Fast Facts:

Law passed: 1999

Most recently amended: 2023

Number of charter schools: 64

Number of charter students: 51,000

Cap on the number of schools allowed: Yes

Virtual charters allowed: Yes

Charter Law Analysis:

AUTHORIZERS: The state's creation of the new Statewide Charter School Board in 2024 is an independent replacement to the authorizing authority of the State Board of Education (which remains the accreditor), and the sole authorizer of virtual charter schools. Other entities that may authorize charters include local school districts, universities and community colleges, Native American tribes and regional universities with a teacher education program for schools in districts identified as in need of improvement. The new statewide board is also the oversight agency for all charter schools and holds sponsors accountable for the schools they sponsor. The new Board's members are appointed by the Governor, President Pro Tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. The Superintendent of Public Instruction (or a designee) and the State Auditor and Inspector (or a designee) also serve as members. They are untethered from the state education department.

GROWTH: Charter schools are permitted only in counties with more than 500,000 people or 5,000 students, unless the authorizer is the district. Despite omitting all but large communities, enrollment increased 10% in the last 4 years.

OPERATIONS: Charters get a blanket waiver from many state regulations that affect district schools unless authorized by districts.

EQUITY: Charter schools receive weighted student funding, applicable federal funds and state grants intended to match the funds that districts receive for their students but still at least 10-15% less in operational overhead. They are eligible and receive modest pre-K funds. The law provides that eligible charter schools may qualify for "redbud" grants, a form of funding to make up for a lack of property taxes, paid by the state's marijuana sales tax.

Fast Facts:

Law enacted: 2010

Most recently amended: 2023

Number of programs: 3

Statewide participation: 3,400

Types of programs: Tax-credit scholarship, voucher

Choice Laws & Analysis:

Tax-Credit Scholarship
Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act
Oklahoma's newly enacted Parental Choice Tax Credit Act offers refundable tax credits for private school tuition or other qualifying expenses. Awards "are tiered, with the lowest income bracket receiving up to $7,500, and the highest income bracket receiving up to $5,000," with priority accorded to households with incomes below $150,000. "Homeschool tax credit awards are up to $1,000, regardless of household income." These tax credits are based on the household income from two years prior to admission, meaning that the 2022 Adjusted Gross Income influences the 2024 tax credit. The scholarship covers approximately 74% of the funding allocated to traditional per-pupil students in Oklahoma. "For tax year 2024, the tax credit program is capped at $150 million. For tax year 2025, the cap is increased to $200 million. For tax year 2026 and subsequent years, the cap will be $250 million. The program is stackable with Oklahoma's other private choice programs, Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarships (Tax-Credit Scholarship) and Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities (voucher)" (EdChoice). By 2026, this extensive initiative aims to grant up to 50,000 students access to choice programming options.

Tax-Credit Scholarship
Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship
Launched in 2013, this tax-credit program offers individuals and businesses a tax-credit for qualifying donations to a scholarship granting organization (SGO). Nearly 89 percent of families meet the income-eligibility criteria, which is up to 300 percent of the free and reduced-price lunch program ($166,500 for a family of four in 2023-24). Students are also eligible if they attend a zoned public school designated by the state as "in need of improvement." Students, on average, receive scholarships of greater than $5,000 or 80 percent of the statewide average per pupil expenditure; more than 2,000 students participated in this tax-credit program in 2020-21.

Voucher
Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities
Oklahoma's Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities was started in 2010 and provides students in foster care or students with disabilities vouchers to attend a private school to best meet their needs. In order to participate, students must have an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Individualized Service Plan. This program has no income limit or enrollment caps in place. Only 17 percent of students are eligible statewide. In the 2022-23 school year, nearly 1,200 students participated. On average, the voucher amounts to nearly $8,000, which is roughly 80 percent of the average per-pupil expenditure in Oklahoma's traditional district schools.

USE OF STUDENT DATA IN EVALUATING TEACHER PREP

"Oklahoma does not currently use student achievement or growth data to hold teacher preparation programs accountable."

This is just one indicator from The National Council on Teacher Quality, which collects and analyzes states on how well their policies and practices lead to well-prepared teachers. They collect data on state laws and regulations concerning the preparation of teachers, the policies that govern their oversight and the contracts that guide their employment. Learn more about your state here.