Oklahoma’s public education system has been underfunded for decades, leading to overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, and declining outcomes. Carroll has seen this decline firsthand and knows that our current system is failing both students and educators. She will fight to invest Rainy Day Fund dollars into education, reduce class sizes, and implement forward-looking reforms. Carroll will also introduce legislation to reimburse tuition for Oklahoma-trained teachers who stay and teach in-state, helping stop the brain drain and rebuild our education workforce.

The Education Reform Act of 1990 (HB 1017) provided significant changes to teacher pay, school grading, and state funding. But now, two generations later, its remedies are no longer in use. It’s time for a new plan that addresses both the lack of funds and the increased class sizes that teachers are facing. We have sufficient money in the state’s Rainy Day Fund to give public education a big boost - so let’s do it!

We have one of the strongest teacher education and training systems in the country. However, we are currently experiencing a “brain drain” as newly graduated educators leave for greener pastures and greener wallets. I will introduce legislation to reimburse tuition costs for Oklahoma education graduates who teach in Oklahoma public schools. This bill will also incentivize teachers from other states with bonuses for committing to teach in Oklahoma.

Carroll is committed to fighting our ranking as 50th in the Nation in education.