OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) - Oklahoma's state
superintendent says public schools need nearly $40 million in new
funding to finish out the current fiscal year, mostly as a result of
recently enacted mandates approved by lawmakers.
Superintendent Janet Barresi outlined her request
for a $37.7 million supplemental appropriation Tuesday before a joint
House and Senate budget panel. Barresi says districts need $15 million
to pay for remediation to help students to pass new end-of-instruction
tests that went into effect last year and an additional $6.5 million for
a new requirement that students demonstrate reading proficiency before
advancing to the fourth grade.
Additional money also is needed to pay for
increased benefit costs for teachers and to cover an increase in the
number of students.
Barresi also wants a $289 million increase in next year's budget.
Copyright 2013 The
Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be
published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
