TULSA, Okla. — The State Chamber of Oklahoma took its “Oklahoma Competes” Education Reform Plan on the road again Tuesday, presenting it to Tulsa-area businesses and community leaders.
Chamber President Chad Warmington said the group is sounding the alarm on Oklahoma’s low literacy outcomes and used a football analogy to get the point across.
“If Oklahoma was dead last in football for more than a year, there would be panic in the streets. So reading scores in SEC states, we’d be dead last in the SEC and in Big 12 states we’d be dead last in the Big 12.”
The Chamber’s plan is modeled after what’s known as the “Mississippi Miracle,” a combination of literacy policies and classroom support that helped Mississippi climb out of the bottom of national education rankings.
Warmington argues Oklahoma could do the same if the state commits to it long-term.
“If you solve that literacy issue, you solve those education issues. You fix a hundred other things wrong with Oklahoma.”
Last week, some Democratic lawmakers questioned whether the suggested reforms mirror past attempts that didn’t work.
State Representative John Waldron (D-Tulsa) said third grade retention was a “horrible failure” and Senator Julia Kirt (D-Oklahoma City) said any plan must come with enough classroom resources.
FOX23 brought these questions to Warmington.
“They put in place the system, but they didn’t stick with it,” he said. “The message to the legislature would be: stay the course, don’t back away from it and make sure you fund it consistently so we get the results we need.”
Warmington also said retention doesn’t have to be tied to third grade specifically.
“There’s no magic about holding a student back at third grade. Maybe first grade is the better way, but let’s talk with superintendents and educators and figure out the best system. The point is you have to have that safety net so students don’t reach middle school without literacy skills.”
FOX23 also spoke with State Representative Chad Caldwell (R-Enid) who helps oversee education appropriations at the Capitol.
Caldwell said some of the policies in Oklahoma Competes mirror steps the legislature passed a decade ago.
“Around 2013 to 2015, Oklahoma had the third-highest literacy gains of any state. The difference between Mississippi and Oklahoma is they stayed the course and we veered away from it. I’m confident we can have similar gains. We just have to have the courage as a state to follow through.”
He said the state has invested heavily in education in recent years, but results depend on consistent policy and statewide cooperation.
“We’ve funded literacy initiatives; we’ve funded math initiatives. We’ve really put our money where our mouth is, but it’s collective buy-in. We need everyone working together, not pointing fingers.”
Caldwell said the Chamber’s push is helpful because education impacts both families and the state’s economy.
“If you can’t read, if you can’t do math, we’re not going to be successful as a state. It’s going to take effort. It’s going to be hard, but it’s incredibly important.”
To read the full Oklahoma Competes plan, click here.