OKLAHOMA CITY (March 20, 2026) - Governor Kevin Stitt today signed an executive order requiring a comprehensive review of how Oklahoma’s public education funding is being spent.
Under the Governor’s leadership, state appropriations for Oklahoma’s public school system have increased more during the last seven years than in the past 25 years combined. Between local, state, and federal dollars, $9.6 billion is allocated to public education each year, representing the largest annual investment of taxpayer dollars.
“Making the American Dream achievable starts with a strong education. Oklahoma is committed to investing in education to prepare our young people for success,” said Governor Stitt. “Every Oklahoman deserves to know how their tax dollars are being spent, and transparency in public education funding is critical to understanding how students are benefiting in the classroom. This executive order will ensure we look closely at real data, so we can reward what’s working, fix what’s broken, and ultimately improve student outcomes.”
As directed by the executive order, the Secretary of Education will conduct an extensive analysis in coordination with the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (OEQA) of revenue sources, spending allocations, and per-student expenditures. The report will bring data-driven clarity to taxpayer dollars spent in the classroom versus administrative expenses.
“Transparency in education spending is a core responsibility for state leaders. This executive order establishes that this work must be a routine effort that helps to drive enhanced efficiency and effectiveness in the use of school resources,” said Secretary Dan Hamlin.
Using data from the Oklahoma State Department of Education and other relevant state agencies, the review must be completed and submitted as a report to the Governor’s office no later than August 31, 2026.
The full executive order is available HERE.
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