Oklahoma Senate panel narrowly passes voucher-style education proposal

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — A bill to allow public funds to be used in Oklahoma to pay for a student’s private- or home-school education has narrowly cleared its first legislative hurdle.

The Senate Education Committee voted 8-7 on Tuesday for the bill called the Oklahoma Empowerment Act. Like a voucher plan, the bill would allow parents to use their child’s state education dollars for private-school tuition or other education-related costs.

Gov. Kevin Stitt has endorsed the bill by Senate President Pro Tempore Greg Treat, a school-choice backer.

However, House Speaker Charles McCall said last week that he doesn’t plan to hear the bill.