A Parent’s Voice for Public Education
I am a parent.
My daughter is in preK and embarking on her school years. That means that I am embarking on my journey as a public school parent. It can be a scary place, wanting the best for my daughter but not always knowing what I can do to support and help her school. In Oklahoma, public education is in a scary place. It is a new passion of mine to do what I can to make the next 13 years of my daughter’s school career the best it can be. It is painfully obvious that the majority of our elected officials don’t seem to be listening to educators these days…. but they need to start listening to parents.
As a parent, I believe in the power and importance of public education. A community’s future depends on the education of its citizens. Maybe 100 years ago, public schools had a different role than they do today. But in our global society, public schools serve the needs of all students and families. For many students, school is the safest place they can be and the best hope to build a future for themselves.
Public school can and should be:
- a place where students feel safe, challenged, and encouraged
- a place where students are able to make mistakes and be creative
- a place where they learn how to get along with their peers but also how to work collaboratively with them, even when they disagree or don’t get along
- a place where students are exposed to not only the foundations of reading, writing, and arithmetic but also exposed to innovative ideas and engaging learning opportunities in all content areas
- a place where parents, communities, teachers, and administrators work together, striving for the best interest of all students but also the best student of each student
Currently in Oklahoma, the state aid for schools is approximately $3,000 per pupil. That breaks down to about $17 a day per pupil. Last time I checked, most teenage babysitters charge $15-20 an hour.
I am sure there are a ton of complicated formulas and other factors, but as a parent, I am not an expert in school funding.
Can someone help me understand why we currently have the lowest per pupil funding in over 5 years? Or why Oklahoma remains the lowest in our regional per pupil funding? Or why although we have steadily increased in the number of students in our schools, we have had the highest percentage of education funding cuts in the nation?
Since I don’t understand, I have had several conversations with administrator and experts in local schools to help me understand. The only answer we can come up with is that Public Education is not a priority for our elected officials. Or put more simply, the education of our states future generation and future leaders is not a priority for the majority of men and woman we have elected to represent us at the Capital in OKC.
Our school superintendent and Governor like to blame the cuts on everything from the recession to ObamaCare. They do brag that even in the midst of a struggling budgets, they increased the public school budget last year. What they fail to mention, is that because OK had an INCREASE in the number of students in the public schools there was a DECREASE in the per pupil funding, even with the increase budgeted by the legislator in 2013.
I know that throwing money at schools is not the answer, but as a parent, I am pretty sure that this great state can do better than 17 Dollars a day. Yes, local taxes and federal dollars supplement state aid, which increases our per pupil funding overall to about $8,500. But even with those added, OK is still lowest in the region by at over $1,000 per pupil.
As parents, we can ALL tell our stories and urge our legislator and state leadership to start limiting or removing some of the unfunded, underfunded, and harmful (based on years of educational research) reforms like:
- The retention clause of the Reading Sufficiency Act. Although this law has been in place for almost a decade, in 2011 the OK legislature added the retention clause that removes a parents voice from the process. In all of its years of implementation, RSA has never been fully funded. This year, schools received about 30$ per qualified student to implement one of the most overreaching reforms our state has seen. Supporting and intervening as a student learns to read it vital. It my daughter struggles over the next few years, I know it is my job to work with her teachers to support her however I can. Retention is not an evil thing. But a crucial part of making retention successful is parental support and by-in. RSA can work, but it has to involve all parties without high stakes. By the way, I have yet to ever see any article that shows me that a standardized test is even a good way to improve my child’s learning. Still not convinced, ask a third grade teacher how they feel.
- High Stakes End Of Instruction tests for High School students. Colleges don’t care if students pass these exams. Neither do vo-techs, welding schools, beauty colleges, or any other job or post high school training that our high school grads will face. No one cares. All the EOIs seem to do is stress out students and teachers, give the SDE data to crunch, and make some students feel like dropping out might be their best option. Companies and colleges want employees who can think, problem solve, adapt, and communicate clearly. How many EOIs test those skills?
- TLE and other teacher evaluation systems based on test scores and faulty value added calculations. People are complex beings. Schools are complex communities. Teacher evaluations, based on test scores and value added models, do little to harness the complexity that is a student or school. It doesn’t improve student achievement, but it does drive good teachers out of education.
- A/F School Report Cards. As a parent, this is probably one of the most embarrassing things about public education in Oklahoma. It is painfully obvious to almost every parent I have talked to that this system means nothing. A parent knows how their child’s school is doing. If they don’t, I am sure all public schools would welcome a parent to come spend time in the building, see what is going on, and get involved in their child’s education. All the A/F Report Card does is label and degrade schools by things that are out of their control. It is a fickle system and even that coveted A’s could easily be B’s or C’s next October based on the faulty statistics used. This recent article in the Tulsa World is a great example.
- Tax Cuts! Budgets are tight statewide and tax cuts are not the solution that is best for Oklahoma. Many departments are facing cuts again this year including DHS, Prisons, Mental Health, and transportation. The tax cuts proposed this year will net less than 80$ in the pocket of the 80% of Oklahomans. Tax cuts are not proven to stimulate the economy or provide for lasting growth. OK Policy does a great job of breaking down this issue and how it impacts Oklahoma.But…What can we as parents do?
Contact your legislators. Most of our elected officials DO listen to citizens. But remember, they also hear from paid lobbyists from mega-corporations who push for laws that profit their bosses. That is why it is VITAL for citizens to contact them. There are so many issues that they need to hear from REAL PARENTS about. Remember, most legislators don’t have children in public schools, so they don’t realize what is truly happening within our public schools. We have to tell our stories! Go here to find contact information for your legislators. It sounds intimidating, but you can do it. You can either email or call. If you are adventurous, get a group of friends together and head up to the capital to chat with them. You are a tax payer. They represent you. Tell them how you feel.
- Make your message short and sweet
- Say where you are from
- Be passionate, but not crazy or extreme
- Tell why you are against it, how it affects your children
- No threats, just show your concerns
- Ask them to propose and/or support laws that fix the problem (taken from a TN Parent Group’s page)
Follow groups like Tulsa Parents Legislative Action Committee (PLAC), Central OK PLAC, Sand Springs PAAT, Cleveland Co PLAC, Pontatoc County PLAC,Oklahoma PTA. We are trying to get as much information out to parents as possible so YOU can know where YOU stand on the issues and how those issues impact YOUR children and family. When important bills are being heard in the house or senate, we try to get the word out so you can contact those voting on it. Last week, parents and educators rallied and as a result, the voucher bill was defeated in committee. Our voices were heard. It works. It is empowering.
Join with educators at the Capital on March 31st. Parents voices are IMPORTANT and POWERFUL. This rally is not just for teachers and administrators. PARENTS can rally for their children just like teachers can rally for their students. If you are unsure how this impacts your school, set up a time to meet with your principal. Ask other parents. Attend PLAC meetings (like the one in NORMAN on MARCH 4th). If your school board has voted to send representative teachers instead of the dismissing school for the day, adopt a teacher to represent at the Capital.
Follow education blogs and #oklaed on twitter. New blogs are popping up everyday. There are blogs written by parents, principals, teachers, retired teachers, and even anonymous education experts.
Here is my story. My reason for speaking out.
This is Dani. She is our world. She is the child for whom we prayed. She is half princess, half superhero. She is creative, loving, inquisitive, and a tad ornery. As of today, she wants to be a princess superhero when she grows up. She loves to read books and tell stories. Frozen is her favorite movie (of course) and she loves the idea that she doesn’t need a prince to be strong. Now that she is in school, a whole new world is opening up to her. She was telling me the other day all about the books her teacher is reading to her and the songs she is learning in music class. It is my responsibility and honor to advocate so her learning experiences in public school are amazing and she can be a Superhero Princess or anything else she wants to be.
Large living and learning at pioneer 
15 responses to “A Parent’s Voice for Public Education”
It was literally like you read my mind while writing this blog. We have another great group to join on FB called Oklahoma Parents and Educators for Public Education and our focus is exactly what you have stated. I also have no political background and no experience with school funding but my boys are my world and they are my reasons.
Oklahoma Public schools are one of the main reasons we are choosing to leave the state and head to Kansas. The teachers in Oklahoma are amazing, and with so little to work with its a wonder they accomplish what they do. I say level the whole “system” and start fresh. Don’t put the lower performers in with the higher achievers. It doesn’t make them work harder or suddenly make their parents take a vested interest in their education-it distracts from the students and parents who expect to get a good education and it is exhausting for the teachers who must constantly dumb-stuff down because they are worried about their test scores. Get some teachers at the Capitol and let the “boots on the ground” make the decisions for once. I wish you all good luck and hope you can pull it off!
Instead of “rallying” and constantly griping about how your kids don’t have enough and aren’t being provided with everything you think they should, here’s a thought– get a job!! Get 2 jobs. Why can’t YOU (the parent) donate to the school instead of DEMANDING that the government increase the funding. It’s not the government that’s paying more for your kids, it’s the childless, hardworking taxpayers that get to pay for your child deductions, EICs, schooling, food stamps, clothers, daycare, etc. Now you want us to pay more so your kid gets more money for school. Stop having kids if you can’t afford them and stop bitching that the money coming in is not enough. You had the kids, why can’t YOU care for them? Sitting on your ass at home saying that your job as a stay-at-home mother is so hard. Get a job and pay for your kid to go to private school.
Do your children go to private school? If so, great! I’m happy you can afford it. But there are those of us who can’t! Just because I can’t afford a private school doesn’t mean I shouldn’t afford to raise a child. And whether I choose to be a stay at home mom and raise My child myself instead of paying someone to do it isn’t your business. My child and others are entitled to an education whether public or. Private.
Angela, you obviously don’t understand how this works. These laws affect every child – public, private, or home schooled. Students aren’t exempt from these tests or common core by being in private school. If you are going to leave cowardly, hate filled comments, educate yourself first. Taxes are used for schooling our children. They will be running our country and filling our economy in our old age. Wouldn’t you want them to receive the best? Or just leave them behind so they can run the US into the ground?
YOUR A IDIOT.. there is a 99% chance I make more than you and pay more in taxes than you and I do not agree with the states outlook on child education. .. not everyone who complains is poor.. idiot.
Angela, thank you for your input. Rest assured, I have a job. I am also a full time graduate student. And a full time wife and mother. I am a year away from a doctoral degree. Not only do I care for and raise my own daughter, my husband and I are foster parents who help care for children whose own families cannot care for them for a variety of reasons. Again, I appreciate your input and wish you all the best.
Some people like the selfish, self-serving, hypocrite above really makes my blood boil. I don’t know who you are (Angela from March 3 @ 4:15p.m. above) but the parent (Nicole) who wrote this article is spot on.
The article expresses what many feel and would love to say. The article presents the many obstacles that we as educators are facing every day. The reason you teach isn’t for the money, it’s because you love children. You teach because you have the desire to help make their life rewarding and never think of the obstacles as a teacher you have to overcome to help those children succeed. Most teachers also have children and see the value of an education not only for their own but that every child deserves to have a free public education!! Why? Because they can then become a tax-paying citizen with a great job and bright future… obviously because they have the knowledge and skill to contribute to our society.
People like you (Angela from March 3 @ 4:15p.m. above) should pay back the things you have became accustomed to provided by tax dollars of parents who work!! Because you obviously do not have children, or if you do… you send to private schools. That’s ok.. great, you have money to do that.. your choice. Let’s see how fast you cry ‘wolf’ if you ever need a firefighter, a policeman, a first responder, hey… why don’t you even start constructing your own roads to drive on so you don’t have to associate with the ‘common’ folk.
I for one will be at the Rally… I for one am an advocate for our kids. My children have been my life and would do anything for them. But, I won’t be around forever and they have to be independent and make a life for themselves. An education is the road to their success. I don’t mind working and doing my share and have for over 30 years in the classroom. Our kids, our families, our communities, the underprivileged children who we see that didn’t choose their circumstance…. are worth fighting for!
At one time I planned to become a teacher. I attended college in OK, however, I changed my mind and went into another career. Parents have to be involved at the school level, but they also have to be involved at the state level. Know who is running for the state offices. The governor, education director, your state legislators are all key to getting the best school funding passed. Do research on what these people have actually done in their life. Pay attention to not only what they say, but more importantly, what they do. They’ll say anything to get your vote, but have their actions backed that up. When you do find a candidate that you feel you can trust, work for that candidate. It’s hard work to get elected. I see so many people complaining, however, when I point out they need to get involved in the campaign, they balk. No time, not interested in politics. You better get interested. Don’t vote by political party. That’s what has been happening far too long in this country. I wish you the best.
“Don’t vote by political party” So True!! This has always been one of my biggest frustrations with Oklahoma voters! Many candidates depend on straight party voters to get elected. I am all about getting information out to parents so they can make informed decisions and begin to see the danger in straight party line voting.
That being said…the June primary is CRUCIAL, regardless of your affiliation. Republicans and Democrats alike have to get out and vote this Summer.
I would like to introduce myself by saying that I am a third grade teacher in Oklahoma City. This is my first year as a contract teacher, but it is not my first year with third graders. I am glad to see you advocating for parents and their responsibility to contact legislators. It is what every school needs. However, I would like to challenge two of your points. First, the Reading Sufficiency Act is important and valuable. Going through college, I thought it was the stupidest thing our state had ever conceived, and I had no desire to be a part of it, but my experiences this year in a low-income school have shown me differently. Teachers tell parents from kindergarten that a child needs to be retained because of developmental delays, but the parent refuses to allow it. The child continues on with below-average grades and abilities until upper grade teachers give up on him. I am disappointed that parents have lost their say in this case, but I have students who are reading two years below grade level and their parents do not want them retained. They might get a D on their report cards to pass, but they can’t be successful in fourth grade. The RSA is an exit exam for third graders. Because of this, I hope it will reduce the negative stigma of retention and encourage parents to truly consider why a teacher is telling them to retain their child in earlier years. I do believe that we should have stricter entrance regulations for kindergarten, though, to prevent students from entering school before they are developmentally ready. I truly hate high-stakes testing, and I think children can prove their reading capabilities through more reliable methods, but I see this as a logical step. We have to do something to stop pushing students through the grades. Secondly, the Rally on March 31st is illogical. Yes, it is a great way – and one of the only – to reach our legislators. However, school districts cancelling school for the day are being unreasonable. We need that instructional day. It is also just before the testing period. I don’t want to take a day off from my students, and I won’t. I was in 6th grade in this same district when my teachers took a day off for the same reason. The only result: a day of no school and furious parents. Nothing changed. Finally, I agree that EOIs are unreasonable and unnecessary. I agree that the school report cards are unreliable and degrading. However, I see that there are too many education politicians and not enough people willing to figure out how children learn best. That’s the real problem with Oklahoma education, and that’s the real reason parents and teachers need to speak up.
Thank you for your input. I love speaking with teachers. I agree RSA was and is valuable. It has been in law in Oklahoma for more than 10 years. Maybe I should clarify, it is the automatic retention and high stakes changes to RSA that were made in 2011 and the fact that this program has never been fully funded that I see as most needing to change.
I too am torn on the idea of canceling school for the rally on the 31st. Although I don’t think it is illogical. Administrators and teachers in Oklahoma have lost their voice. Elected officials are not listening to them. I see the rally as a way for them to do something… anything. Personally, I like the idea of schools sending representatives. Correct me if I am wrong, but many schools that a certain amount of “advocacy days” built in to their contracts with local chapters of OEA.
You said: “I see that there are too many education politicians and not enough people willing to figure out how children learn best.” SO true!!
Thank you for all you do for your students!
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As an educator, I appreciate your support. I want to return the favor. Below are some errors I found on your site. I wish you well in your efforts to raise your beautiful daughter.
As a parent, I believe in the power and important (should be importance) of public education. A community’s future depends on the education of it’s (should be its) citizens… For many students, school is the safest place the(y) can be and the best hope to build a future for themselves.
Or why although we have steadily increased in the number of students in our schools (,) and (delete and) we have had the highest percentage of education funding cuts in the nation?
of our states (state’s) future generation
30$ per qualified student to implement one of them (the) most overreaching
employees that (who) can
There are so many issues that they need to hear (about) from REAL PARENTS about (delete about and add ,)and remember, most legislators don’t have children in public schools,
Thanks! I will fix those mistakes. I looked over it several times, but I should have just saved it and looked at it again after letting some time pass. I am terrible at reading what I think is there instead of what is actually on the paper when I edit too soon after I finish it.
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