Recent "For The Children" Weekly Columns

Unfortunately, if trends hold true, only a fraction of registered voters will cast their ballots in Oklahoma’s upcoming Primary Election on June 16. This is partly due to apathy or forgetfulness, but also from the negativity of campaign ads which suppress voter turnout due to frustration. With a smaller turnout, fewer Oklahomans decide who will become their party’s nominees in November’s General Election. I sum it up like this for those who feel their vote does not count: if someone chooses not to vote, it becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy, ensuring their voice is silent because of their absence. In Oklahoma non-presidential elections like this one, Ballotpedia shows registered voters went to the polls at the rate of 39.6% in 2022, 42.1% in 2018, 30% in 2014, and 39.1% in 2010. These paltry percentages are for General Elections in November when more people vote than in Primary Elections like the one coming up. In party primaries, only those registered as Republican or Democrat can vote to select nominees for the November election. The fact that not every person has a fiery Primary Election in their area or even a choice for their nominee when only one candidate files drives voter participation down. To the south of us, nearly one in four registered voters in Texas cast a ballot in their high-profile March primaries with almost 4.5 million ballots cast, a high-water mark for midterm elections in the state’s recent history. Will we see the same result next week with our own high-profile elections? Roughly, there are four million Oklahoma residents, and about three million are eligible to register to vote; the rest are under 18, convicted felons yet to have their voting right restored, or are not legal residents. Of those eligible, just over two million will take the time to register. To be a registered voter in our state, you must be a U.S. citizen, an Oklahoma resident, and at least 18 years old. If you meet the age requirement of 17 ½ to pre-register, this ensures you can vote on Election Day even if you turn 18 within the cut-off period for registration prior to elections. If there is a question regarding your registration, such as your last name not matching on your driver’s license and voter registration – as often happens when people get married – you have the right to cast a provisional ballot so, once confirmed, your vote will count. A reminder: Oklahoma has a voter identification law, so please take an unexpired official form of government ID with you. This year, there is a state question on the Primary ballot for which every registered voter statewide may cast a ballot. This is regarding a minimum wage increase and will likely drive more Oklahomans than usual to vote. This 2026 Primary Election has a similar set up as the 2018 Primary, when there were heavily contested Republican races and a state question on the ballot. Voters showed up that year at a rate of 43.57%, with 848,100 voters casting ballots for gubernatorial candidates, while 892,758 voted on the medical marijuana question; 44,658 more votes were cast on the question. If we flip the data, 56.43% of eligible registered voters did not vote in the 2018 Primary. Instead, they left it up to those who did turn out. Again, the self-fulfilling prophecy of their votes not counting because they did not show up. Please vote on June 16 or vote early at your county election board. Vote for the candidates who you believe will best serve our state. Also, assess what is best for our state with increasing the minimum wage. We at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy ask that as you consider candidates and the minimum wage increase, and the impact each will have on the lives of children. This Primary Election is far too important to let someone make the decision for you by not voting.

I had the pleasure of being the commencement speaker for Bray-Doyle High School. It was wonderful to share the evening with graduates and their families, and especially my cousin, Jud, who walked across the stage that night. For this week’s “For the Children” column, I thought it would be appropriate to share a bit of my speech, with congratulations to all this year’s graduates: Congratulations, graduates! Being with you reminds me of my own graduation back in 1989 and how old that makes me feel! Probably like you, I sat there wondering what the future might hold for me. My graduation speaker talked about the desire to get rich based upon a popular song back then, not just in finances, but also in your overall life. Marriage, health, finances – each of those will have some impact on your life, but you need to remember that there is one determining factor in what each of your next steps will be: you and the path you choose. With my classmates, some went to college or trade school, others joined the military, and some entered the workforce immediately. A few got married quickly, while some of us still haven’t taken that plunge yet. My point is that each one of you will now have significant decisions to make on what your future holds for you, and not all of it will be under your control, but you can improve your options. I am big on furthering one’s education. It’s expensive but consider this: those with bachelor’s degrees in Oklahoma earn a median income of about $59,712. Individuals with only a high school education have a median income of roughly $38,789. The good news for you is that those with less than a high school diploma earns $31,492; so, congratulations on your expected $7,000 income bump by making it here. For those looking at CareerTech, that option offers a much faster, debt-free return on investment, but less than college over life expectancy. Your choice for furthering your education will dictate your opportunities. Now, I am asking you to make a promise to yourself. Do not let this graduation be considered your greatest achievement; instead, let it be your latest achievement. Nothing worth doing is going to be handed to you. Remember, you should keep your expectations realistic, but do not sell yourself short. Just because you come from a small town does not mean you cannot dream big and accomplish great things. Many of you will remain here like I did for many years in Rush Springs, so do your part to give back to your community. Join a civic organization, run for city council, school board, or another office if you have something to contribute to helping the community. Build up the next generation so when you are delivering a graduation speech to a future class, you can encourage them to leave the woodpile of life just a little bit higher than they found it. For our lives to be truly rich, we must always work on ourselves, continuing to grow, and to be there for friends and family when possible. Find a career which pays the bills and provides that reward to you, either with the paycheck or the satisfaction of making the world a better place. Better yet, seek both, as I was lucky enough to achieve. Also, have someone who can be your “battle buddy” for when things get rough – someone who will listen and encourage you. It is good to have a friend who will be there during the rough times. It won’t be easy, but from one small town kid to many others, I believe in you. To all of you in the Class of 2026, congratulations on making it here. Go forth from tonight and make this world a better place with the good each of you is set to accomplish, and to earn the riches in store for you. 

Voters will decide State Question 832, the minimum wage increase, on June 16. If passed, the state question would boost the state’s minimum wage from $7.25 to $12 in 2027, to $13.50 in 2028, and to $15 in 2029, with further increases tied to the cost of living. The Oklahoma minimum wage matches the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage, and is the same as 19 other states, according to Oklahoma Watch. Unchanged since 2009, this is the longest period without a federal minimum wage increase since it was created in 1938 during The Great Depression. Oklahoma politicians, regardless of whether Democrats or Republicans have been in charge, have never raised the minimum wage above the federal rate. Some contend the proposal is unwise and suggest policymakers instead expand the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). While I certainly can agree with this and other tax credits associated with supporting families (child tax credits and childcare tax credits), the Oklahoma Legislature refused to enact an EITC enhancement this year. Many proclaim minimum wage increases boost prices for consumers, but one could argue consumer prices on gas and food have risen without wage increases. The W.E. Upjohn Institute for Employment Research assessed prices increased roughly 0.36% for every 10% hike in wages, but the margin is widely debated by economists. The Economic Policy Institute reports that 19 states (not including Oklahoma) increased their minimum wages on January 1, boosting earnings for more than 8.3 million workers by a total of $5 billion. In addition, 47 cities and counties raised their minimum wages, adding to the number of workers likely to get larger paychecks. According to U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, 80.3 million American workers age 16 and older were paid hourly rates in 2024, representing 55.6 percent of all wage and salary workers. Among those paid by the hour, about 82,000 workers earned the $7.25 per hour federal minimum wage, roughly 1% of workers; 760,000 workers earned less than the federal minimum (such as those whose pay is supplemented with tips). The Brookings Institution reported 53 million Americans ages 18 to 64 – 44% of all workers – earn a median hourly wage of $10.22, and for those working full time year-round, that is equal to annual earnings of $21,258. Data from 2022 shows that 89% of workers earning a sub-$15 wage are age 20 or older. Nationally, more than half of working single parents, an estimated 11.2 million, also fall into this category. In Oklahoma, approximately 200,000 workers earn at or near $7.25, which is about 5% of the population. While these make the legal minimum, a much larger unspecified percent of the population earns above $7.25 but below $10–$15 per hour, contributing to Oklahoma having the nation’s eighth highest poverty rate. This contributes to Oklahoma ranking among the worst states for utility shutoffs. Despite Oklahoma’s modest population, it had the third highest number of electricity disconnections in the country – not by percentage of the population, the raw number of cutoffs – according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. We are the 28th most populous state and had more utility cutoffs than the largest state, California. Those of us working to improve child wellbeing are watching this issue because parents’ low wages have a negative impact on children, making nutritious food, safe housing, childcare and necessary transportation harder to access. The Economic Policy Institute reports 200,000 Oklahoma children have parents who would get raises should the state question pass, taking many off state-subsidized programs, therefore reducing reliance on government aid. A minimum wage of $10 or greater also improves birth outcomes and children’s health and development, reduces child maltreatment, and has minimal negative impacts on employment. I encourage you to study all factors – the impact on families, the impact on businesses, the impact on the economy – before casting your vote to determine whether a minimum wage increase is the best policy for you and for our state. This is a decision which could have a major impact on many in our state, so do not just trust the commercials. 

Recently, we lost four Oklahomans who made tremendous impacts for good on those around them. Two former lawmakers who I had the opportunity to first work for, then serve with, passed recently. Rep. Don Ross, D-Tulsa and Rep. Billy Mitchell, D- Lindsay, each had a profoundly positive effect on not only their legislative districts, but also the state. Representative Ross was a tireless advocate for civil rights and was one of the main proponents to elevate the conversation about the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. I remember vividly his debate regarding the need to form a commission in the late 1990s to ensure history would not be forgotten and that the story surrounding this tragedy would be taught. Unfortunately, this event is not listed in law as a requirement for teaching, but schools around the state have done a very good job of including this in the curriculum. The event rose to prominence in many circles, partly thanks to HBO depicting the event in one of their shows, Watchmen. Without Don’s determination, that probably never would have happened. Don was awarded the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy’s (OICA) Laura Boyd Public Servant Award in 2021 for his work. I first became acquainted with Billy Mitchell when he served as my state representative when I was a child in Rush Springs; that was my first early experience with someone campaigning and sharing their vision for what public service should be. Later, as a legislative staff member, I had the opportunity to work with him, including his service as chairman of the House Appropriations and Budget Committee. His leadership as A&B Chair was clear during the 2003 budget crisis as all 101 representatives served on the committee and he helped craft a budget agreement with Democrats and Republicans. He was a barber by trade, and there were several other trades he could claim, Chairman Mitchell was one who worked his way into positions which allowed him to do good for the working class of our state. Following his legislative career, he continued his service as a local official for his hometown of Lindsay, where he took great pride in helping keep his local hospital open. A dear friend of mine who dedicated her life to education passed recently, leaving behind her husband, young son, and many students she impacted during her career. Jennifer Owens Hill was an acquaintance through several friends until we served together through the YMCA Youth in Government Program. Jennifer was the longtime media director for the journalism component for the Conference on National Affairs, a gathering of YMCA students from across the nation where each develop a proposal to improve the nation. The media division students served as reporters to cover the events of the conference held in North Carolina. Jennifer also oversaw the same component for the state Youth and Government program. Jennifer was a beloved teacher at Putnam City West High School. The tributes which have been shared by former students and colleagues have each been heartfelt and indicate what a mark she left on so many. Finally, the OICA family lost one of our own with the death of Miller Hines. He was the young son of one of our former employees, Miranda Griffith. Miller was diagnosed with leukemia and fought a long and courageous battle against the disease. He never lost his upbeat attitude and was a hero for others under his nickname and hashtag #MightyMiller with the positive stories shared about his accomplishments. Miller even started an effort to gather comfortable blankets for children in hospitals so they would have something that was not so scratchy and that they could take home with them when they left the facility. Miller had members of the OU Football Team serve as honorary pallbearers at his service and the church was filled with his family, friends, and those touched by his kindness. Knowing these four Oklahomans was a blessing, for me and all those whose lives they touched. We at OICA extend our deepest condolences to their families and friends.

UPDATE - THE GOVERNOR ALLOWED THE BILL TO BECOME LAW WITHOUT HIS SIGNATURE. CHILD MARRIAGE WILL BE ILLEGAL IN OKLAHOMA WHEN THE BILL TAKES EFFECT ON NOVEMBER 1, 2026.

We at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy appreciate the diligent work of lawmakers regarding children’s policies this year. It has been a tough year with impending federal budget changes, shifting more burden to states. Here are a few of the children-related bills remaining for consideration. House Bill 1082, which creates a rebuttable presumption of equal time for shared parenting custody, is eligible to be heard by the Oklahoma State Senate. The bill would need to go back to the Oklahoma House of Representatives prior to adjournment for this to reach the governor’s desk. Thank you to Rep. Mark Tedford, R-Jenks, and Sen. Jonathan Wingard, R-Ada, for writing this bill and to the other lawmakers who authored similar bills. House Bill 1979, by Rep. Trish Ranson, D-Stillwater, and Sen. Chuck Hall, R-Perry, creates an Early Childhood Task Force to work towards creating a framework for a more efficient and effective governance for early childhood by possibly shifting current youth services to a single state agency. This bill is eligible to be heard in the Oklahoma House of Representatives this week. We also appreciate Sen. Paul Rosino, R-Oklahoma City, for his work in this area. UPDATE - THIS BILL IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR; PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT (405) 521-2342 AND ASK THAT HE SIGN IT. House Bill 4454 by Rep. Carl Newton, R-Cherokee, and Senator Darcy Jech, R-Kingfisher, would enact per package THC limitations on edible medical marijuana products, require labeling to not resemble candy packaging, and not be attractive to children. Oklahoma has seen an issue with children mistakenly thinking these items were candy, leading to a dramatic increase in emergency room visits. This bill is eligible for consideration in the Senate. UPDATE - THIS BILL IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR; PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT (405) 521-2342 AND ASK THAT HE SIGN IT. House Bill 3298 by Rep. Aletia Timmons, D-Oklahoma City, and Sen. Mary Boren, D-Norman, creates the Uniform Judicial Interview of Children Act to modernize how the court allows for child testimony and the conduct of interviews with minors, making practices age appropriate. This bill awaits a vote on Senate amendments in the House of Representatives. House Bill 3755 by Rep. Danny Sterling, R-Tecumseh, and Sen. Brenda Stanley, R-Oklahoma City, would require the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) to provide to the operator of a youth detention facility all medication prescribed for a juvenile at the time of placement. It would also allow for OJA to provide funds directly to the facility for the purpose of acquiring prescribed medication if not available at the time of placement. This ties into a national issue on which OICA is working to see streamlined medical care services available for youth in detention facilities. The House has the Senate Amendments, and the bill is awaiting a final vote. UPDATE - THIS BILL IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR; PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT (405) 521-2342 AND ASK THAT HE SIGN IT. Senate Bill 1379, by Senator Aaron Reinhardt, R-Jenks, and Rep. Mark Lawson, R-Sapulpa, would require the Office of Attorney General to establish a two-year pilot program to support victims of sex and labor trafficking. Grants could also be provided to partner organizations who support efforts to assist victims. House amendments to the bill are awaiting a vote in the Senate. UPDATE - THIS BILL IS ON ITS WAY TO THE GOVERNOR; PLEASE CALL THE GOVERNOR'S OFFICE AT (405) 521-2342 AND ASK THAT HE SIGN IT. There are, of course, many other bills which will be considered in the remaining days of the session. We encourage you to reach out to your lawmakers to share your ideas on these bills and others. Citizen input is vital, and a few calls can truly make a difference. Many lawmakers will also work on ideas over the interim. That is when legislative committees consider ideas for the next session. These studies are an opportunity to raise awareness on bills for next year or issues needing attention. If you have a good idea for lawmakers regarding a youth issue, please send us those ideas at https://tinyurl.com/2026InterimStudySuggest . We will forward those thoughts to policymakers before the deadline to request these studies and look forward to working with them as they examine the issues. By hearing your ideas, this will help them create better laws for children in Oklahoma.

Over the past few years, a national movement has taken off in many states to establish a hardened rule in the law that 50/50 custody is in the best interest of the children of divorce. Such laws have passed recently in Arizona, Kentucky. Florida, Arkansas, Missouri, and West Virginia, with many other states – including Oklahoma – considering equal custodial time for parents, unless a proven reason is established which would dictate the split is not in the best interest of the child. Every child deserves a happy and safe youth filled with love from their parents, and children are statistically shown to be happier and well-adjusted when they grow up with both parents active in their lives, as long as the parents uphold their responsibility to raise their children in loving homes. In a perfect world, when children are involved, separated parents will find a way to co-parent and not allow the children to see any animosity between them. Unfortunately, far too many separated parents, men and women alike, use the court system to weaponize divorce. They drag the other parent through the costly legal system by using the child and custody issues to bankrupt the other. This is one of the issues we frequently receive calls about at the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA): a parent desperate to find free or pro bono counsel to help with their battle to maintain a certain level of custody with the children involved. Unfortunately, there are very few resources out there to aid these mothers and fathers when the opposing parent has the financial ability to continually file challenges to modify the child custody time established by the family court. While we acknowledge equal custody is not a situation which is best with every case of divorce, and sometimes one parent might abdicate their responsibility, the data clearly shows that children statistically thrive better when parents are both involved in their upbringing. In fact, under the Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) study, separation from a parent is one of the assessed points of toxic trauma which hurts children long-term. Over the past three years, OICA has worked with lawmakers to see support for such a policy to become law in Oklahoma. House Bill 1082 would create a rebuttable presumption that joint legal custody, joint physical custody, and shared parenting time is most often in the best interest of the child. The measure also would specify that if clear and convincing evidence shows child abuse, domestic violence, stalking, or harassment has occurred, this would nullify equal custody. The measure would also direct courts to issue written findings if it is determined enough evidence has been presented to rebut the presumption. Courts would appoint guardians ad litem (GAL) to assist in constructing parenting time schedules which are consistent with the best interest of the children while maximizing the optimal time parents have with their children. Of course, if one parent opts for less time, that will be considered. More than one dozen lawmakers have signed in support of this legislation as authors or coauthors. The bill passed with bipartisan support from the House of Representatives by a 92-1 vote and the Senate Judiciary Committee with a 7-0 vote. We thank Sen. Brent Howard, R-Altus, for proposing solid amendments to the legislation which would strengthen protections for children, including the GAL language.  Senate Majority Leader Julie Daniels will hopefully schedule HB1082 for consideration by the full Oklahoma Senate before the May 7 deadline; the bill will also need one more House vote for final passage before the Legislature adjourns this year, or the bill will die. The calls OICA has received are truly heartbreaking when parents want shared time with their children. If you have a lived experience that relates to this legislation, I strongly encourage you to contact state senators to share your story if you feel this law would help children. You can find senators’ contact information at https://oksenate.gov/senators

Last week, journalist Connie Chung returned to Oklahoma City for an event at the Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum. While she was welcomed by those in attendance this time, such was not the case 31 years ago. “Can you handle this? Can this fire department handle this? I know you’re doing a great job, but it’s extraordinarily difficult,” Chung asked my friend, Assistant OKC Fire Chief Jon Hansen. The question was met with anger by those who felt she had insulted our firefighters and first responders. She quickly issued an apology, but it was not well met, leading to her dismissal as a newscaster. The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum invited her to speak at their “Better Conversations” series. The program fosters civil dialog on sensitive topics, using the 1995 bombing legacy of resilience to bridge community divides. This was the case with Ms. Chung, who said she felt forgiven and welcomed. This overall effort led the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy (OICA) to honor the Memorial with our Organizational Advocate of the Year Award in 2025 as they involve young people in their many projects encouraging civility in our society. “The Oklahoma Standard” is an ideal grown in the aftermath of the bombing; we even watermark the term on our state’s driver license. The Memorial established a statewide initiative under this banner, preserving and promoting a culture of caring citizens by encouraging “Acts of Service, Honor, and Kindness.” Those running for office across Oklahoma should bear this in mind. We are less than two months from the Primary Election on June 16, and the candidates are putting on quite a show. Unfortunately, rhetoric is not corresponding with the ideals “The Oklahoma Standard” represents, especially for children. The so-called culture wars get more attention in primaries – especially closed primaries like we have in Oklahoma – than actual solutions to real challenges. For example, a recent report in Oklahoma Watch noted that “53% of likely Republican primary voters said cultural issues such as banning Sharia law and transgender surgeries for youth would be vital when deciding which candidate to support.” Of all Republicans polled, only 39% put day-to-day government functions ahead of culture war issues. Similarly, Democrats primary voters have their own culture war issues and, like Republican primary voters, tend to skew more extreme than General Election voters. Nationally, 48% of Democratic voters are either “progressive” (37%) or “woke” (11%), according to a study by the Manhattan Institute. Only 47% of the Democratic primary voters put more stock in a functioning government than culture issues and less than half of them have shown a willingness to vote for a candidate rather than a party. Primary voters who are frustrated that their candidate lost often do not return to the polls to vote in the November General Election, leading to low turnout, and Oklahoma was among the lowest turnout of any state in 2024. Unfortunately, if this year follows past elections, Oklahoma will rank last in voters showing up to the polls in November. With what people are hearing from candidates, can you really blame them? It might be too late to call upon candidates to run on ideas which will build the economy, increase opportunities for Oklahomans, and create a better state for our children, but I hope you will join me in elevating “The Oklahoma Standard” by voting based on those issues that truly matter. Will it be service, honor and kindness, or will voters instead gravitate towards propaganda that divides communities and instigates fear? For Oklahoma’s children, the issues that matter are the childcare crisis, children’s health insurance, hunger in general, and whether candidates support policies which reduce childhood trauma. I certainly hope we see candidates change their focus to issues which truly elevate The Oklahoma Standard.

While lawmakers addressed many children’s policy issues this year, one which still needs support is childcare services. Other states have taken this on as a top priority. Through an expansion of their Child Care Assistance program, New Mexico became the first state in the nation to offer no-cost Universal Child Care beginning November 1, 2025. In Oklahoma, we have conflicting reports about the closures of daycares across the state. In March, Oklahoma Human Services reported 166 childcare programs have closed statewide since November, but 78 new programs have opened during the same period. In contrast, News 9 reported in January that more than 400 childcare centers in Oklahoma have closed their doors since November. Oklahoma received national attention as The New York Times reported this week on the impact on families from the closure of one childcare center. Additionally, many workplace-operated care centers, provided as an incentive for employees, have closed as those businesses could not afford to maintain that important employee benefit. Worsening the problem, as of April 6, day care centers across the state lost COVID-19-era funding, according to the Licensed Child Care Association of Oklahoma, with providers seeing a reduction of about $5 per child per day. While this funding was never meant to be a permanent allocation for these businesses, and each was advised this would eventually be eliminated, the timing was certainly not good. Subsidized childcare depends on financial assistance for eligible low-income working families, paid directly to providers, often requiring co-payments based on income. Unsubsidized care is paid fully out-of-pocket by the family, often costing significantly more. In Oklahoma, federal and state early learning subsidized opportunities have served more than 80,169 children and families, or 27% of children ages 5 and under. What is the price tag? TOOTRiS, a nationwide childcare network, reports that the average cost for infants in a childcare center breaks down to $901 monthly, or $10,809 annually per child; for toddlers, which is $838 per month, or $10,060 annually. For four-year-olds, the cost dips to $785 monthly, or $9,415 annually, which is likely due to children also being in four-year-old public-school programs for a portion of the day. It is not just money impacting families. It’s been noted that many families have older children who stay home from school to watch their younger siblings while the parents are at work, which contributes to learning loss for both age groups. Young children benefit academically from childcare programs, and the older youth should not miss classroom time. Despite the bad news, Oklahoma has made strides to address the problem. House Bill 1847 was authored by Rep. Suzanne Schreiber, D-Tulsa, and Sen. Bill Coleman, R-Ponca City, and became law last year. The new law exempts at-home childcare centers from specific regulation, saving small home childcares those expenses. Other ideas have not advanced. House Bill 1849, also authored by Representative Schreiber and Sen. Todd Gollihare, R-Kellyville, would have allowed childcare providers at licensed facilities to exempt their household’s income from consideration when applying for the Child Care Subsidy Program as an attempt to incentivize new industry workers and retain current employees. While this bill remains in committee, it is not expected to move due to the $11 million estimated cost. HB 3552, authored by Rep. Cody Maynard and Sen. David Bullard, both Durant Republicans, would have allowed licensed childcare providers to charge parents receiving childcare subsidies the “differential” rate, the difference between the state subsidy reimbursement and the provider’s standard private tuition. Another, HB 4201, authored by Representative Schreiber and Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, would set the master teacher ratio required for two-, three-, four-, and five-star centers be one full-time master teacher for every 60 children enrolled at the licensed childcare facility. With the remaining time left in the legislative session, I have hope that lawmakers will address this critical need in a way which helps provide families with much needed childcare resources.