Reading is Fundamental to Academic, Career Success

As we continue our examination of the massive federal legislation called the “Big Beautiful Bill” by proponents, it is important to look at the education portion of the bill. As you can see from the analysis below, the federal funding and policy changes will be a tremendous change in how Kindergarten through twelfth grade (K-12) classes and access to college courses are supported by federal dollars. The bill would create an unprecedented $5 billion national school voucher program under K-12 called the Educational Choice for Children Act (ECCA). Families making up to 300% of area median income would be able to apply for and receive scholarships to use toward private school tuition, homeschooling books, or tutoring, for example. The money would be distributed by third-party scholarship granting organizations (SGOs) certified by the U.S. Treasury and IRS. Donors to SGOs would reap the tax benefits from this system. Anyone would be able to donate to one of these SGOs like a charitable organization. The difference, instead of getting a deduction from your taxable income, donors will receive a dollar-for-dollar full tax credit for up to the greater of $5,000 or as much as 10% of one’s income. For example, $1,000 donated to an SGO would result in $1,000 deducted off one’s tax bill. This is an unprecedented dollar-for-dollar charitable donation tax credit at the federal level. The changes are not limited to just young Americans in the education system. For America’s college students, the news is very concerning to many, especially community colleges. The bill proposes to: • Raise the definition of “full-time” to 15 credits per semester to get full Pell (from the current 12 credits) • Eliminate Stafford subsidized loans • Eliminate graduate student PLUS loans and limits parent PLUS loans. • Eliminate existing income-contingent repayment plans and create one new income-based repayment plan, increasing the percentage of discretionary income allowed and the number of payments needed before a loan can be forgiven. This will place extreme hardships many, including those who choose to work while taking college courses. By current standards, only 36% of undergraduate Pell Grant recipients attempted 30 or more credits in one academic year, the newly proposed definition of full time. This means that in the 2024-25 academic year, only about 2.5 million of the 6.9 million Pell Grant recipients nationwide would have qualified under the new definition. Further, about 1.4 million, or 20%, of Pell Grant recipients would lose their Pell Grant funding entirely due to the limitation on awards for less than half-time enrollment. This would include 810,000, or about one-third, of the 2.5 million Pell Grant recipients who are currently enrolled at community colleges, according to Center for American Progress. For part-time adult students who work while attending school, this could have a devastating impact on enrollment numbers. Most students who register in less than full time enrollment have jobs to help cover the rising cost of college and often have families to support. These programs currently provide an offset opportunity to complete courses more quickly, therefore allowing entry into the job market at a quicker pace. The low interest loans these students would lose under this bill will likely have a devastating impact on enrollment, depriving many of the chance for better lives and opportunities through higher education.  You can read my previous two columns at https://www.oica.org/weekly-columns which discuss changes to SoonerCare and food assistance programs. A future column will look at the tax provisions of the bill being discussed. Should you have concerns about the legislation and wish to contact members of Oklahoma’s federal delegation, you can find their information at https://tinyurl.com/OKCongDel .

A total of 25 civic organizations and 135 individuals have signed on to a letter to Oklahoma’s members of Congress expressing concern about the “Big Beautiful Bill” passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives. The organizations and individuals are among those “charged with protecting and improving the quality of life for several marginalized communities in Oklahoma,” they wrote. Specifically, they asked federal lawmakers to “do all you can to protect funding for Medicaid, SNAP, FEMA and other critical life-saving services supporting Oklahoma’s children in need.” The group noted that they “support efforts to eliminate waste, fraud and abuse of programs, we encourage you to not slash essential services supporting children.” The cuts to Medicaid in the federal legislation received the most attention from the advocates, as they noted the program is “critical to the long-term health of Oklahomans.” The letter goes on to say that “(m)ore than a million Oklahomans, one-fourth of our population – are enrolled in SoonerCare (the state’s Medicaid program). The split between adult and child enrollees is fairly equal, with 47 percent adults and 53 percent children.” The advocates noted, “protection of Medicaid funding is wholly consistent with each of your stated views regarding the birth of children. In fact, Medicaid pays for more than half of Oklahoma births and covers 47% of all Oklahoma children. It is no exaggeration to suggest that Oklahoma’s future depends on the protection of Medicaid funding.” The campaign to sign on to the letter was coordinated by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA), in concert with Child Focus, a national organization that shares much of its mission with OICA. “This letter is a chance to remind our Senators and Representatives about how families in Oklahoma benefit from Medicaid, SNAP, and other critical support services in particular, and the impact of cuts to Medicaid on children and families in the child welfare system,” wrote Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO.  The “Big Beautiful Bill,” as it is called, is slated to be taken up by members of the U.S. Senate this week after having passed the House of Representatives by a single vote before the Memorial Day recess. Dorman noted that it was important to get the letter into lawmakers’ hands this week as the bill continues to be considered. “There is hardly any Oklahoman that will not in some way be impacted by this bill,” Dorman said. “Whether it is rural families who may lose a hospital in their community, or a hungry child who will not be able to get food, this bill’s impact is virtually universal across the state.” To read the full letter, and the names of the organizations and individual who signed it, go to https://tinyurl.com/LTCOICA6-3 . In conclusion, Dorman suggested every Oklahoman who may have thoughts on parts, or all of the legislation, should reach out to our federal delegation. “Our elected officials work for us,” he said. “Therefore, it is our responsibility to give them instructions on the kind of state and nation we want. Again, they are public servants.” To get federal lawmakers’ contact information, go to https://tinyurl.com/OKCongDel .

Last week, we discussed the cuts to programs through HR 1 at the federal level and what those cuts would do to Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) funds allocated to states. You can read the column at https://tinyurl.com/FTCVoice . The legislation passed by a single vote along a mostly party line vote and is in the hands of U.S. senators now, weighing if they will make changes. This week let us examine the impact of the “Big Beautiful Bill” on Oklahoma’s state Medicaid program, SoonerCare, and other state programs that receive this heavily subsidized federal match to operate. Currently, one in four Oklahomans receive health insurance coverage through SoonerCare. The Medicaid sections of HR 1 would: Impose work or community engagement activities for recipients to begin no later than December 31, 2026. Exemptions for this are: pregnant women, individuals under the age of 19 or over the age of 64, foster youth and former foster youth under the age of 26, members of a Tribal nation, and individuals considered “medically frail,” once verified as such. Reduce by 10% the Federal Medical Assistance Percentage (FMAP) for Medicaid expansion states that cover the cost of Medicaid for immigrants who are not “qualified aliens.” The FMAP is calculated based on each state's average per capita income relative to the national average. Sunset FMAP increase for Medicaid expansion states on January 1, 2026. This is a 5% FMAP increase for 2 years for states, like Oklahoma, which opted for Medicaid expansion; 10 States have not yet opted for expansion. Oklahoma is one of three states which enshrined Medicaid expansion within our state Constitution. Reduce retroactive coverage for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) to one month from three months beginning December 31, 2026. Prohibit Medicaid funding of gender-affirming care for all individuals. Require redetermination of eligibility every six months for expansion populations beginning on December 31, 2026. Freeze the current amount of provider taxes for states. These taxes are state-imposed assessments on healthcare providers to help fund Medicaid services. Many states use provider taxes to increase provider payments or to offset potential cuts. Require states to impose co-pays on Medicaid Expansion adults with incomes over 100 percent of the federal poverty level (FPL). This cost-sharing may not exceed $35 per service. Exempted services include primary care services, mental health care services, or substance use disorder services. Prohibit federal funding for certain entities providing abortion services. Increase the state share of Medicaid expansion from 10% to 20% for states that use state-only funds to provide health coverage to undocumented immigrants, placing a greater burden on state budgets should states choose to continue this service. It is estimated that approximately $880 billion will be reduced over the next decade through the Medicaid provisions of the legislation, with much of that shifted to states if they want to continue providing services at current levels. The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that 174,000 Oklahomans will lose SoonerCare benefits under this proposal, with uninsured rates increasing by roughly 95,000 or 2 % of our population. Rural hospitals face the greatest risk under this proposal. According to the Center of Health Care Quality and Payment Reform “Sixty-seven percent of rural facilities operate with losses on services, and 59% are at risk of closing.“ The center’s report states that most at-risk hospitals are in isolated communities where closures would force residents to travel long distances for emergency and inpatient care. Nine rural hospitals have closed since 2005 in Oklahoma. If you have thoughts on parts or all of this legislation, please reach out to our federal delegation for your input on what should happen. You can find their contact information at https://tinyurl.com/OKCongDel .

Prior to the Memorial Day weekend, the U.S. House of Representatives passed HR 1, commonly called the “Big, Beautiful Bill” Act. The vote of 215-214 fell almost exactly on a party-line vote. The bill now moves the bill to the Senate for consideration. It is expected that a vote will occur within the next few weeks. Much of this legislation will have a significant impact on children and families across the country. I wanted to share a synopsis of the legislation which was prepared for one of our collaborative partners at the national level, SPARC. Over the next three weeks, I will highlight some of the major portions of this legislation tying to Medicaid modifications and how it will impact Americans, including those in Oklahoma receiving SoonerCare, educational support programs for students, and tax reform. I first want to highlight what the bill would do to the Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP). SNAP provides food benefits to low-income families to supplement their grocery budget so they can afford the nutritious food essential to health and well-being, along with providing many with basic survival through this program. The SNAP-related sections of the bill propose to: • Limit the frequency of updates to the Thrifty Food Plan (TFP)—the basis for calculating SNAP benefits—to once every five years and requires cost neutrality in updates. • Impose work requirements for able-bodied adults without dependents (ABAWDs), raising the age to which an ABAWD must work from 49 to 64, and narrowing the definition of a dependent child to those under age 7, and limiting caregiving exemptions • Limit state flexibility by allowing ABAWD work requirement waivers only in areas with over 10% unemployment and reduce the allowable exempt population from 8% to 1%. • Restrict the automatic qualification for utility deductions in SNAP calculations to households with elderly or disabled members and limit income exclusions for state energy assistance. • Require states to contribute at least 5% toward SNAP benefit costs starting in FY 2028, with higher contributions (up to 25%) required for states with high SNAP error rates. Currently the federal government pays 100% of the SNAP benefit. • Reduce the federal contribution to SNAP administrative costs from 50% to 25%, increasing the state share to 75%. What does this mean to families who depend on SNAP? • Nearly 11 million people — about 1 in 4 SNAP participants, including more than 4 million children and more than half a million adults aged 65 or older and adults with disabilities — live in households that would be at risk of losing at least some of their food assistance under the legislation. • Shifting the cost of SNAP and program administration to the states will force states to have to make hard decisions about how they provide SNAP. If every state had needed to pay 5 percent of food benefit costs last year, states would have collectively paid about $4.7 billion. Much of this federal legislation would apply to the following fiscal year or later, so immediate modifications to state budgets by state lawmakers and governors would not be necessary. As I mentioned, I will highlight other areas of this bill in the coming weeks. If you would like to join us in calling for federal lawmakers to carefully consider the changes to SNAP, SoonerCare, emergency management support and other provisions directly impacting children, please sign on to our letter of encouragement for them to weigh their decisions. Of course, you can reach out to our federal delegation on your own. If you want to join our effort, you can read the letter at https://qrco.de/CongressLetter . If you wish to sign on to the letter as an individual, go to https://qrco.de/IndSignOn , or if an organization wishes to join in, they can sign on at https://qrco.de/OrgSignOn .

Gov. Kevin Stitt and legislative leaders have announced an agreement for the key elements to the Fiscal Year 2026 state budget. The plan for the estimated $12.6 billion budget includes an income tax cut of a quarter percent and consolidation of the lowest income tax brackets. Based on modeling from the Institute for Taxation and Economic Policy, a 0.25% cut to Oklahoma’s personal income tax rate is estimated to reduce collections by $338 million annually. By flattening the bottom three income tax brackets, this is expected to lower the state budget by $87 million annually. The negotiating parties agreed on key spending priorities, including funds for a new, state-of-the-art veterinary hospital at OSU in Stillwater for $250 million; a world-class pediatric heart hospital at OU in Oklahoma City for $200 million; and funds for various infrastructure investments across the state. Other items in the budget include the purchase of a private prison in Lawton for $312 million and funding for the Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services so they can make payroll for the rest of this fiscal year ending June 30. There will also be $41.6 million for the Oklahoma National Guard to do needed maintenance and $5 million for state employee maternity leave costs. “Enhanced tort reform” is included in the agreement, further limiting lawsuits against doctors and some businesses. Other “business-friendly” policies include “Behind the Meter” to allow power generation by large-scale manufacturers and data centers, the establishment of business courts, and expense recovery for utilities. The agreement also boosts public school funding by $25 million and private school vouchers by $50 million, while raising the ceiling on teacher pay. A pair of programs — for statewide inhaler access and school panic buttons — will be moved out of the State Department of Education into other agencies. The deal also will make the children of teachers eligible for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program scholarships. Lawmakers are spending $8 million for a partnership between the OSU Medical Authority and St. Francis Hospital to capture federal funding to establish a Level 1 trauma center in Tulsa; currently, the state’s only Level 1 trauma center is in Oklahoma City. Lawmakers must constitutionally adjourn by 5 p.m. on the final Friday in May. These agreements, along with other bills yet unresolved, must make it to the desk of the governor by then. Many issues discussed this year, including an increase of $5 per day for traditional foster care to meet the growing costs of the economy - a detriment to recruiting much-needed foster families – will be held over until next year. Some have called for eliminating the state’s income tax. This would slash an estimated $5.8 billion annually from the current state budget. Obviously, many government services such as public schools, SoonerCare, and highway maintenance would face severe shortages if this were to happen. Of great concern, state lawmakers still do not know the impact of cuts looming with the upcoming federal budget. In Oklahoma, our state budget includes 43-47% matching federal funds. Early indicators predict that there will likely be between $400-$800 million of federal funds to Oklahoma eliminated. This could require some potentially unpleasant actions. One is a special session to modify the budget. Governor Stitt would need to call lawmakers back to adjust agency allocations, or lawmakers could try to call themselves back by a two-thirds vote of both the state House of Representatives and Senate. The second option is for agencies to absorb those cuts in the programs funded by federal dollars and reduce services. There are still many unknowns about what will happen with the federal budget. The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy will keep you informed once more is revealed. 

Each summer, the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) holds its annual Heroes Ball to celebrate champions for children. Among the awards presented are two that are chosen by the people: The Anne Roberts People’s Choice Awards for Child Advocacy. The award is named in honor of Anne Roberts, OICA’s longest serving CEO; it recognizes outstanding service to Oklahoma’s children by an individual and an organization, as nominated and voting on by the people. The process begins with nominations, which are open to the public. Following the nomination period, which runs from now through June 6, the OICA Board of Directors narrows the list a select few to put forward for an online public vote by Oklahomans. To nominate either an individual or an organization, go to https://oica.org and click on “Awards.” You can also go directly to https://tinyurl.com/OICA25PeoplesChoice . (A QR Code is also provided for publication.) “This award is fully in the hands of those interested in child advocacy in the state of Oklahoma,” said Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO. “The list of previous winners reads like a ‘Who’s Who’ of Oklahoma Child Advocates.” Previous winners of the Anne Roberts People’s Choice Organizational Award are: · 2017 – Whiz Kids Oklahoma · 2018 – Peppers Ranch · 2019 – Oklahoma United Methodist Circle of Care · 2020 – Diabetes Solutions of Oklahoma · 2021 – SoonerStart · 2022 – Fostering Connections · 2023 – Sara’s Project · 2024 – The Anna’s House Foundation Those individuals who have won the Anne Roberts People’s Choice Individual Award are: · 2017 – Brenda Lene’ · 2018 – Cody Inman · 2019 – Judy Payne · 2020 – Ryan Abernathy · 2021 – Melissa Ahlgrim · 2022 – Amber Cuyler · 2023 – Alethea Satterwhite · 2024 – Mary Beth Talley After the nominations close at 5 p.m. on Friday, June 6, finalists will be announced shortly thereafter, and online voting will begin on OICA’s website. Those in attendance at OICA’s Heroes Ball on Saturday, July 26 will receive a final paper ballot to help finish off the voting. Winners will be announced at the Heroes Ball, held this year at the OKANA Resort in Oklahoma City. Tickets to the Heroes Ball are on sale and can be purchased at https://tinyurl.com/OICA25HBTix . 

STATE REP. JOHN WALDRON (right), D-Tulsa, listens to Oklahoma’s Kid Governor® Emma Stephens (second from right with sash), during a Kid Governor® visit to the State Capitol. Waldron, along with state Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-OKC, hosted the visit to share insight into state government and to listen to the Kid Governor® and her cabinet. Joining Kid Governor® Stephens were Kid Lt. Gov. Shawn Ferrell, Kid Secretary of State Lawson Ream, and Kid Cabinet Member Clayton Rohla, as well as Oklahoma State Department of Education personnel who also took time to visit with the young leaders.

“This is a great victory for Oklahoma’s students with special needs,” said Joe Dorman, CEO of the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA). Dorman was speaking about the fact that Senate Bill 364 became law today, without the governor’s signature. SB 364 makes it illegal for schools to use corporal punishment for certain students with special needs under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Gov. Kevin Stitt neither signed nor vetoed the bill, meaning that – under a provision in Oklahoma’s Constitution called "pocket passage"– it has become law. While the Legislature is in session up until their final five days of business, if a governor neither signs nor vetoes a bill within five business days, such a measure nonetheless becomes law. “We are grateful that Governor Stitt allowed the ban on the use of corporal punishment on children with special needs to become law,” Dorman said. “This was a top priority of OICA this session, and the culmination of years of work by many dedicated child advocates across the state.” One of the leaders of that coalition, Carolynn Macallister of Payne County, was quick to praise the bill’s sponsors, Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa, and House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, for their hard work to get the bill passed. “ On behalf of the coalition, I am very thankful that students with special needs are protected thanks to the dedicated work of these leaders and legislators in both the House of Representatives and Senate who voted for the bill,” Macallister said. It was a coalition of 24 organizations from across the state that came together to end the practice of inflicting physical pain on students with special needs, some of whom might not have understood why they were being punished. Only a few dozen school districts still allowed physical punishment on special needs students. “This was a manifestation of their needs and prevented them from getting their legally required fair and appropriate education,” Macallister said. “The stories we heard from parents were heartbreaking, with some of their special needs children being punished without the parents’ permission.” Dorman said the stories echoed the events which led to the creation of OICA more than forty years ago. “OICA was created as a response to the state maintaining a system of abuse on children in its custody, to ensure that something like that is never repeated,” he said. “Now we know that these special needs students will be treated properly, and their parents can rest easy.” While ending the practice of corporal punishment on special needs students in school, the bill does not impact parents’ right to discipline their children in whatever manner they deem appropriate under the law, nor does current Oklahoma law prevent school districts from using corporal punishment on other students. Macallister thanked former state Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, who first carried the legislation two years ago. Dorman noted that former state Sen. Kay Floyd, D-OKC, was the original Senate sponsor. As Macallister summed it up, “I just thank God that we got it done.” 

Oklahoma’s Kid Governor® for 2024-2025 is Emma Stephens (center) of Ardmore’s Oak Hill Episcopal School. She is pictured here with her cabinet following her swearing in at the Oklahoma State Capitol. With her are (from left) Alberuto Harmon of Perry; Clayton Rohia of Roff; Shawn Farrell, Kid Lieutenant Governor, of Orlando; Koda White of Vici; Lawson Ream of Alva; Ryan Young of Chickasha; and Harper Witt of Antlers. The Kid Governor® is a program administered by the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) designed to teach fifth grade students about the importance of civic engagement. Teaching materials are provided, and the annual Kid Governor® election is conducted on ballots that resemble real ballot. This year, OICA coordinated with the state’s 4-H Program. For 2025-2026, the program will return to fifth grade classrooms. (Courtesy Photo) As Teacher Appreciation Week begins, registration is now open for Oklahoma’s fifth grade teachers to sign up for their class to participate in the award-winning Kid Governor® program. Teachers can register at the following website: https://tinyurl.com/KG25-26Teachers and parents of children who will be entering the fifth grade are encouraged to share this information with those teachers in public, private, and charter school classrooms. Home school families are also allowed to use these materials to help educate students. The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) ran its own Kid Governor for six years prior to partnering with the national Kid Governor® program in 2022. This program originated in Connecticut and has expanded to other states. The purpose of Kid Governor® is to educate students about elections and the role of elected officials. “Every Oklahoma fifth grader in a classroom has the opportunity to learn about government through this program so long as their teachers sign up for the program,” said Joe Dorman, OICA’s CEO. “Oklahoma’s teachers will have access to an array of materials to help students learn the importance of democracy and our republic and the role they can play in it.” Dorman went on to emphasize there in no indoctrination in the Kid Governor® curriculum. There are only lesson plans describing the process of elections and duties of government officials so that the students can be better prepared to be fully involved citizens as they age into adulthood and hopefully become active voters. At the beginning of the new school year in August, OICA will contact those who have registered and make another push for teachers to sign up for the program. The Oklahoma Kid Governor® program will officially kick off in October, and the election will be during the time of the traditional November election window. Those fifth-grade classrooms that are participating can also participate in the enhanced program which allows them to enter one student candidate into a statewide election based upon a local classroom election. Each student candidate will pick an issue on which to run, and the classroom will vote for their favorite. The winner will then make a two-minute campaign video which can be submitted into the statewide competition. A panel comprised of Oklahoma’s former governors – George Nigh, David Walters, Frank Keating, Brad Henry, and Mary Fallin - and OICA board members will narrow the finalists down to seven candidates. “Each of these incredible leaders has given of their time to review the submissions, and they have invited people to help support this program to ensure it is free for the participating schools,” Dorman said. “Any Oklahoman who wishes to join these governors in helping fund the program can learn more at https://oica.org or by contacting our office.” The campaign videos for the top seven selected will be shared with each participating classroom. The students will cast their vote on ballots that resemble the actual Oklahoma ballots. The candidate receiving the most votes will serve as the next Oklahoma Kid Governor®. The winner serves a one-year term promoting leadership and advocacy, working with OICA to fulfill their campaign platform while mobilizing students to take action and make a difference on youth issues. The remaining six finalists will serve as members of the Kid Cabinet, working with the Kid Governor to raise awareness on their platform issues. Toolkits consisting of free, custom-designed lesson plans will guide classroom teachers through the program and teach students about state government in their state, the history and process of voting, and the importance of active participation in civic life. OICA is underwriting the cost of the program through donations and additionally provides an educational comic book Mighty Mia and Dyna-Bit Save Democracy for each student to have that was written by Dorman. Because of the extra effort required of teachers, OICA is raising funds to provide a stipend to those teachers register and complete the enhanced Kid Governor® program that includes the election component. “The Kid Governor® program inspires students to be involved in the process and hopefully become lifelong agents of change for the better, maybe even running for Governor of Oklahoma someday,” Dorman said. “If young people are given ane opportunity to learn these lessons at an early age, they will grow into the leaders that will shape our tomorrow.”  For more information about how you can help the Kid Governor® program, contact OICA at info@oica.org or call (405) 236-KIDS (5437).