Filed by Michael Cross in Education, Feature, Health, News, Politics, Science, World News.
February 8, 2010

A new bill making its way through the Senate would create a database to show how state money is being spent on education.

Senate Bill 1633 would utilize the Taxpayer Transparency website for the State Department of Education to present data from school districts across the state showing how taxpayer dollars are being used.

Senator Randy Brogdon says his bill would bring more openness and transparency to the education system.

“Right now there are billions of dollars that are spent every single year throughout our school districts around the state and it’s very difficult to track where those dollars are being spent.”

The Owasso Republican says his bill has support from State Superintendent Sandy Garrett and the Oklahoma Education Association.

“We all have our own goals as to where we think the money should be spent. But, I think it’s a very prudent thing to do to allow the citizens of Oklahoma to have access to what the politicians are doing at the state capitol.”

The bill passed the Appropriations Sub-Committee on Education and now heads to the full Committee on Appropriations.