Business schools throughout America teach management techniques called “best practices” and “benchmarking” – determine what the most efficient companies in a given field are doing and apply similar goals for your firm. According to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), just four years ago seven states across America -- from Utah to Maine , Tennessee to New York -- placed at least 65% of their operational budgets in the classroom. Now only two states do. The states that recently reached 65% have divergent cultural, demographic and economic make-ups. They're simply about as different as states could be – but all place classroom education as a priority. The diversity of these states shows that a benchmark of 65% for classroom instruction can be met throughout the nation.

In fact, 23% of America 's school districts already meet or exceed 65% in the classroom, but only 8 of 539 in Oklahoma . Every school district in Oklahoma may not be able to reach 65%, but every school district should be encouraged to be as efficient as possible and place its classrooms, its teachers and its students as their first funding priorities.

The First Class Education for Oklahoma Act defines classroom instruction expenditures as,

 “Expenditures directly related to classroom instruction, including, without limitation, to instructional staff and instructional materials. Instruction shall include activities dealing directly with interaction between students and teachers or other classroom and instructional personnel, special education instruction, tutors, books, classroom computers, general instruction supplies, instructional aides, libraries and librarians, class activities such as field trips, athletics, arts, music and multidisciplinary learning, and extra curricular activities including, but not limited to drama, sports and band.”

Georgia , Kansas , Louisiana and Texas have each enacted the 65% Solution. Other states surrounding Oklahoma are joining the 65% Solution movement as well. New Mexico 's Bill Richardson was the first governor to call for 65% in the classroom. Initiative signatures have already been submitted in Colorado to place the 65% Solution on the November 2006 ballot. Missouri Governor Matt Blunt is pushing a legislative referral to the ballot of a 2/3rds in the classroom proposal. Voters in Arizona , Florida , Oregon , Ohio and Washington are likely to see 65% proposals on their ballots in November. And Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty is pushing 70% in the classroom legislation for his state.

Each local Oklahoma school district will decide for itself how to spend the additional funds for the classroom. Some may raise teacher pay, reduce class sizes, purchase computers or add additional instructional opportunities like music, the arts, physical education or foreign languages. It's up to the local school district to decide its classroom priorities, but as a state, passage of the First Class Education for Oklahoma Act will make our classrooms, our teachers and our students Oklahoma 's first funding priorities.

As sound as placing more of our education money in the classroom is for teachers and taxpayers, it's equally important for students. A ranking of all 50 states by standardized test scores shows the top five states place the highest percentage in the classroom – averaging 64.12%. The bottom five states for standardized test scores place the lowest percentage in the classroom – averaging 59.46%. Research by Colorado 's Independence Institute shows the percentage of dollars reaching the classroom has five times greater correlation (49% correlation) with increased test scores than simply spending more money (10% correlation). The Independence Institute's research also found increased spending outside the classroom actually had a negative correlation with test scores (-14%).

According to the June 2005 report of the National Center for Educational Statistics, the national state average being spent in the classroom is 61.3%. While K-12 funding has been rising at four times the rate of inflation nationally, the percentage reaching the classroom has fallen each year for the last four years. Oklahoma ranks 46 th nationally and has only eight school districts currently reaching the 65% goal, while 41 fail to even place 50% in the classroom.

Through a combination of placing their annual budget increases toward classroom instruction and better management of funds already allocated, school districts will need to spend a minimum of 65% of their budgets on the reason they exist – to instruct students in a classroom setting. Proper management is already taking place in many school districts throughout the country and Oklahoma where the 65% goal is being met and exceeded. Others will need to examine their levels of administration, their spending on perks like car allowances and out-of-state travel and seek savings through common business practices such as competitive bidding or cooperative bidding with neighboring districts. But more than anything else, re-establishing Oklahoma 's classrooms, teachers and students as the first priorities in funding must take place.

The First Class Education for Oklahoma Act provides school districts an opportunity to ask for a renewable one-year waiver from either the annual 2% improvement or the 65% goal if approved by the State Superintendent of Public Instruction. The initiative specifically cites transportation costs as a possible reason for a waiver.

Many small and rural school districts around the country and some in Oklahoma are already reaching the 65% goal, while the largest school districts in many states and in Oklahoma fall well short. Big or small, rural, urban or suburban, more than anything else, what dictates the amount of money spent in the classroom comes down to making classroom instruction the top priority.

School boards are free to spend on anything they wish – so long as the priority of spending 65% on classroom instruction is met. Local control is very important, especially when matched with statewide taxpayer accountability. And this is a ballot measure, so the voters will control the outcome.

The First Class Education 65% goal is for K-12 educational operating budgets. Capital outlays such as construction costs and major renovations are not impacted.

The State Legislatures will be specifically left the task to set penalties to encourage compliance to the measure.

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