Oklahoma's Public Education:
The Foundation of the State's Future
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The Founders
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Luke Corbett
Former Chairman & CEO
Kerr-McGee Corporation
Oklahoma Business & Education Coalition is a nonprofit organization to build and help implement a plan to improve public education in Oklahoma. Seventeen large Oklahoma companies and the three largest chambers of commerce contributed to its beginning in 2000; in 2002 OBEC has twenty-five corporate and three chamber sponsors.
OBEC is governed by a board of directors made up of representatives of the founding companies and chambers of commerce.
The real work of OBEC, however, takes place in the Education Policy Board. The EPB, composed of representatives from the business and education communities, meet to examine policy, review research, and direct activities.
The educators represent all facets of education K-16 teachers, administrators, and education association professionals. Guest advisors also regularly attend the meetings. The EPB is the primary driver of the policy and agenda of OBEC.
OBEC's concept is straightforward to join business and education leaders in a partnership to improve K-12 public education. We want to help Oklahoma students perform among the best nationally and internationally and increase the percentage of students who attend and graduate from college. Nonpartisan, OBEC is committed to working with all parties interested in improving public education.
Business is involved in education for three reasons:
Work Force
- Oklahoma companies mainly hire graduates of Oklahoma public schools
- Oklahoma companies compete against companies from across the country and around the world. Oklahoma needs nationally and internationally competitive workers equal or superior to what leading countries employ.
- A superior, better-educated work force will attract quality jobs and capital.
Economy
- Education quality and attainment significantly impact the economy.
- The success of many Oklahoma companies is directly linked to the economic health of the communities they serve. The prime measures of economic strength are personal income levels and trends. Personal income and education go hand in hand.
- Statistics show that a person with a college degree earns approximately 80% more than a person with a high school degree. In comparing with other states, per capita income, percentage of population living below the poverty level, high school graduation rate, ACT scores, and college graduation are tied.
- Lower income levels mean a smaller tax base and less money for services or investment in infrastructure.
Quality of Life
- Statistics demonstrate that better-educated populations show more civic and social involvement and lower incidence of social problems, e.g., voter turnout, prison incarceration, burglary rates, etc.