Bernie Sanders: Oklahoma's fight for public education is far from over

BY U.S. SEN. BERNIE SANDERS
Published: Sat, January 25, 2020 4:25 AM

Excerpt:

At a time when many Oklahoma teachers are working two jobs to make ends meet, my administration would establish a national minimum salary of $60,000 for educators, as well as a grant program to help cover out-of-pocket expenses so that teachers don’t have to spend their own money on classroom supplies.

At a time when Oklahoma is struggling to hire special education teachers, we would strengthen the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and ensure that the federal government provides 50% of the support for students with special needs and their teachers.

At a time when the founders of the large virtual charter school chain EPIC can profit in the millions, while draining the public school system of more than $112 million, I will follow the NAACP’s lead in putting a moratorium on the expansion of charter schools until we can regulate them and prevent them from wasting public funds.

And at a time when Oklahoma pays for education by imposing new taxes that fall heavily on working families instead of corporate profits, I will make billionaires like President Trump and Betsy DeVos pay their fair share.

By following the lead of teachers in Oklahoma and all over this country, we can accomplish these changes and create a public school system and a government that works for us all.

https://oklahoman.com/article/5653147/bernie-sanders-oklahomas-fight-for-public-education-is-far-from-over

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