 25 directed a share of local tax dollars to charter schools. The decision was meant to resolve a 2017 lawsuit filed by the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association.
It was also met with criticism, including from state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. She questioned the constitutionality of the decision.
The resolution received backlash from school districts across the state which decided to take legal action.
The vote to rescind the March resolution was dependent upon dismissal of the 2017 lawsuit, a release of claims against the state Board of Education, a release of claims against the state Department of Education and the passing of Senate Bill 229.