Study: Oklahoma maintains streak of deepest state-aid cuts to schools since '08 recession

A new report from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities shows Oklahoma’s cuts to per-pupil funding for public schools are nearing 25 percent, by far the deepest in the nation since the economic recession struck in 2008. Oklahoma is one of only a dozen states that continued to cut general support for schools this year even as the national economy recovered.  “Instead of investing in Oklahoma children, Oklahoma lawmakers are giving them teacher shortages, growing class sizes, and disintegrating textbooks,” said Gene Perry, policy director for the Oklahoma Policy Institute.  “That will make it harder for the next generation of Oklahomans to compete for jobs, and it will deprive local businesses of a well-trained workforce and a strong customer base,” he said.