TULSA, Okla. — Many parents and teachers say this session, the voice of schools was heard. They look at everything from the teacher pay raise to charter school oversight as a step in the right direction.
"We're really looking forward to increased transparency. We think that any entity that receives taxpayer money should be held to the same transparency and accountability standards," Bixby PLAC chair Lisa Kramer said.
Other moments caused frustration for educators: such as suggested limits for four-day school weeks and the failure of the COLA bill.
"I think the cost of living adjustment not getting through is a real loss for education. We've got retired educators, teachers who really devoted their lives to teaching and taking care of our kids. To not honor them... they've gone 11 years now without a cost of living increase," Tulsa PLAC founder JJ Burnam said.
The Tulsa Parent Legislative Action Committee started in March. Burnam said even in just two months, he noticed advocacy efforts make an impact.
"I think if you don't have organized voices engaging with the legislature you lose sight of the bills, and as they morph from one thing to another. Things just get passed before anyone has a chance to say anything about it," he said.
This was the first year for a statewide PLAC, and new districts are forming all the time. Founders plan to host an advocacy conference this summer to keep the momentum going into next year's session.
"We hear from legislators that they want PLACs in their district because they want the dialogue and they want to be supported by public education advocates. So it's not just schools and parents but legislators too which has been really nice," Kramer said.
Now advocates are waiting on a budget before deciding what comes next.
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