Oklahoma City Public Schools has taken legal action to halt a controversial Oklahoma State Board of Education policy to equalize funding of charter and traditional public schools. The injunction is designed to stop some state and local tax revenues from going to charters.
The policy comes via a resolution to settle a 2017 lawsuit filed by the Oklahoma Public Charter Schools Association. The settlement means charters are entitled to local and state tax revenues they were previously denied.
Oklahoma City Public Schools anticipates it will cost the district millions of dollars and filed an injunction late Wednesday to prevent the resolution from being signed.
The injunction says the resolution violates state law because charter schools are supposed to be precluded from the revenues the state education board insisted they should receive.
In a statement, Oklahoma Public Charter Schools Association president Chris Brewster said OKCPS is trying to protect the status quo, which he referred to as a flawed system.
"The settlement approved by the state board ensures funding will be received by the school district that is actually educating the student. It’s the only fair and equitable way to fund public schools," Brewster said. "Our state’s public charter students and families deserve the same educational opportunities as their peers in traditional schools."
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