OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — For the past two years, thousands of supporters of public education have thronged the Oklahoma Capitol asking legislators mostly for pay raises for teachers, increased funding for education and a reduction in the number of mandatory tests.
And for two consecutive years, they have returned to their school districts with little to show for their efforts.
As the gavel fell on the 2015 legislative session last week, legislators were unable to reach a deal to either reduce the number of mandatory tests or increase teacher pay.
The Legislature did manage to hold the common education budget flat, which was no easy task given a $611 million shortfall. But many education supporters say a standstill budget amounts to a cut because of rising fixed costs and an increased number of students.