Educators back increased funding

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – Oklahoma’s top educators are throwing their support behind legislation that increases funding for classroom instruction and teacher pay.

A proposal by Republican House Speaker Pro Tem Lee Denney of Cushing would boost education funding by $600 million over the next 10 years. Other measures call for increasing the salaries of public school teachers, their first in seven years.

Superintendent of Schools Joy Hofmeister said Tuesday increasing funds for classroom instruction and technology is vital to prepare students for a global workforce. Hofmeister also says higher teacher salaries will help fill a shortage of teachers in the state.

But legislative leaders say the additional funds may be hard to find. The state is facing a projected budget shortfall of $300 million for the upcoming year.