Schools throughout Tulsa are gearing up for the 2024-25 school year with additional funding provided by the City through Vision Tulsa, which was passed by voters in 2016. As part of the Vision Tulsa capital improvement program for economic development, Tulsa voters approved $10 million for the Teach Live T-Town program which helps bolster teacher retention, recruitment and training for school districts within the city limits - Tulsa, Union and Jenks.
For each year of Vision Tulsa funding since 2016, school districts have shared an appropriation of $1.4 million annually, distributed according to how many of their students are in the Tulsa city limits. $6 million has already been spent by school districts this year, which accounts for 60% of the appropriated $10 million.
As part of Vision Tulsa, an additional $14.5 million was allocated for the Safety-First Initiative, which funds improvements for kids’ routes to school including signs, sidewalks, crosswalks, and pedestrian signals near schools.
Below is more information on how individual school districts are using their funds.
Tulsa Public Schools
Since 2016, Tulsa Public Schools (TPS) has used $2.7 million in City of Tulsa funding to assist with strategically hiring vacant teacher positions for upcoming school years. Funds provide TPS with access to job posting sponsorships and help create stipends for new hires participating in district-based orientation. TPS staff also participate in professional development opportunities focused on recruiting, hiring, and retaining high quality teachers.
Union Public Schools
Union Public Schools offers sign-on bonuses that have a positive impact on recruitment. Union also adds funds into their tuition reimbursement program, which helps pay for graduate courses and ultimately provides tuition assistance to staff members. New teachers are provided with monthly professional development programs, assisting them in classroom management, lesson planning, curriculum and time management. Stipends are offered to staff holding or gaining English as a second language certification. Union Public Schools has used $2.1 million of City funding to help meet their retention, recruitment, and training needs.
Jenks Public Schools
With the help of $1.2 million in City funding, Jenks Public Schools has been able to offer $2,000 signing bonuses for especially hard-to-fill positions, which has been instrumental in recruiting. Hard to fill positions include Special Education Teachers, School Psychologists, Speech Language Pathologists, Mathematics Teachers, and Science Teachers. Jenks has also implemented an Employee Referral Program and now provides instructional coaching and mentoring to new teachers and those needing additional support. Tuition reimbursement is also offered as part of a strategic plan for employee recruitment and retention.
About Vision Tulsa
Vision Tulsa, an $884 million sales tax renewal package approved by voters in 2016, is making substantial investments in economic development, education, public safety, streets, and transportation needs citywide. With citizen priorities providing the driving force behind the creation of Vision Tulsa, transformative projects and enhancements are setting the stage for a bright future for Tulsa.
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