Oklahoma Education Association opposes Education Scholarship Act

Oklahoma City, Okla — The Oklahoma Education Association (OEA) said they're against a bill that would improve tax incentives for donations to schools.

We've got your back with everything you need to know about Senate Bill 407 and why the education association says it could do more harm than good.

This bill would encourage people to donate to public and private schools, because of the tax break.

The OEA said those paybacks will take money out of the state budget and in turn, take from public education.

If S.B. 407, also known as the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act were to become law, it would give donors more opportunities for tax breaks when they donate to students.

According to Senator David Rader from Tulsa, "If we are going to have the best tax incentive in Oklahoma, let’s have it for education."

The tax cap hasn't been raised since the early two thousands, Rader said.

"The cap has been approached, and it's exceeded. So now it's time to increase it, it's time to bring the public-school side up even with the private school side."

Even though the bill would benefit students through scholarships, the Oklahoma Education Association is against it.

Alicia Priest, the president for the OEA said, "It's just one more gimmick to say, 'hey, look what we are doing for public education,' but in reality, it's not helping public education."

The OEA said the tax credits, given back to donors will take money out of Oklahoma’s general fund.

Education gets one third of that fund, Priest explained.

"Education is actually getting less funding from the overall body of the budget."

One year after the teacher walkout, the OEA said progress has been made with communication between lawmakers but education is still extremely underfunded.

The association has asked for $150 million dollars in additional funding.

"Will it fix all of the issues? no.” Priest said, “But it is a continued step in the right direction of saying to the school children of oklahoma, you are a priority in this state."

Currently, the tax cap for scholarship funds is set at five million dollars. If Senate Bill 407 were to become law, it would increase the cap to $30 million.

The bill passed out of the house appropriations committee on Wednesday afternoon, 16 to 13.