How Oklahoma went from 17th to 50th in education — and what works

Oklahoma’s education system didn’t decline overnight — and fixing it won’t be simple.

In this episode of Oklahoma Memo, Ryan Welton talks with John Croisant — former teacher, Tulsa Public Schools board member, and congressional candidate for Oklahoma’s 1st District — about how underinvestment, staffing shortages and politically driven policy decisions pushed Oklahoma from 17th to 50th in national education rankings.

Topics include:

• Why teacher shortages and large class sizes matter

• How education funding actually affects student outcomes

• The limits of teacher pay raises without additional staff and support

• School choice, private school tax credits and their unintended consequences

• Why reading proficiency and career readiness are the real benchmarks

• The federal government’s role in accountability and special education funding

• What a coordinated, outcomes-driven education strategy could look like

Croisant argues that improving education isn’t about ideology — it’s about focusing resources on what works and holding leaders accountable.

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