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Oklahoma’s House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed school choice legislation on Wednesday, leading to applause from the state’s governor.
“This bill is really going to push Oklahoma forward, and I think it’s the most expansive education parents choice bill in the country.” Gov. Kevin Stitt told Fox News. “We all want the best education for our kids, and this is going to empower parents. It basically has a scholarship that’s going to be attached to every kid.”
“We’re injecting some competition into the education system and that’s a good thing,” he added.
UNIVERSAL SCHOOL CHOICE GROWS IN POPULARITY AS MORE GOP-LED STATES EXPAND OPTIONS FOR STUDENTS
The push for school choice includes two pieces of legislation that gives an additional $500 million for public schools — including a $2,500 pay raise for teachers — and a refundable tax credit that parents can use on homeschooling, private schools or designated education-related expenses.
All parents, regardless of income, will receive $5,000 per child going to a private school and $2,500 per child for homeschooling. Leftover funds can be used on costs related to a child’s education including tutoring services, textbooks, instructional materials, Advanced Placement exams, fees for college admissions tests and more.
“It’s got a great teacher pay raise,” Still said “We have to attract and make sure we can maintain the very best professionals in that industry and recruit them and retain them because the magic happens when we have our best teachers teaching in the classroom.”
The first bill guaranteeing the tax credit passed 75 to 25 mostly along party lines, with six Republicans voting against it. The second bill, which increased appropriations, passed 78 to 23.
TEACHERS UNIONS ARE TRYING TO TRAP KIDS IN THEIR INSTITUTIONS, SCHOOL CHOICE ADVOCATE SAYS. WATCH:
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“I think this bill is amazing and is allowing money to follow students and not just a zip code school…
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