Joy Hofmeister, Oklahoma's State Superintendent of Public Instruction, speaks during a news conference to announce a deal on a $8.3 billion budget for the upcoming fiscal year that includes an average $1,200 pay raise for teachers and tens of millions more dollars for schools, Wednesday, May 15, 2019, in Oklahoma City. Looking on are Oklahoma Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt, second from left, and Speaker of the Oklahoma House Charles McCall, right. (AP Photo/Sue Ogrocki)

OKLAHOMA CITY (Apr. 21, 2021) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister made the following remarks today after the state House unanimously passed Senate Bill 229. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, establishes a long-needed dedicated funding stream for school buildings.

“The Redbud School Funding Act provides a much-needed funding resource for hundreds of Oklahoma districts and charter schools that have struggled to construct and maintain local school buildings due to little or no access to ad valorem dollars. By creating a new, state-dedicated funding source, schools will be able to rely on these dollars for many years to come as they plan for facility improvements benefiting students.

“We commend the House of Representatives for passing SB 229, a legal solution to resolve inequities in facilities funding. Specifically, we are grateful to Rep. Kyle Hilbert and Rep. Rhonda Baker for their tireless work in crafting this important legislation.”