Common Education

Rep. Mark Vancuren, R-Owasso, announced today that he will resign from the House District 74 seat in the Oklahoma House of Representatives, effective January 1, 2025, after six years of dedicated service to the state. Elected in 2018, Vancuren served as the vice chair of the House Common Education Committee for the duration of his tenure and played an instrumental role in shaping legislative outcomes in education, fiscal policy and transparency. “Serving the people of Oklahoma, and specifically House District 74, has been one of the greatest honors of my life,” Vancuren said. “I am proud of the work we accomplished in the House during such a transformative period in our state’s history. From addressing budget deficits to securing a record $4 billion in savings, our efforts have positioned Oklahoma for a stronger, more stable future.” Vancuren served on several key committees during his time in the Legislature, including Appropriations & Budget, Higher Education and Career Tech, and A&B Natural Resources. His leadership in these areas contributed to historic education reforms, tax cuts to help Oklahoma families combat inflation, and the establishment of the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT), which aims to ensure greater accountability and transparency in state government. As vice chair of the House Common Education Committee, Vancuren worked tirelessly to advance teacher pay and classroom funding—efforts that have led to the most significant education reforms in Oklahoma’s history. “I am especially proud of the substantial advancements we made in education during my time in office,” Vancuren said. “As a former public school teacher and coach for 30 years, these changes are personal to me. We’ve made great strides in supporting our teachers and students, and I believe these reforms will leave a lasting impact on Oklahoma’s educational landscape for years to come.” “While my time in the Legislature has come to an end, I will continue to work for the people of Owasso as the new District 2 Deputy County Commissioner for Tulsa County,” said Vancuren. “I want to thank the constituents of House District 74 for entrusting me with the privilege of representing them. Your support has meant the world to me, and I will always be grateful for your faith in me to serve our community and the state of Oklahoma.”

Rep. Kevin Wallace, R-Wellston, today announced that the Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency (LOFT) would begin an investigation into spending concerns regarding the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). This investigation, approved by Speaker Charles McCall, R-Atoka, and spearheaded by Wallace in his capacity as Chairman of LOFT, will focus on issues raised by both legislators and private citizens regarding alleged OSDE funding disbursement issues. "In my capacity as Chairman, I intend to have LOFT investigate funding disbursement concerns raised by both citizens and legislators in regard to funds earmarked to OSDE for specific purposes," Wallace said. "This isn’t about Superintendent Walters; this is about the transparency of a State Agency and getting answers for our constituents. When the Legislature approves funding for a specific purpose, it is incumbent on the agency to which those funds are allocated to spend them properly and in a timely manner. If there are issues with disbursements being made, that information should be communicated to the Legislature well before schools are incumbered. I look forward to using the processes and procedures available within LOFT to address the concerns that have been raised with OSDE funding, and will conduct a thorough, transparent investigation to provide answers to my fellow legislators and the citizens of Oklahoma." "LOFT is designed to ensure that taxpayer dollars are being spent responsibly by state agencies, making them the ideal entity to examine any concerns related to spending at OSDE," McCall said. "This investigation by LOFT allows us to address these concerns efficiently without the need for a costly special legislative session. I trust that Chairman Wallace, and LOFT, will conduct a comprehensive review that will provide clarity on the issues at OSDE and offer solutions to ensure that taxpayer funds are managed appropriately. I fully support this process. Additionally, my office will be sharing all relevant information with Attorney General Gentner Drummond regarding any potential violations of the Open Records or Open Meeting Acts by OSDE. We are committed to transparency, and the findings from this investigation will be made available to the public.” LOFT is a state agency in the legislative branch that assists the Oklahoma House and Senate. LOFT provides budgetary recommendations to the LOFT Oversight Committee for use in setting the funding of state government, higher education, and public schools.

Oklahomans could soon see a ballot question that, if approved, would allow former teachers to return to the classroom after leaving political office. Currently, the Oklahoma Constitution prohibits a former legislator from holding a state-paid job for two years after leaving public office. House Joint Resolution 1002, authored by Rep. John Talley, R-Stillwater, would amend the Oklahoma Constitution to exempt legislators who are returning to teach. "While this provision in the Oklahoma Constitution is well-intentioned to prevent government corruption, it also means that former teachers who served in the Legislature have to sit by for two years before they can teach again, even though Oklahoma is facing a teacher shortage," Talley said. "There's unique perspectives and experiences that come with serving as a legislator that these teachers could share with students who are our future leaders. I'm glad for the broad support of this bill and I hope to see this passed quickly so Oklahomans can make their opinion known." HJR1002 passed the House 72-11 and is authored in the Senate by Sen. Carri Hicks, D-Oklahoma City. If passed by the Senate, it would be sent to the Secretary of State to be placed on a statewide ballot.