Legislation that would require schools to devote at least half their budget to classroom learning is headed to a vote of the full Oklahoma House of Representatives, but the bill continues to receive opposition from education entities that argue even less money should be spent on direct student learning.
As originally filed, House Bill 1280, by state Rep. Chad Caldwell, would have required that at least 60 percent of a school district’s annual budget go to “instructional expenditures” starting in the 2025-2026 school year.
But Caldwell amended the bill in the House Appropriations and Budget Committee to reduce the mandate.
“We’re going to ask our schools to go ahead and spend at least 50 percent of their budget in the classroom,” said Caldwell, R-Enid.
Under the bill, schools that fail to spend at least half of their funding on instructional activities for four years would be required to “increase compensation for all teachers in the school district.”
Caldwell has previously noted that an average of 62 percent of school spending goes to instructional costs nationwide, while the average in Oklahoma is 58 percent. He said 37 states spend a larger share of school dollars on classroom instruction than what occurs, on average, in Oklahoma public schools.
Despite imposing a floor far lower than national norms, some lawmakers and at least one lobbyist entity opposed requiring that even half of K-12 funds go to instructional use.
The Oklahoma State School Boards Association, a lobbyist group funded with schools’ tax dollars, has opposed the bill, claiming the legislation “is an intrusion on local control and prevents school boards from allocating funds based on the needs of students.”
State Rep. Meloyde Blancett, D-Tulsa, asked Caldwell how many schools “would have to shift funds” to comply with HB 1280.
It’s estimated that more than 150 Oklahoma public-school districts, out of more than 500 total, currently spend less than 50 percent of their revenue on classroom instruction.
According to state data, the Oklahoma City school district, one of the state’s largest districts, is among that group. Despite having per-pupil funding well above the state average, the Oklahoma City district still spends less than 48 percent of its funds on instruction. State data show that Oklahoma City’s per-pupil funding has increased by 63 percent since 2018.
Caldwell said any shifting of funds would ultimately achieve a goal most legislators claim to support.
“The most likely recipient of an increased focus on classroom funding is going to be our schoolroom teachers,” Caldwell said. “This is a teacher pay-raise bill.”
It’s estimated that more than 150 Oklahoma public-school districts, out of more than 500 total, currently spend less than 50 percent of their revenue on classroom instruction.
HB 1280 passed the House Appropriations and Budget Committee on an 18-12 vote. The legislation previously passed the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee on a 6-4 vote. The bill now proceeds to the floor of the Oklahoma House of Representatives.
According to financial data reported by schools to the state’s Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS), Oklahoma public schools received $9,600,703,488 in new revenue in the 2023-2024 school year. Since student enrollment was 698,923 in the 2023-2024 school year, that comes out to an average of $13,736 per pupil. That’s a 51 percent increase in per-pupil revenue since the 2017-2018 school year.