Oklahoma lawmakers consider simplifying school funding formula

OKLAHOMA CITY — State lawmakers are in the early stages of possibly changing Oklahoma’s complex school funding formula, which has remained virtually unchanged for 36 years despite major shifts in public education and student needs.

“The main reason the (funding) formula hasn’t been touched ... is when you mess with it there is going to be winners and losers,” said Matt Holder, deputy superintendent of finance and federal programs for the state Department of Education.

Holder recently gave a presentation to a newly created task force that is charged with making recommendations to improve the state funding formula by the end of 2018, The Oklahoman reported.

But any proposed changes would likely face political opposition as it could result in some schools receiving less funding.

Read more: http://www.swtimes.com/news/20171106/oklahoma-lawmakers-consider-simplifying-school-funding-formula