State Board of Education makes required 3% budget cut to preK-12 in wake of revenue failure

OKLAHOMA CITY — In the wake of a revenue failure affecting all of Oklahoma state government, the State Board of Education on Thursday approved a required 3-percent reduction in a $46.7 million funding cut for preK-12 public education. The reduction impacts the remaining six months of Fiscal Year 2016, which ends June 30.

“There is no denying that this cut poses serious challenges for school districts during a time in which every dollar already is precious, and not all districts will be affected the same way. But the State Board of Education and Oklahoma State Department of Education have addressed the required cuts as fairly and judiciously as possible, while attempting to minimize student impact,” said State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister.

While the cuts are certain to have a significant effect on Oklahoma’s 550-plus school districts (a figure that includes charters and co-ops), Hofmeister and her fellow board members were able to soften the blow by transferring $4.6 million from the Public School Activities appropriation to the State Aid Funding Formula that provides the bulk of money to school districts.

Each line item in School Activities took a minimum 3-percent cut, which includes such programs as alternative education, Teach for America, the early childhood initiative, Sooner Start and the Oklahoma Arts Institute. Four line items are contributing well above three percent to cushion a hit on the funding formula. In addition to the transferal, the board approved a $3.9 million cut in the School Activities appropriation.

After the transferal, the funding formula — also known as Financial Support for Public Schools — takes a $25 million funding cut.

Flexible Benefits Allowance funding to districts will be lessened by $12.4 million, a 3-percent cut.

The cuts will be reflected in the next six monthly payments to school districts.