'The Money Absolutely Exists:' State Lawmakers Push Back On Claims That OSDE Is Missing State And Federal Funds

We’re digging deeper into the alleged concerns laid out by Republican lawmakers requesting an investigation into State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the State Department of Education. 

State leaders say there is a lack of communication from OSDE, making it difficult for lawmakers and educators when it comes to Title I funds, paid maternity leave for teachers, school security funding and more. 

“The money absolutely exists,” said Sen. Chuck Hall (R), the Senate Budget and Appropriations Chair.

Budget leaders at the state Capitol say the money is all available to OSDE, it’s just coming down to a lack of process and communication from the state department. 

“Communication breeds success,” said Hall. “In my experience, communication means everything. 

As the budget chairman, Hall says the communication between the legislature and state agencies is incredibly important, especially when they’re discussing millions or potentially billions in state-appropriated dollars. 

“On and on all these agencies are willing partners in understanding the policy and understanding the appropriations for what they receive is any given legislative cycle,” said Hall. “I have become frustrated with the state Department of Education there has certainly been a lack of communication.” 

Hall says he and other lawmakers are now left questioning why the funds aren’t making it out of OSDE, to the schools across the state. 

“Right now is the wrong time to be placing more burden on our schools,” said Hall. 

During the 2023 legislative session, state lawmakers passed a bill to fund paid maternity leave for Oklahoma teachers. After the bill was passed, Superintendent Walters brought forward concerns that the legislative intent of the bill was not clear, saying he wasn’t sure he could legally give the money to the schools. 

During the 2024 session, lawmakers worked to clarify the bill, to ensure the schools could receive the funding. 

The schools that had already started providing paid maternity leave were directed to request reimbursement from OSDE. Hall says the funds to begin paying schools back have been available to the state department since at least July. 

Yet, schools are not being told the process to request reimbursement, nor are they getting paid. 

“We did a supplemental to cover the claims that would be coming in. They've had that money since July, so here we are 45 days later. The money is there they should be reimbursing those schools for the maternity leave payments,” said Hall. 

The legislature also appropriated $250,000 to put inhalers in every public school in the state during the 20204 session. 

Lawmakers then directed OSDE to create the process of distributing those. 

“That process has not been created and the money has not gone out yet,” said Sen. Hall. 

For school security, lawmakers passed a bill to give schools up to $92,000 annually for three years to hire school resource officers. 

“The legislature funded that upfront, so we've done our part for school security, now it's necessary that SDE get those moneys out the door,” said Hall. 

Once again, Walters questioned the legislative intent of the bill, saying it was unclear if schools could carry over the funds. 

Hall says the lack of communication ultimately impacts the students and teachers.

“When we have budget questions whether you're in administration or the Oklahoma legislature, it makes it difficult to do the kind of job I think taxpayers expect us to do,” said Hall. 

At this point, at least 26 Republican members of the state House of Representatives have signed the letter requesting an investigation.