Legislators took action on two very controversial education bills on Monday. Representative Lee Denney’s school consolidation bill failed in a committee, and Representative Jason Nelson’s Education Savings Account bill passed by a slim 9-8 vote.
Rep. Denney’s HB2824 would have required K-8 school districts with a D or F on the School Report Card to consolidate with a larger district. She said the bill would save money by reducing administration costs and would move more funds in to the classroom.
However, a large group of rural-school supporters showed up at the committee meeting to argue that their schools were more financially efficient than larger schools, and in some cases more academically rigorous. There are about 100 K-8 school districts in the state, and about 30 of them would have been affected by this bill.
There are still seven active school consolidation bills remaining.
Rep. Nelson’s House Bill 2429 also drew a large crowd of both supporters and non-supporters. His bill would create the Oklahoma Education Savings Account Act, which would allow parents to use the money the state spends sending their child to public school, and instead use that money toward something like private school tuition. Nelson says the bill would create school choice options that many families need.
But HB2429 is controversial for other reasons. First of all, it would allow parents to use tax dollars at a religious affiliated school, and there are very few accountability measures ensuring the money is used effectively.
The bill now moves to the House floor.