State Board Of Education Settles Lawsuit With Oklahoma Public Charter School Association

The Oklahoma State Board of Education passed a resolution to settle a lawsuit with the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association to grant charter schools more funding despite state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister’s disapproval.

“Based on legal advice, this violates Oklahoma statutes, Oklahoma constitution and the oath that I swore to uphold when I took office,” Hofmeister said.

The resolution will allow charter schools to receive millions in funds from local and state revenue sources including the state's general and building funds. 

“Every taxpayer in Oklahoma will be affected,” Hofmeister said. “It can’t just be taken from what the people voted to do with those funds and a portion go to another county or some other place in the state or to a for-profit charter management company that has an office building in Oklahoma City and that's exactly what would happen,” Hofmeister said.

Chris Brewster with the Oklahoma Public Charter School Association said this wouldn't change much. Instead, it will level the playing field to allow students at either a traditional or charter school to have the same opportunities.

“In a nutshell, there were simply dollars that seem to us were quite clear that should be intended for the public school kid that they'll be served in charter schools but were not making it to those children,” Brewster said. “This decision by the state board would bring those dollars to bear on the kids they were generated on the behalf of.”

Hofmeister said she believes there will be legal challenges to the resolution.