project exposing school board members and school leaders focused on indoctrinating children rather than educating them.CURRENT GRADE: C
The state has some education choice options but only around 10 percent of children in the state benefit from alternatives to traditional public schools. There are robust options for charter schools even though they are still publicly managed. There are no options for Education Savings Accounts where tax dollars follow the student.
Homeschool laws are very parent friendly with no reporting or testing requirements.
Compulsory attendance is required between the ages of 8 and 16.
Education Options
- Charter Schools:
- The state has over 30 charter schools serving approximately 50,000 students.
- They can be sponsored by local districts, universities, career schools, Indian tribes, or the state education department.
- Virtual Charter Schools:
- Authorized and overseen by a statewide charter school board.
- Full-time public education options.
- Seven different options.
- Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship
- Available to public school student with a disability served under IDEA who was enrolled the prior school year to qualify for a scholarship to attend a participating private school.
- Equal Opportunity Scholarship Act
- Individual donations toward scholarships that are eligible for state tax credits.
- Scholarships are awarded to students to attend eligible schools.
- Income limits apply.
- Parental Choice Tax Credit
- Refundable income tax credit of $5,000-$7,500 for eligible Oklahoma Taxpayers who pay, or expect to pay, qualified expenses such as tuition and fees to an eligible private school.
Homeschooling Laws
Here are state requirements on the topic of homeschooling:
- No reporting or testing requirements
- Must teach for 180 days
Religious Exemptions:
- There are no religious exemption specific laws in the state.
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The First Amendment states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof.” Many argue that a religious conviction to provide a home-based education is constitutionally protected and a state religious exemption law is not a requirement to be able to homeschool on religious grounds.
It should be noted that the U.S. Supreme Court in Wisconsin v. Yoder (1972) established that “Under the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment, a state law requiring that children attend school past eighth grade violates the parents’ constitutional right to direct the religious upbringing of their children.” (The case involved a challenge of a 16-year-old student to be exempt, so the scope was limited)
