Report Says Student Poverty Down In Tulsa

The Associated Press

OKLAHOMA CITY -- A report shows an increase in student poverty in Oklahoma this year, but not in Tulsa.

According to state School Superintendent Sandy Garrett, the percentage of state students qualifying for free and reduced lunches rose about 1 percent over a year ago to 51.2 percent.

Garrett said Friday it is tragic so many state students are from homes where parents are struggling to provide food.

She said the infusion of funds from the federal stimulus package will help meet the student needs.

According to the report, poverty in Oklahoma City schools increased from 81.9 percent to 85.5 percent, while it declined from 82.9 percent to 76.9 percent in Tulsa, the state's largest school district.

Garrett questioned whether the big dip in poverty had actually occurred Tulsa or if there was a lag in paperwork used for the report.