Oklahoma House Speaker Charles McCall: 'I don't plan to hear' private school voucher bill

A key school choice bill that would pay for students to attend private schools or homeschool could be dead in its tracks, despite open support from the governor.

House Speaker Charles McCall said on Thursday that Senate Bill 1647 — called the Oklahoma Empowerment Act — won't get a hearing in his chamber, potentially killing the bill before its arrival.

McCall, R-Atoka, said the bill isn't a priority among House members.

"I don't plan to hear that bill this year," McCall told reporters Thursday.

Senate Pro Tem Greg Treat, the author of the bill, said he is "more determined than ever to charge that hill."

"Nothing will stop me from persisting until all parents regardless of their race, zip code, or income, are able to find the right fit for their child," Treat said in a statement after McCall voiced opposition to SB 1647.

Rural lawmakers are particularly concerned with the legislation, McCall said.

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The bill would allow any student to use state funds to cover private-school or homeschool costs. However, far fewer private schools exist in rural Oklahoma, which McCall said is a "geographical issue."

While speaking to reporters earlier in the day, Treat, R-Oklahoma City, called it a "false narrative" to say no school choice options exist in rural areas. He said the legislation could prompt new private schools to open.

McCall cast doubt on private-school vouchers being a help to rural students.

"The obvious question for a person that lives in Atoka, Oklahoma, population 3,000 people, 12,000 in the county, (is) what does a kid with a voucher do?" McCall said. "What do they do with that? The population is so sparse that are there going to be options that really pop up? So, yeah, that definitely would be the rural concern for the members I serve with, including myself."

Oklahoma's school choice bill called 'killer' of rural schools

The bill is among Treat's principal pieces of legislation this year. Gov. Kevin Stitt touted it in his State of the State speech on Monday while pledging to support any legislation that would expand school options for families.

The bill would allow parents to set aside state funds in an account and spend the money on costs related with their children's education, as long as the students don't attend public schools.

Five states have enacted laws to create education savings accounts. The bill is similar to model legislation from the American Legislative Exchange Council, a conservative think tank.

However, some states, including Florida and Tennessee, limited their programs to apply only to students with disabilities. Oklahoma already has a state-funded initiative, known as the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship, that pays private-school tuition for students with disabilities.

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A spokesperson for the governor responded to McCall's comments by saying Stitt and 86% of Oklahoma parents support education savings accounts, referencing a poll from a school choice organization.

Concern has grown over the bill's potential impact on public-school funding.

State schools Superintendent Joy Hofmeister called it a "killer" for rural schools that draw most of their budget from state funding.

The current version of the legislation would remove dollars from the education funding formula, the principal source of state funds for public schools.

"Ultimately, what you will see is fewer dollars for those in Oklahoma public schools, those neighborhood schools within our communities that are going to serve every child that walks in the door," said Hofmeister, who is running for governor as a Democrat.

Concerns about transparency and oversight surround Oklahoma private school voucher bill

Treat pledged the bill won't decimate public school funding, despite it allowing families to take public dollars elsewhere. He did not provide details on how the state would hold its education funding steady.

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A total of $9,399 is dedicated per student to fund Oklahoma public schools, but state appropriations contribute between $3,500 and $5,200 per student, depending on the child's grade level, said Carolyn Thompson, chief of government affairs for the state Education Department.

Now is the wrong time to divert funds away from public schools, said Shawn Hime, executive director of the Oklahoma State School Boards Association.

"That's redirecting money that we finally started to make up ground (on) and get our teachers to a more competitive pay structure, redirecting money away from Oklahoma students to fund private school students or homeschool students where there's no accountability, no transparency," Hime said.

Private schools that receive taxpayer funds wouldn't have to report how they use the money, under the current version of the bill.

They also wouldn't have to submit test results for the state to track academic progress. Any student, even those already homeschooling or in private schools, could tap into the funds.

Treat said the Senate doesn't have universal agreement on the bill but there is "a lot of support" among Republican senators.

"When you're disrupting the status quo and you're trying to make real reform, you're never going to have (a) unanimous decision on something like that," Treat said.

Senate Democrats oppose sending taxpayer funds to private schools, said Senate Minority Leader Kay Floyd, D-Oklahoma City.

The issue is a non-starter for House Democrats, as well, said Minority Leader Emily Virgin, D-Norman.

"In the Democratic caucus, we are not willing to negotiate on any sort of public dollars going to private schools," Virgin said.

Reporter Nuria Martinez-Keel covers K-12 and higher education throughout the state of Oklahoma. Have a story idea for Nuria? She can be reached at nmartinez-keel@oklahoman.com or on Twitter at @NuriaMKeel. Support Nuria’s work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a digital subscription today at subscribe.oklahoman.com.

This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Oklahoma school choice bill halted by House Speaker Charles McCall