The Oklahoma legislature failed to meet Gov. Brad Henry’s April 1 deadline to approve funding for the state’s public schools.
According to a 2003 law, proposed and signed by the Democratic governor, the legislature must pass the K-12 education budget before April 1 each year to allow school boards ample time to make budget decisions. District officials face an April 10 deadline for renewing teacher contracts.
Several pieces of legislation regarding education funding, however, are pending in the House and Senate. Gov. Henry has asked legislators to approve his $144 million education package, which includes teacher pay raises and state-funded health insurance for teachers.
There is no penalty for failing to meet the governor’s deadline. The legislature met the deadline in 2004.
