Oklahoma Senate Bill SB1172

Oklahoma 2022 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/7/22
• Refer: 2/8/22

Caption

Scholarships; creating the Freedom from Racial Discrimination Scholarship Program Act; providing for eligibility. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

The bill significantly alters the educational landscape by providing a funding mechanism for parental choice in education. By making scholarships available, SB1172 opens the door for students to leave public schools and attend private ones, potentially affecting public school funding and enrollment numbers. Importantly, it establishes compliance requirements for private schools to participate in this program and outlines the responsibilities and obligations of both parents and educational institutions, thereby impacting existing educational regulations and funding structures.

Summary

Senate Bill 1172, known as the Freedom from Racial Discrimination Scholarship Program Act, establishes a scholarship program aimed at providing financial assistance for students wishing to attend private schools. The bill is motivated by parental concerns regarding teachings in public schools related to gender and racial diversity that some claim to be discriminatory. This program allows parents or legal guardians of public school students to apply for scholarships to enroll their children in private institutions that align with their educational preferences, particularly regarding the perceived instruction of racial and gender concepts.

Contention

Notably, this bill has sparked considerable debate among lawmakers and stakeholders in education. Proponents argue that it promotes individual freedom for parents to choose suitable educational environments for their children without governmental interference in matters they deem sensitive or objectionable. Conversely, critics label the bill as an attempt to circumvent efforts to promote inclusivity in education and worry about its implications for equitable education. There are concerns that it may lead to the funding of schools that can discriminate based on race, gender, or other factors, undermining educational equity in the state.