Authors
Patrick B. McGuigan
Independent Journalist
A member of the Oklahoma Journalism Hall of Fame, Patrick B. McGuigan is founder of CapitolBeatOK, an online news service, and editor of The City Sentinel, an independent newspaper. He is the author of three books and editor of seven, and has written extensively on education and other public policy issues.
Recent Articles
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Education
Crossover Prep brings hope, transformation
Incredibly, only 22 African-American senior boys were college-ready in Tulsa Public Schools in 2015. With the help of Oklahoma’s tax-credit scholarship program, a private school in north Tulsa is tackling the problem head-on.Patrick B. McGuigan | August 9, 2018
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Higher Education
Free-speech controversy continues at UCO
The visit by Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis (AiG) to the University of Central Oklahoma (UCO) in Edmond was scrubbed last week. UCO is now the Sooner State’s third largest higher education facility, so the move got attention.Patrick B. McGuigan | February 13, 2018
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Budget & Tax
Tax Foundation critiques ‘Step Up Oklahoma’ tax plan
The Tax Foundation, a well-known nonprofit that studies fiscal policy across the United States, has issued a critical analysis of the combination of tax changes and tax increases advanced over the past two weeks by Step Up Oklahoma.Patrick B. McGuigan | January 24, 2018
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Education
State Chamber’s ‘OK2030’ plan recommends school choice
The State Chamber of Oklahoma Research Foundation has unveiled a comprehensive vision for public policy reforms aiming “to dramatically improve our state’s rankings and prospects.”Patrick B. McGuigan | January 8, 2018
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Education
With a Boost from a School Choice Program, Life-Changing School Coming to Oklahoma
One of the nation’s most effective college prep and work experience programs will come to Oklahoma in one year, thanks to existing state policy providing a steady model for financing. Students from economically challenged backgrounds will be able to access the high-quality high school education model and job program beginning in fall 2017.Patrick B. McGuigan | October 14, 2016
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Higher Education
Higher Ed’s Future Rushes In
Tuition at Oklahoma’s 25 public colleges and universities will go up an average of 8.4 percent this year, the Associated Press reports. Hikes for undergraduates will range from Langston’s 3.7 percent boost to about 13 percent at Rose State.Patrick B. McGuigan | September 1, 2016
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Education
Scholar says school choice ‘is now mainstream,’ but fears regulatory overreach
As enthusiasm for school choice rises across the political spectrum, opponents remain determined and willing to spend lots of money, some of it from the public well, to reverse, cap, or smother choice. Meanwhile, the vast majority of school-age children most in need of better education remain stuck in schools based on ZIP code, rather than on the preferences of students or parents.Patrick B. McGuigan | December 18, 2015
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Budget & Tax
Be Prepared: Federal-Funds Transparency Makes Sense for Oklahoma
A proposal to prepare the government of Oklahoma for emerging federal budget crises fell short in the 2015 session of the state Legislature. But it wasn’t for lack of trying, or support.Patrick B. McGuigan | August 1, 2015
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Education
YOU GUEST IT: Three choices on school choice: Pay, move, or lie
In our state, opportunities to exercise school choice are pretty limited, unless you have money or fall into certain hard-to-educate (but not impossible-to-educate) categories, such as students with special needs. For most families, the options for parents and students are: pay for school choice, move into a public school district where schools are decent, or lie.Patrick B. McGuigan | March 3, 2015
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Education
Tear Down This Wall
Education is the source of personal reformation and the pathway to achievement of dreams. Throughout my writing, reporting, and teaching career I have supported education reform in the broadest sense.Patrick B. McGuigan | February 5, 2015
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