State Question 744: Education funding defeated by a large margin

TULSA - Oklahoma voters have flatly rejected a proposed amendment to the state constitution that would have required education spending match per-pupil spending in surrounding states.

State Question 744, known to supporters as the "Helping Oklahoma Public Education Act," became the most contentious of the eleven state questions on the ballot this mid-term election.

The initiative was sparked by the Oklahoma Education Association after the union tried, and failed, to win increased education funding through a lawsuit brought against the state.

Proponents of the measure argued that Oklahoma lags behind surrounding states in per-pupil spending. They claimed a direct correlation between education and economic competition with the other states.

Opponents, however, argued successfully that the measure, as written, did not provide a source for the increased spending, nor did it provide any clear guidelines for how the increased funding would be spent.

Indeed, opposition to SQ 744 crossed party lines, with high-profile Democrats like outgoing Gov. Brad Henry coming out against it.

A powerful coalition of groups opposed to SQ744 included the Oklahoma Farm Bureau, the State Chamber of Oklahoma, the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce, the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber, Oklahoma Public Employees, and the Oklahoma Bankers Association.

Interestingly, the idea had a great deal of support early in its inception. According to SoonerPoll.com, 65% of Oklahomans identified as "likely voters" favored SQ 744 as late as July of this year, with 21% opposed.

By late October, those numbers had completely reversed; another SoonerPoll.com study found 67% opposed, and 22% in favor.

Most of those opposed to SQ 744 agreed that Oklahoma needs to address educational funding issues. The most recent figures from the National Education Association rank the state 46th nationally for per-pupil expenditures ($8,006 compared to a national average of $10,190) and 48th for average teacher salary ($43,846 compared to $54,319 nationally) in 2008-2009.

The regional average for per-pupil spending, according to the same study, was $9,414, and the regional average for teacher pay was $46,195.