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Oklahoma Per-Pupil School Spending Remains Below 2009 Levels

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi
Oklahoma Department of Education

 Oklahoma's Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi is outlining the agency's request for nearly $175 million in new funding for public schools in next year's budget.

Barresi testified Thursday before a House budget subcommittee responsible for overseeing funding for K-12 schools in Oklahoma.

The Department of Education received about $2.4 billion appropriation for the current fiscal year. The agency is requesting $2.57 billion for the fiscal year that begins July 1.

Documents from Barresi's office show a steady decline in per-pupil funding for schools from about $3,275 per student in fiscal year 2009 to about $3,032 per student in the current fiscal year. Oklahoma has added about 27,000 students during that time.

The Legislature is projected to have about $170 million less to spend on next year's budget.

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