The OKEII 2024 Research Findings
The Oklahoma Education Impact Initiative (OKEII) will formulate its initiative recommendations based on the issues prioritized from representative samples of the general public of Oklahoma and of Oklahoma public school educators and superintendents. As this initiative explores all options for improvement, including state policy recommendations, our goal is to make sure all voices are heard, and the Initiative be focused on the issues those groups prioritize.
The OKEII commissioned a statewide survey and data collection project which was fielded between July and September 2024. The surveys and research design were executed by higher education leaders from both The University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University, with input from the Board of the OKEII.
A representative sample of Oklahoma citizens were polled, as well as all K-12 public school educators statewide. The surveys yielded statistically significant data from both groups, with both surveys producing a margin-of-error of only 3% at a 95% confidence level. The general demographic breakouts from both surveys are as follows:
Survey of Oklahomans in General
We received 1,050 completed and valid surveys from Oklahoma’s general population. Women responded at a rate of 2-1 over men. The respondents by race were generally representative of the statewide populations. 51% of respondents having either a college or graduate degree. 63% of all respondents were over the age of 45. We also received a representative sample of urban and rural participants, with 49% of all respondents saying they live in large-midsize cities or suburbs and 51% saying they live in small cities, small towns or in rural Oklahoma.
Survey of Oklahoma Public Educators
We received 1,491 completed and valid surveys from K-12 public school educators throughout Oklahoma (from an active roster provided by the OSDE) with over 81% of all respondents identifying as classroom teachers. Among the 1,491 respondents, their identified race was generally representative of the statewide populations, as were their ages, and 100% of all respondents had earned a college or graduate degree. Likewise, our survey of public school educators yielded a statewide representative sample in our survey, with 64% of respondents saying they live in larger cities or suburbs and 36% living in small cities, towns or rural Oklahoma.
Following are some of the specific questions, and their results, that we asked Oklahomans as well as K-12 public school educators
Both the general public and educators are in agreement that the main focus of Oklahoma’s K-12 schools should be to promote work habits and discipline and to prepare students for the workforce;
There was also agreement in the best way to attract teachers to Oklahoma, with increasing teacher’s salaries and reducing student behavior issues being the most prominent;
One takeaway is that the public feels that parents and students themselves are not doing their part, and that parents and students need to be held more accountable for student’s behavior, attendance, achievement of higher standards, and overall performance in school.
Following are some of the specific questions, and their answers/results, that we asked Oklahomans in general, as well as K-12 public school educators: