If You Can’t Beat ‘Em, Join ‘Em: Teachers Run for Office

This election season, a record number of Oklahoma teachers are running for state legislature positions. While current lawmakers argue education has received more than its fair share of dollars, the state’s sharp budget cuts in per-pupil spending are the highest in the nation and have resulted in teacher layoffs, overcrowded classrooms, and, in some cases, a four-day school week. This “teacher caucus,” which includes Oklahoma’s Teacher of the Year, is looking to improve education more by legislating from inside the capitol rather than lobbying from outside. Education Week Correspondent Lisa Stark explores these issues in this report for the PBS NewsHour. This video aired on PBS NewsHour on October 4, 2016.