Speaker Kris Steele pleased with new DHS commissioners

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Speaker Kris Steele today expressed optimism that the new appointees to the Oklahoma Commission for Human Services will help change the course of the Department of Human Services, the agency the commission oversees.

Gov. Mary Fallin today appointed Wes Lane and Brad Yarbrough to the nine-member commission.

Speaker Kris Steele
R-Shawnee

“The newest DHS commissioners have relevant experience working with children and are passionate people who will bring a much-needed new perspective to the commission,” said Steele, R-Shawnee. “Through these appointments, Governor Fallin has shown a strong commitment to improving DHS. I commend the governor for her careful attention to ensuring that Oklahoma’s most vulnerable citizens are being served in an effective manner.”

With new commissioners in place, Steele said the commission needs to take a more active oversight role over the agency.

“It’s time that the commission end its practice of protecting the status quo and instead act as the conscientious, engaged watchdog it was designed to be,” Steele said. “I am confident the commission’s newest members will help the commission take a reform-minded approach to their important duties.”

Steele called on the new commission to conduct two specific duties: A performance review of the agency director and an organizational review of the agency.

According to information provided to the Speaker’s Office by DHS commissioners, the DHS Commission has not given the director a performance review since 2004 despite commission bylaws that require an annual performance review of the director.

“Performance reviews are important to good governance because they reveal to agency leadership what they are doing well and where improvements are needed,” Steele said.

The commission also has not conducted a formal organizational review of the agency in at least the past decade despite commission bylaws that require organizational reviews every three years, according to the information from the DHS commissioners.

“DHS faces some very real organizational challenges that need to be addressed,” Steele said. “With the agency’s employee count down drastically due to budget cuts, it’s time to give the agency a top-to-bottom review and reorganize if needed. The agency’s commission must be a partner in this process.”

Steele said he is also concerned that the commission has not taken an active enough role into learning more about circumstances surrounding the deaths of children who come into contact with the agency, as well as other issues.

According to a report by the Oklahoma Commission on Children and Youth, DHS received 430 complaints of abuse and neglect in the time leading up to and surrounding the deaths or near deaths of 82 Oklahoma children between 2008 and 2009 – an average of more than five complaints per child. The commission’s report focused on children in state custody as well as children not in state custody.

“Data and continued sub-par results show something in the DHS system is flawed. It’s time that the commission in charge of the agency implements better accountability and transparency,” Steele said. “To my knowledge, the commission is rarely, if ever, briefed on the deaths of children who come into contact with DHS. That’s unacceptable and I trust it will change soon.”

Concerns about the effectiveness of the agency and its commission have grown in recent months due to continued deaths of children in and out of agency custody and multiple law enforcement inquiries into commission and agency activities.

“The new commissioners inherit a tough situation. My hope is that the commission and agency will work in a concerted effort to identify positive solutions,” Steele said.

Steele continued: “The Legislature stands ready to assist DHS by gathering information, identifying best practices and developing policies that better protect and serve the state’s most vulnerable citizens. I look forward to working with DHS leadership, employees and its commissioners in this process.”

Governor Fallin Announces Appointments to the Department of Human Services

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the appointments of Wes Lane and Brad Yarbrough to the Department of Human Services (DHS) Commission.

Gov. Mary Fallin

“Having grown up with a mother who worked as a social worker, I have respect for the hard work DHS employees do every day.  As a society, it’s incumbent upon us to protect our most vulnerable citizens,” Fallin said.  “The neglect, abuse or loss of any child is unacceptable and it’s important we have a fresh perspective to evaluate how such tragedies can be prevented.

Fallin continued, “The new appointees to the DHS Commission have a wealth of knowledge and are community leaders dedicated to assisting our children and our families. I know they are committed to addressing the problems within the child protection system that got us where we are today.”

Wes Lane

Lane of Oklahoma City is president of the Burbridge Foundation, a foundation dedicated to solving problems that impact families. He served for 21 years in the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s Office, including five and a half years as district attorney.  He oversaw the office’s juvenile division and personally handled hundreds of DHS child welfare cases.

Lane earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Oklahoma and a law degree from the OU College of Law.

He will serve a nine-year term and is replacing Dr. George Young whose term expired.

“I’m honored that Governor Fallin has selected me for this important role,” Lane said.  “As a prosecutor, it was always my priority to do everything I could to protect the most vulnerable among us. As a DHS commissioner, I’ll do the same and examine our system to ensure we’re doing all we can to protect our children.”

Yarbrough of Oklahoma City operates Pilgrim Land Services, a staffing company that serves the energy industry.  He served as director of the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives during the Keating Administration.

He is a board member on Global Leadership, an international business and leadership consulting group and the Leadership Foundation of Oklahoma. He also helped open several “Hannah Houses” for women in crisis in cities across the United States.

Yarbrough is an ordained minister and counseled families and victims of the Oklahoma City bombing.  He also assisted the Red Cross and Billy Graham ministries during the disaster response to the 9/11 attacks in New York City.

Yarbrough earned a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Southern Nazarene University.  He has founded several successful companies and at age 27, took a business public serving as its chairman and chief executive.

“I’m grateful that Governor Fallin would select me to serve on the DHS Commission,” Yarbrough said. “Throughout my career, I’ve worked to improve the lives of our children and our families in Oklahoma and I’ll continue that commitment at the commission.” 

Yarbrough also will assume the role of commission chairman following the October commission meeting.  He will serve a five-year term and is replacing Bob Rawlings who resigned. 

Senate confirmation is not required for either appointment.

Oklahoma Economy Hot in August

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma’s economy matched the temperatures in August, as revenue collection grew at a double-digit pace in spite of concerns of a worldwide slowdown, State Treasurer Ken Miller said today as he released the state’s monthly revenue report.

 August collections were 15.2 percent higher than in August of last year, nearly matching the year-over-year growth of 15.5 percent recorded in June. Monthly collections moderated slightly in July at 6.8 percent growth from the prior year.

Miller said collections over the past 12 months total $10.37 billion, the highest level since July 2009 when 12-month collections totaled $10.402 billion.

“During the prolonged recession, 12-month collections in Oklahoma dropped by more than $1.9 billion between December 2008 and February 2010,” he said. “As of August, we have recovered $1 billion, or more than 50 percent of that lost economic activity.”

State economic signs remain positive

Miller said other recent data signal a positive economic outlook for Oklahoma, albeit somewhat subdued.

The August Oklahoma Business Conditions Index shows expected growth in the coming months. However, the index at 56.8 is down from July’s rate of 61.9, showing consumer confidence has waned. A number above 50 indicates economic growth, while a lower number anticipates contraction.

“Understandably, people are concerned about what they’re hearing on the news about the credit downgrade, sovereign debt problems, geopolitical events and volatility in the stock market,” Miller said. “However, many Oklahomans recognize that the economy here has performed much better than elsewhere.”

July statewide unemployment rose to 5.5 percent, or by one-tenth of one percent from June, while county-by-county unemployment rates dropped in all but five of Oklahoma’s 77 counties.

Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas are showing the biggest gains in revenue collections, measured both over the past 12 months and for August, but some slowdown is expected in the coming months.

Gross production taxes, also known as severance or extraction taxes, are paid two to three months after the production occurs. Three months ago, crude oil was selling for 10 to 15 percent more than today’s prices, which means gross production collections in August are reflective of those higher prices.

Treasurer Ken Miller

“While natural gas prices have remained steady over the past several months, the drop in crude oil prices is expected to be reflected in state collections,” Miller said. “Unless crude oil production volume was increased when the price dropped, less gross production revenue will be paid to the state during the next quarter.”

August collections boom

The revenue report for August shows gross collections at $842.86 million, up $111.26 million or 15.2 percent from August of last year.

Gross income tax collections, a combination of personal and corporate income taxes, generated $238.63 million, an increase of $44.63 million or 23 percent from the previous August.

Personal income tax collections for the month are $233.57 million, up $44.37 million or 23.5 percent from the prior year. Corporate collections are $5.06 million, an increase of $0.26 million or 5.4 percent.

Sales tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $323.53 million in August. That is $18.11 million or 5.9 percent above August of last year.

Gross production taxes on oil and gas generated $101.33 million in August, an increase of $29.71 million or 41.5 percent from last August. Compared to July reports, gross production collections are down by $1.48 million or 1.4 percent.

Motor vehicle taxes produced $60.27 million, up by $6.21 million or 11.5 percent from the prior year.

Other collections, consisting of about 60 different sources including taxes on fuel, tobacco, horse race gambling and alcoholic beverages, produced $119.1 million during the month. That is $12.6 million or 11.8 percent higher than last August.

Twelve-month collections demonstrate growth

Lawmakers Study Privatization of State Parks, Golf Courses

OKLAHOMA CITY (September 1, 2011) – Public-private partnerships like those used by the U.S. Forestry Service could be the model for Oklahoma to run state parks more efficiently, the fiscal policy director for the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs told lawmakers today.

Jonathan Small
Fiscal Policy Director
Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs

Jonathan Small, OCPA fiscal policy director and a certified public accountant, said privatizing some park operations is one of the few things the federal government has done right.

“One of the things the federal government has done right is outsource the complete operation of many U.S. Forestry Service federal parks,” Small said. “The U.S. Forestry Service has approximately 300 private concession contracts fully operating hundreds of parks throughout the United States. In many cases, these privatization arrangements have resulted in savings of millions of dollars to states and the federal government.”

Rep. Leslie Osborn
R-Mustang

State Rep. Leslie Osborn said with legislative efforts to reduce the size of state government, privatization is a good tool to avoid elimination of a program or state-owned asset.

“The private sector can run these state parks better than our state government and save taxpayers money that they would probably put to better use,” Osborn said. “I think our state needs to move towards public-private partnerships to run its parks.”

More than 11 million people visited state parks in 2010 and more than 79,000 rounds of golf were played at state golf courses, according to the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department’s presentation.

The study also focused on the location of state parks. After Oct. 1, 2011, there will be 35 state-run parks. Ten of these parks are located west of Interstate 35, while 25 parks are located east of the interstate. Only six of the parks are located in the six most populous Oklahoma counties. The state ranks 22 out of 50 states in parks per capita.

State golf courses are 81 percent self-sufficient, but the tourism agency is working to make them 100 percent self-sufficient.

Deby Snodgrass
Director, Oklahoma Tourism &
Recreation Department

Osborn and Small both praised current Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department Director Deby Snodgrass for her efforts to make the operation of state parks more efficient.

“I appreciate the steps Director Snodgrass has taken to reduce costs,” Osborn said. “With Director Snodgrass’s strong leadership, it should be easy for lawmakers to work with her in finding ways to improve the efficiency of the state park system.” 

“Director Deby Snodgrass and the OTRD should be commended for their leadership and effort to operate state parks in an efficient manner that minimizes the use of taxpayer dollars. Increased privatization can add to the success and stewardship that is taking place at the OTRD thanks to the new leadership of Director Snodgrass,” Small said.

State Agency Director Explains Difficulty in Selling Rocks

Peter Rudy with Oklahoma Watchdog visits with Deby Snodgrass, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Tourism and Recreation Department, after an interim study on state parks this afternoon. She explains how difficult it was to sell unwanted rock waste from a state park. You can read more about the interim study at http://oklahoma.watchdog.org/.

Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud Resigns, Takes New Private Sector Position

Sources are reporting that Oklahoma Corporation Commissioner Jeff Cloud of Oklahoma City has resigned to take a position with Continental Resources. The resignation is effective at the end of the month. 


Governor Fallin will appoint a replacement. 


Story at NewsOK.com


Story at McCarville Report


Biography

Statement from Senate President Pro-Tem Brian Bingman on Supreme Court Decision regarding Senate redistricting plan

The Supreme Court has entered an order finding the Senate Redistricting Act complies with Article 5 Section 9A of the Constitution.

“I am pleased by the Supreme Court’s decision today confirming what we have said all along: the State Senate’s bipartisan redistricting act is constitutional. Given the amount of time, hard work and collaboration that went into creating these new districts, we had no doubt as to their constitutionality.


"It is now time for the Senate to put this matter behind us and move forward together as we make preparations for the 2012 legislative session.


"Once again, I would like to commend the hard work of the Senate Redistricting Committee, which put together the plan this session along with our knowledgeable Senate staff. It was not an easy task, but they traveled around the state gathering input from the public and also worked with their colleagues in the Senate to create an appropriate plan for the citizens of Oklahoma.”

“HELP is on the Way” Event Offered as Support for Foster Families

OKLAHOMA CITY - “HELP is on the Way” is a half-day event Saturday, September 17, created for central Oklahoma foster and adoptive families*--and those considering it--to connect them with the many resources available to help ensure success in their journey.   This free event is sponsored by The Anna’s House Foundation and the Office of Faith-Based and Community Initiatives and will be held at Heritage Presbyterian Church, 14500 N. Western Avenue in  Oklahoma City. 

A 2007 study done in Oklahoma cited over 21 percent of foster homes will quit in the first year; over 75 percent quit by year five. One of the most important factors in the success of any foster home is access to resources and support.  HELP is designed to fill in that gap of knowing about the many available resources.

Dr. Deborah Shropshire, director of the Fostering Hope Clinic, the Honorable Judge Richard Kirby, along with several others including Elizabeth and Greg Harkins, co-founders of The Anna’s House Foundation will be presenting. Topics include: “The Foundations of Infant Mental Health;” “Home Educating Your Children;” “Fostering the Medically Fragile Child;” “Courage in the Courtroom;” “Advocating for Your Foster Child;” “Kittens with Claws-Fostering Children with Attachment Disorders," and several others.

“HELP” registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the program will be held from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. and includes lunch. The event is free but registration is required.  Childcare is available only with advanced registration. For more information or to register go to: http://www.annashousefoundation.org (link opens in new window).

* OKDHS refers to foster and adoptive families as Bridge Resource Families which has a child-centered focus to keep children connected to kin, culture, and community in order to achieve safety, permanency, and well-being. 

Application Procedure for Requesting the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for 2011-2012 School Year

This is a memorandum to parents and guardians and private schools participating in the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act.

It explains the procedure for applying for a scholarship beginning August 26, 2011.

HB 1744 is a law (70 S.D. § 13-102.2) that amends the LNH Scholarship Act beginning August 26, 2011. Section A of the Act allows the parent/guardian of a public school student with a disability to exercise their parental option and request to have an LNH Scholarship awarded for their child to enroll in and attend a private school, if the child was on an Individualized Education Program (IEP) prior to the request and has spent the previous school year in attendance at a public school in the state by being reported by a school district for funding purposes during that year. Exceptions will apply to a student who is a child of a member of the United States Armed Forces who transfers to a school in this state from out of state or from a foreign country pursuant to the permanent change of station orders.

Section B of the Act requires the parent/guardian to notify the OSDE directly of the intent to participate in the LNH Scholarship program. The parent/guardian must make this request by completing the application process annually to provide necessary eligibility and accountability information.

The procedure for submitting an application to receive the LNH Scholarship is as follows:

1. To be eligible to participate in the LNH Scholarship for Students with Disabilities Program, a private school will notify the OSDE of its intent to participate. The notice shall specify the grade levels and services that the private school has available for students with disabilities who are participating in the scholarship program. The OSDE will approve a private school as eligible to participate in the scholarship program upon determination that it meets specified requirements.

2. The parent must obtain acceptance for admission of the student to a private school that is eligible for the program as provided in subsection in the Act.

3. The parent/guardian will notify the OSDE directly of its request for the scholarship by submitting the Lindsey Nicole Henry (LNH) Scholarship Application for new applicants or the Annual Renewal Application and required documents to the OSDE by December 1 of the school year requested.

4. The OSDE will verify the application information and complete the calculation request, notifying the parent and the private school of the calculated amount of funds available for the scholarship within ten (10) days after receiving the scholarship request. The maximum scholarship granted for an eligible student with disabilities will be the amount calculated or the amount of tuition and fees for the private school, whichever is less, minus up to two and one-half percent (2 1⁄2 %) of the scholarship amount that will be retained by the OSDE as a fee for administrative services rendered.

5. The private school will send a quarterly verification of the child’s continued enrollment and attendance at the private school and a quarterly invoice to the OSDE-SES. Payments will be made at the end of each quarter after attendance is verified.

6. Upon issuance of a scholarship warrant, the parent/guardian to whom the warrant is made will restrictively endorse the warrant to the private school for deposit into the account of the private school. The OSDE will not be responsible or any additional costs associated with special education and related services incurred by the private school for the student.

7. The private school will submit an annual, notarized, sworn compliance statement to the OSDE certifying compliance with state laws.

8. The OSDE will cross-check the list of participating scholarship students with the public school enrollments prior to each scholarship payment to avoid duplication.

The LNH Scholarship Application for New Applicants and Annual Renewal Application with supporting documents must be submitted by the parent/guardian to the OSDE by December 1 of the year that parent/guardian is seeking the scholarship, beginning with the 2011-2012 school year. 

The application process must be completed each year that the parent/guardian chooses to participate in the LNH Scholarship.

The LNH Scholarship Application is available online to parents/guardians on the OSDE Website at <www.sde.state.ok.us>, and can also be obtained by contacting the OSDE, Special Education Services (SES). The application can be downloaded and mailed or faxed to the OSDE for the parent/guardian’s convenience. Applications received after the December 1 deadline will be considered for the following school year.

If you have additional questions about the LNH Scholarship Application process or the LNH Scholarship Reimbursement, please contact me, (405) 521-4865.

cc: Private School Directors

Procedure for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Reimbursement Application

Below is a memorandum issued by the State Department of Education to superintendents regarding the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act.

This memo addresses the failure of some school districts to make required scholarship payments during the 2010-2011 school year. The memo establishes a procedure for reimbursement if a district did not comply and pay the scholarship funds as contemplated by statute. (Memo dated Aug. 3, 2011)

House Bill 3393 is a law (70 S.D. § 13-102.2) that became effective August 27, 2010. The bill created a scholarship for use at a private school accredited by the State Board of Education for students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs).

HB 1744 amends the LNH Scholarship Act. HB 1744, subsection N, allows the OSDE to reimburse parents for scholarship funds they should have received; and then allows the OSDE to bill or adjust the state aid of districts that failed to make required scholarship payments, if a district did not comply and pay the scholarship funds as contemplated by statute. 

Frontier City Theme Park Tickets for People with Disabilities

If you are a person with disabilities over six years of age, you can purchase a $32.99 ticket for Frontier City Theme Park for just $12.  

Sunday, October 16, 2011 from noon till 10 p.m. has been set aside for people with disabilities.  

For more information call 800-299-2811 or 405-282-2811.  A portion of each ticket purchased will be donated to Make Promises Happen camps for people with disabilities.

For more information on this or other events or programs visit the Oklahoma Office of Disability Concerns at http://nelsone.ws/oz1dV0.

Free supplies benefiting record number of students, teachers in OKC

OKLAHOMA CITY – In 45 minutes, Oklahoma City school teachers laid claim to 250 reams of white copy paper. It took even less time – 15 minutes – for teachers to virtually swipe up 52 bottles of hand sanitizer. And they didn’t forget the crayons, markers, rubber bands and other items they need in the classrooms available for order free every month through Teachers Warehouse.

Teachers Warehouse, a program of The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools underwritten by Chesapeake Energy Corp., Devon Energy and OG&E, allows teachers to order supplies via a web site on a monthly basis. They did so in record numbers this month. This week and next week, Teachers Warehouse will distribute more than $37,000 in supplies to 669 teachers at 81 schools in the Oklahoma City School District. The supplies are expected to impact more than 14,000 students.

The numbers demonstrate the warehouse is reaching its goal of bridging the gap between what schools have and what students and teachers need to be successful despite growing demand.

The value of August orders represents a 73 percent increase compared to a year ago and 44 percent increase over last month. Since its inception three years ago, Teachers Warehouse has distributed more than $688,000 in supplies. Volunteers log about 600 hours per month conducting inventory, unloading and sorting donations and packing orders.

For more information about donating money or supplies to Teachers Warehouse or to volunteer, please visit www.okckids.com or call 405.879.2007.

The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public Schools

Created in 1984, The Foundation for Oklahoma City Public School is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to create community ownership in the success of every child.  

The Foundation is the winner of the Oklahoma Foundation for Excellence’s 2010 Outstanding Local Education Foundation Program Award for Competitive Edge, 2009 Outstanding Local Education Foundation Program Award for Teachers Warehouse, 2006 Outstanding Local Education Foundation Program Award for Partners in Education, the 2000 Medal of Excellence Award, and the 1998 Award for Nonprofit Management Excellence.  

Visit www.okckids.com for more information on their programs and volunteer and giving opportunities.

Tax Credits Task Force Discusses Capital Investment Incentives

OKLAHOMA CITY – The Task Force on State Tax Credits and Economic Incentives heard presentations on some of the state’s largest tax credits and incentives today.

State Rep. David Dank, chairman of the task force, said the task force is concerned that the Oklahoma Capital Investment Board Tax Credits are being used by out-of-state businesses when they were created to bring jobs to the state.

Rep. David Dank
R-Oklahoma City

“I think we’re finding out that there are far too many dollars that are being invested in companies and corporations outside the state borders,” Dank (R-Oklahoma City) said. “I think these are the things we are going to have to focus on.”

The Oklahoma Capital Investment Board has made commitments to 19 venture funds. More than $130 million has been invested. Dank said the board will have to do a better job of demonstrating exactly how those funds have been spent if it expects to receive future funding.

“I don’t think they have been able to really show the results of who, what, where, when and why,” Dank said. “I don’t think they’ve been able to provide that information and I think they’ve come up short. I think we have a lot more questions to have answered before we would even consider allowing them to continue to use taxpayer dollars.”

The task force also examined the Small Business Venture Capital Formation Incentive Act and the Rural Venture Capital Formation Incentive Act.

“We want to be able to understand in detail how each and every one of these tax incentives are being used and how they have benefited Oklahoma,” Dank said.

OEA keeps generous benefits and pay raises while members face more suffering

By Stacy Martin at www.CapitolBeatOK.com (Published: 23-Aug-2011)

Is the Oklahoma Education Association implementing belt-tightening to show solidarity with its members? 

A look at its Internal Revenue Service filings from 2005 to 2010 shows, not so much.

OEA’s payroll for seven centers has risen about $182,000 from the 2005-06 tax year to the 2009-2010 tax year, to about $4.4 million, according to Internal Revenue Service records.

Several professional staffers have quit, been fired or retired. In essence, the union has continued to hand out staff and executive raises and maintained pricey benefits, while 2,000 teachers have lost jobs.

Last year, the OEA lost over 700 members due to the deteriorating public education environment, according to CEO Lela Odom. But the perks of working at the union remain lavish. And top executive salaries and perks have skyrocketed.

Professional staff members receive company cars. They don’t actually own them, but they take them home at night. The union pays gas, repairs, maintenance, insurance and replaces them after a few years.

Plus, an OEA insider admits the union’s staff continues enjoying free health, dental and vision coverage, potentially worth tens of thousands of dollars.

That means quite a few professional staffers are enjoying pay, insurance benefits, and auto perks worth $100,000 or more.

Smart Use of Social Media by Emergency Agencies After East Coast Earthquake

The website for Government Technology magazine contains a story about the effective use of social media by local governments and emergency agencies following the east coast earthquake yesterday. 

"The emergency situation also demonstrated first responders’ and city officials’ sophisticated use of social media, especially Twitter. Many law enforcement agencies and emergency personnel began tweeting within minutes of the earthquake in order to disseminate information to the public."

The public also turned to social media:

"Initial reports also indicated that cell phone service was down or disrupted in many areas affected by the earthquake, and in turn the public turned to social media to get information."

School readiness partnership plans to make recommendations to Governor Mary Fallin

By Patrick B. McGuigan at www.CapitolBeatOK.com (Published: 19-Aug-2011) 

At a Thursday afternoon meeting in Oklahoma City, leaders of several organizations in early childhood education advocacy or services gathered to read (and, in the end, endorse) policy recommendations that will be forwarded to Governor Mary Fallin this fall. As the recommendations were discussed, however, a new public opinion poll documented that many voters are dubious about further expansion of government programs to provide early childhood education.

The recommendations come from the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR), a group established in 2003. The partnership's mission is described as “to lead Oklahoma in coordinating an early childhood system focused on strengthening families and school readiness for all children.” The organization's vision is characterized as seeking to assure “ that all Oklahoma children will be safe, healthy, eager to learn and ready to succeed by the time they enter school.”

Since 2010, OPSR has carried on the duties of the State Early Childhood Advisory Council (SECAC). 

The 2012 policy recommendations remain in draft stage, and can be read on the website of Smart Start Oklahoma. Leaders of Smart Start Oklahoma told CapitolBeatOK the draft document will include comments made at Thursday's meeting, and that the text of the recommendations will not be finalized until August 31.