Oklahoma Schools to Receive Historic Federal Funding: Superintendent’s Early Allocation Strategy Quiets Critics
OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) made an announcement on Monday, revealing the federal grant allocation figures. OSDE is set to receive a historic amount of funding in Title I, Part A from the federal government, with an allocation of $224,661,041 for the current year. This marks a significant increase compared to last year’s funding of $211,951,355. In fiscal year 2020, the allocation was below $200 million.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters expressed his excitement for the record-breaking funding in a press release. He stated, “Oklahoma schools will be receiving record Title funding for the upcoming school year. My office has been tirelessly working to ensure that every school in the state has the necessary funding to provide quality education for our children. I will continue to closely monitor every federal dollar to ensure that our schools prioritize foundational learning tools instead of indoctrination.”
Title I, Part A funding is specifically aimed at providing financial assistance to educational agencies and schools that cater to a large number of children from low-income families. The federal government distributes this funding in two portions, with the first installment occurring on July 1 and the remainder scheduled for October 1.
OSDE mentioned that last year, initial allocations to districts were made in late August. However, Superintendent Walters noted in a letter to legislators that they are on track to allocate the funding to districts earlier than the previous year. This update comes in response to concerns raised by lawmakers and districts regarding the federal grant process under Superintendent Walters.
Superintendent Walters expressed his hope that this announcement will put an end to any misinformation circulating about the federal grants. In his letter to legislators, he emphasized the desire to work collaboratively with those who strive to improve the education system, while also calling out those who misuse collaboration to spread false information.
In addition to the Title I grants, the Oklahoma State Department of Education has received other federal grants, including funds for intervention programs for neglected children and educational assistance for homeless children.
Tulsa Public Schools emphasized the significance of Title I grants for student success programming and initiatives, while Mustang Public Schools confirmed that this notification adheres to their normal timeline.
