Over 30,000 rally at Oklahoma Capitol for education funding
By Jordan Redman
Staff Writer
On Monday, more than 200 schools across the state of Oklahoma were closed as hundreds of public school teachers protested the lack of education funds allocated by the Republican-controlled legislature and Gov. Mary Fallin.
The walkout comes less than a week after state legislators passed an emergency pay increase for teachers in hopes of squashing the looming confrontation.
The Gayly was there with teachers and students as they rallied for funding.
The Sooner State has led the nation in the deepest cuts to education for many years. On a list of the 50 states and Washington, DC, Oklahoma ranks 49th.
In most districts, a teacher with a doctorate degree and 30 years' experience will never make more than $50,000 a year.
The Gayly. April 2, 2018. 4:44 p.m. CST.