(The Lion) — School choice demand is booming in Oklahoma, prompting lawmakers to consider increasing funding for its program from $250 million to $275 million. Opponents argue the money will disproportionately benefit “wealthy” families, but supporters say the data tells a different story.
Writing in his syndicated “Free Market Friday” column, Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, said the criticism is unfounded.
The claims stem from data showing 90% of participants had children in private school last year, suggesting they could already afford tuition without the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program.
But Small pointed to two key gaps in that argument: The state did not track how many students newly switched to private school until this year, and among that 90% were nearly 2,700 students receiving government assistance, 29 who were homeless and 6,800 from families earning less than $75,000.
“Does that sound ‘rich’ to you?” he asked.
Small also argued critics apply inconsistent standards when defining wealth.
Teacher pay in Oklahoma averages nearly $62,000, meaning a married couple who are both teachers would earn roughly $124,000 annually.
“Do school-choice opponents believe teachers are ‘rich?’” Small asked.
He added that when Oklahoma Democrats proposed tax increases in 2019, they set the threshold for high earners at $400,000. By contrast, some now label families earning $75,000 as wealthy in the school choice debate.
Oklahoma’s program is structured to prioritize lower-income families, with tax credits ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 and higher priority given to households earning less than $150,000.
As in other states, most participants come from low- and middle-income families, not affluent households, Small wrote, noting that 72% of students switching to private school for the first time fall into those income groups.
“The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit is helping working families,” he said. “Opponents’ insistence that up is down and poverty is now wealth is only a sign of their desperation, not any failure of the program.”
Lawmakers have until May 29 to approve the proposed funding increase. Applications for the program close June 15.
