On Tuesday, Feb. 24, we had hundreds of education supporters visit the State Capitol for Public Schools Day, part of the larger Public Schools Week. This annual event recognizes the work of the thousands of educators who teach students in our local school districts.
This was a good chance to review the work the Legislature has done over the past eight years to increase teacher pay and classroom funding, and the efforts we are undertaking this year to improve student academic outcomes.
From 2018 to 2024, legislative appropriations to common education grew by over $1 billion. For FY26, Oklahoma education funding reached record levels—nearly $4 billion in state appropriations. Education is the largest category of public funding every year getting nearly half of the state appropriated budget. It will be the same this year.
At the same time, we hope to expand efforts to ensure students are reading on grade level by the time they finish third grade. We hope to extendthecellphonebanduringthe school day past the current school year. Many school administrators and teachers have said this has improved student focus and learning. We’re discussing adding more math instruction. We also want to expand the Inspire to Teach scholarship so we can get more candidates in the teaching pool to help with our teacher shortage. We are looking at expansion of the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship for students of public school teachers. And we hope to increase the utilization of the teacher career ladder to help teachers advance if they wish, while allowing them to continue to teach, if that is their true passion.
In addition to the wide support for our public schools, we’re considering a few reforms to help our homeschool students more easily access college and opportunities for parents who want their child to be alternatively educated.
In the meantime, our oversight committees are meeting to consider a number of bills that passed out of policy committees.
My House Bill 3882 passed the full Appropriations and Budget Committee. This bill would create the Lake and Industrial Access Revolving Fund to be used by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation to provide grants through its Lake Access or Industrial Access programs.
I’m the vice chair of the Health and Human Services Oversight Committee. We’ve already held several meetings with full agendas.
As bills pass out of oversight committees, our work on the House floor will continue to increase. We have until March 26 for the full membership of the House to pass bills on third reading and advance them to the state Senate.
Remember, if I can help you with anything, please do not hesitate to reach out: (405) 557-7383 or Josh. Cantrell@OKHouse.gov.
Josh Cantrell serves District 49 in the Oklahoma House of Representatives. His district includes Love County and parts of Carter and Marshall counties.