Walters touts record levels of Title I, Part A grant funding for public schools

I'm convinced that Walters could be a more effective State Superintendent and less unnecessarily divisive, without compromising his principles, if he would ditch the immature Texas political consultant that is trying to manage his public appearance and persona. Matt Langston can't even broach what should be good news for and from Walters without throwing bombs; I'm not posting what he sent to the media, who have been antagonistic toward him and Walters in some part due to how he, in particular, has acted towards the media (it's a two-way street).

Ryan Walters Secures Record Levels of Title I, Part A Grant Funding

Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (July 17th) – Ryan Walters has secured $224,661,041 in Title I, Part A Grant Funding.* This is the largest amount in State history and will allow schools to provide a never-before-seen level of resources to Oklahoma schools. It is another record investment in education followed closely by the funding school districts received in the 2023 legislative session.

Carter: Career teachers are scant in the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame

There was an uproar - a tempest in a teapot, really - the other week over new State Superintendent Ryan Walters removing portraits in a hallway at the State Department of Education building placed in recognition of a non-governmental organization's "hall of fame". Instead of using government space to laud this one group's favorite people, he wanted to use the space to honor and recognize the parents and children that the Oklahoma State Department of Education is supposed to be working for. 

Read below for some excellent context to the kerfluffle:

CAREER TEACHERS ARE SCANT IN THE OKLAHOMA EDUCATORS HALL OF FAME

by Ray Carter | February 24, 2023

When reviewing the more than 100 individuals inducted into the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame since 1985, Ruth Genevieve Hudson stands out—because Hudson, inducted in 1994, is one of the very few career classroom teachers to make the cut.

While Hudson spent 45 years primarily teaching music at Sand Springs, Tulsa, and Blackwell Public Schools, as well as in the state of Kansas, her lengthy classroom service is in stark contrast to many of the other people honored in the educators’ hall.

Instead, the Oklahoma Educators Hall of Fame is filled with the names of politicians, union leaders, lobbyists, consultants, and individuals who worked in college settings rather than in the K-12 school system.

The hall is also filled largely with men, even though the overwhelming majority of classroom teachers are women.

“To me, it wasn’t showing respect for the classroom teachers,” said Teresa Turner, who taught school for 26 years in rural Oklahoma before retiring. “It was just showing more respect for administrators and others instead of the ones that are in the daily grind doing the work with the children.”

OCPA column: Budget theatre insults voters

Budget theatre insults voters

By Jonathan Small

When State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters recently unveiled his proposed education budget, critics immediately claimed he was seeking to cut school funding and teacher pay.

Those complaints are a product of political performance and have no basis in reality.

OCPA column: Focus on reading & graduation standards needed

Focus on reading & graduation standards needed

By Jonathan Small

In August, Allison D. Garrett, chancellor for the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, warned lawmakers that Oklahoma high-school graduates are largely unprepared for college in English, math, reading, and science.

Small: Straight-party voting a cop-out for losing candidates

Straight-party voting a cop-out for losing candidates

By Jonathan Small

Following this month’s election results, some officials claim straight-party voting is a major problem in Oklahoma. They imply many Oklahomans really wanted to vote for candidates from the other party but instead simply checked the straight-party option. Some Democrats suggest their failure in top-of-the-ballot races are a byproduct of straight-party ballots.

That’s believable only if you ignore common sense. The most high-profile race in Oklahoma this year was the governor’s race. It was literally the top spot on the ballot. Are we to believe voters really wanted to vote for Democratic candidate Joy Hofmeister rather than Republican Gov. Kevin Stitt (or vice versa) but instead checked the straight-party box and never looked a few inches down their ballots?

Humphrey asks Ethics Commission to investigate potential Hofmeister misuse of public funds

Humphrey Asks Ethics Commission to Investigate Potential Misuse of Public Funds by Gubernatorial Candidate

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Justin Humphrey, R-Lane, sent a letter Monday requesting that the Oklahoma Ethics Commission investigate whether state resources were used to further a gubernatorial candidate's campaign during the 2022 election cycle.

Humphrey pointed to an investigation by the Washington Examiner which found that the Oklahoma State Dept. of Education's website included links to Superintendent Joy Hofmeister's social media pages promoting her campaign for governor.

Election Results Map: Gov, LtGov, and State Superintendent races

Update: be sure to check out my follow-up post here, with U.S. Senate and other statewide races

I've finally gotten the time to update my long-running Election Results Maps series with some posts looking at the 2022 Oklahoma general election.

For now, we'll look at the race for Governor, Lieutenant Governor, and State Superintendent. I'll work on additional races as I find the time.

Emerson Poll: Stitt leads Hofmeister by 9%

The most recent poll of the Oklahoma gubernatorial race shows incumbent Republican Kevin Stitt pulling ahead of Democrat Joy Hofmeister. Several recent surveys had shown either a narrow Hofmeister lead or an essential tie. 

Either way, this will be a close race, and every vote counts. Here's the Emerson College Polling results:

Oklahoma 2022: Governor Stitt Leads Hofmeister by Nine; Economy is Determining Issue for Voters

(October 31st, 2022) The latest Emerson College Polling survey of Oklahoma voters finds Republican Governor Kevin Stitt with 49% support for re-election, while 40% support Democrat Joy Hofmeister. Two percent support independent Ervin Stone Yen and 1% support ​​Libertarian Natalie Bruno. Eight percent are undecided. With undecided voters’ support accounted for, Stitt’s support increases to 52% and Hofmeister to 43%. Eighty-eight percent say they will definitely vote for their candidate, while 12% say there is a chance they could change their mind before Election Day. 

Spencer Kimball, Executive Director of Emerson College Polling, said: “Hofmeister is leading among Independent voters 43% to 33%, but that is not enough to make up for the Republican advantage in Oklahoma. Stitt leads among Republican voters 75% to 15%, who are expected to be about 52% of the total vote.” 

Forty-nine percent of Oklahoma voters have a favorable view of Governor Stitt, while 47% have a negative view of him. Forty-three percent have a favorable view of Joy Hofmeister, while 47% have an unfavorable view of her. Eleven percent are unsure (8%) or have never heard of (3%) Hofmeister. 

In the race for US Senate between incumbent Republican James Lankford and Democrat Madison Horn, 57% plan to support Senator Lankford and 33% support Horn. Eight percent are undecided. With undecided voters’ support accounted for, Lankford’s support increases to 62% and Horn to 34%. 

In the special election for the US Senate, a majority of voters (56%) would vote for Republican Markwayne Mullin, while 35% support Democrat Kendra Horn. Five percent are undecided. With undecided voters’ support accounted for, Mullin’s support increases to 59% and Horn to 36%. 

The economy is the most important issue for 43% of Oklahoma voters, followed by education (15%), and abortion access (11%). 

Kimball noted, “For voters who say the economy is the top issue in determining their vote, 70% plan to vote for Stitt. By contrast, 71% of those who say education is their determining issue and 84% of those who say abortion access is their determining issue are voring for Hofmeister.”

President Joe Biden holds a 65% disapproval among Oklahoma voters, while 27% approve of the job Biden is doing. In a hypothetical 2024 matchup between President Biden and former President Donald Trump, 59% of Oklahoma voters would support Trump and 30% Biden. Ten percent would vote for someone else. 

[Full results can be downloaded in this .xlsx file from Emerson]

Methodology

The Emerson College Polling survey of Oklahoma voters was conducted October 25-28, 2022. The sample consisted of very likely voters, n=1,000, with a Credibility Interval (CI), similar to a poll’s margin of error (MOE) of +/- 3.02 percentage points. The data sets were weighted by gender, age, party registration, education, region, and race/ethnicity based on 2022 turnout modeling. It is important to remember that subsets based on gender, age, education, and race/ethnicity carry with them higher margins of error, as the sample size is reduced. Data was collected using cell phones via SMS-to-web, an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system of landlines, and an online panel.

OCPA column: Sound the alarm on Oklahoma’s academic results

Sound the alarm on Oklahoma’s academic results

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma’s 2022 National Assessment of Education Progress (NAEP) test results show Oklahoma’s academic outcomes have plummeted, have fallen far faster than most states, and are at levels below nearly all states.

Oklahoma’s NAEP score for fourth-grade reading was on a strong upswing and was actually above the national average in 2015, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister’s first year in office. It’s been downhill ever since. Today, only three states do worse.

Endorsements and Recommendations for the General Election

Tuesday, November 8th, is the Oklahoma General Election, and voters all across the state will be heading to the polls to decide who will hold elected offices for the next two to six years (depending on the position). Below are a few of my voting picks. I know I'm just a lowly blogger, but hopefully the information in this post will be helpful with your voting plans.

If you don't know where to vote, or want to see your sample ballot, use this helpful link from the Oklahoma State Election Board to find out. Early voting is Wednesday, Nov. 2nd, through Friday, Nov. 4th, from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday, Nov. 5th, from 8am to 2pm, at these locations. Election day voting is 7am to 7pm at your polling place.

CAUGHT: Hofmeister's Dep't of Education scrubs site of links to her campaign after Washington Examiner report

Let's just say Democrat gubernatorial candidate Joy Hofmeister hasn't had a great 24 hours.

It started with her going on camera to say that, when it comes to immigration issues, she supports Sanctuary Cities.

Then there was this Washington Examiner article, Democratic nominee for Oklahoma governor appears to have 'violated' state laws, experts say:

Hofmeister says she supports Sanctuary Cities

From the Daily Caller:

Democratic Gubernatorial Candidate Says She Supports Sanctuary Cities
SARAH WEAVER
October 26, 2022  --  4:25 PM ET

Democratic Oklahoma governor candidate Joy Hofmeister said she supports sanctuary cities during a campaign event Saturday.

Stitt blasts Hofmeister for failing Oklahomans in education

STITT BLASTS DEMOCRAT OPPONENT FOR FAILING OKLAHOMANS IN EDUCATION

October 24, 2022 (Oklahoma City, Okla.) – Governor Kevin Stitt blasted Democrat Superintendent Joy Hofmesiter today after the Nation's Report Card showed Oklahoma's test scores have had one of the steepest drops in the nation:

Oklahoma’s education “Report Card” shows devastating student learning loss

Oklahoma’s Education “Report Card” Shows Devastating Student Learning Loss

State’s Decline in Reading and Math Scores are Twice as Bad as National Average

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 24th) – American Federation for Children – Oklahoma (AFC-OK) today called on state leaders in education to pursue systemic change to address plummeting student achievement.

A report released today by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows alarming declines in student performance in both math and reading in Oklahoma. While attributable in part to the COVID-19 pandemic, student performance in Oklahoma has declined throughout Superintendent Joy Hofmeister’s tenure, which began in 2015.

Stitt ad: special interests bought Hofmeister because they can't control Stitt

After taking hits from pro-Hofmeister dark money groups for over a year, Governor Stitt's reelection campaign is going on the offensive:

NEW TV AD: SPECIAL INTERESTS CAN’T CONTROL KEVIN STITT

“Special interest bought Joy Hofmeister who fought to keep schools closed while test scores plummeted.”

October 26, 2022 (Oklahoma City, Okla.) – The Stitt for Governor 2022 campaign launched today a new statewide television ad highlighting how Democrat State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister is bought by special interests who have spent at least $25 million to date in the election cycle to cover up her record of closing classrooms, leading the nation in public schools with plummeting test scores, and advocating for a laundry list of tax hikes.

Oklahomans for Life: Hofmeister betrays the unborn, vows to repeal pro-life law

From Tony Lauinger, Oklahomans For Life state chairman:

Joy Hofmeister Betrays Unborn Children, Vows to Repeal Oklahoma’s Pro-Life Law

Gov. Kevin Stitt Has Been Pro-Life Champion

In a stunning betrayal of unborn children, gubernatorial candidate Joy Hofmeister has reversed the pro-life commitment she made when she entered public office. When she was elected Superintendent of Public Instruction in 2014, she promised to defend unborn children from abortion. Now she has abandoned that commitment. 

Small: ACT trends hold warning for state’s economic future

ACT trends hold warning for state’s economic future

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma’s future economic growth is linked to the quality of today’s education system. That’s why the latest round of ACT test scores is reason for concern. Academic outcomes have declined almost continuously for eight years now. If we don’t reverse that trend, today’s children will be deprived of opportunity and state growth will be stymied.

Oklahoma students achieved an average composite score of just 17.9 on the ACT test given last spring. That was the third-lowest average among the 50 states. Making things worse, the national average ACT composite test score was the lowest seen in three decades.

Stitt: did Hofmeister use scandal-ridden Epic Charter School donors to repay her personal campaign loans?

This release from the Stitt campaign came directly after the gubernatorial debate Wednesday night:

State Sup Hofmeister trading Epic donations for??

Oklahoma City, October 19th   |  Governor Kevin Stitt tonight questioned State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister why she has not given back more than $50,000 in donations from Epic Charter School administrators to her campaigns.

The reason is clear. From 2016-2018, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister was taking donations from Epic Charter Schools to pay down her debt simultaneously while Superintendent Hofmeister was considering an application by Epic Charter’s administrators to expand their operations in Oklahoma.

RGA joins gubernatorial race with ads hitting Hofmeister

The Republican Governor's Association is out with a new ad hitting Democrat gubernatorial candidate Joy Hofmeister. The RGA Right Direction PAC is putting at least a million dollars into supporting GOP incumbent Kevin Stitt in this race:

New Ad: Hofmeister & Biden Raised Gas Prices & Cost Oklahoma Jobs

October 18, 2022  |  WASHINGTON, D.C. – The RGA Right Direction PAC today released a new ad explaining how Joy Hofmeister and Joe Biden both raised gas prices and put 90,000 Oklahoma jobs at risk. Life hasn’t been easy under Biden’s leadership and Oklahoma needs a leader who will fight back against his radical agenda, not support it.

Republicans must not sleep on the Governor's race

You're looking at the face of the Governor of Oklahoma from January 2023 to January 2027. If Republicans sleep on this race, it could be the one on the left (God forbid). 

"Oklahoma is the reddest of the red", an often-used phrase in GOP politics here in Oklahoma.

Well, not exactly.

While it's true that the state legislature is dominated by Republicans, all statewide office holders since 2010 have been elected as Republicans, and a majority of registered voters now are Republican, Oklahoma is not quite as red as one might think.