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Oklahoma Teacher Walkout Enters Second Week

Jacob McCleland / Oklahoma Public Media Exchange

Updated 2:09 p.m.

It's day six of the Oklahoma teacher walkout and some students miss being in school. Administrators at Wilson Elementary in Oklahoma City arranged a play date so kids could see their friends and their teachers. StateImpact’s Emily Wendler was there.

Updated 10:05 a.m.

As the Oklahoma teacher walkout moves into its second week, the U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos was asked about it during a stop in Dallas, Texas.

“I think we need to stay focused on what’s right for kids. And I hope that adults would keep adult disagreements and disputes in a separate place, and serve the students that are there to be served.”

DeVos made similar comments in February about the West Virginia teachers strike.

Updated 9:54 a.m.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education has announced a one week extension of the Oklahoma School Testing Program. The testing window for grade 3-8 general assessments and grade 11 science assessments have been extended by one week due to the teacher walkout.

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister says the extension is essential.

“It is also critical that districts have the maximum opportunity possible to meet both state and federal requirements. Federal law requires states to assess 95 percent of the student population. This extension hopefully will prevent jeopardizing of federal funding or incurring penalty.”

ORIGINAL POST

The Oklahoma teacher walkout enters its second week today, as educators continue to rally at the state capitol for more school funding.

On Friday, the Senate passed two measures that could add another $40 million to school budgets, but the teachers union leading the walkout said it’s not enough.

In order to end the walkout, the union wants Governor Mary Fallin to veto the repeal of the $5 dollar per night hotel/motel tax, and it wants lawmakers to repeal some capital gains exemptions.

The Oklahoman reports that Representative Jon Echols of Oklahoma City, told a group of teachers this weekend that lawmakers will not repeal capital gains taxes. But Echols told the group to expect a push for additional taxes on wind energy.

Copyright 2018 KOSU

In graduate school at the University of Montana, Emily Wendler focused on Environmental Science and Natural Resource reporting with an emphasis on agriculture. About halfway through her Master’s program a professor introduced her to radio and she fell in love. She has since reported for KBGA, the University of Montana’s college radio station and Montana’s PBS Newsbrief. She was a finalist in a national in-depth radio reporting competition for an investigatory piece she produced on campus rape. She also produced in-depth reports on wind energy and local food for Montana Public Radio. She is very excited to be working in Oklahoma City, and you can hear her work on all things from education to agriculture right here on KOSU.
Ryan LaCroix joined KOSU’s staff in 2013. He hosts All Things Considered, Oklahoma Rock Show, Oklahoma Rock Show: Rewind, and Oklahoma Music Minute.
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