The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) wants $123.3 million in new state funding for the coming fiscal year. The request, if approved, would affect employee insurance and literacy programs at districts including Norman Public Schools and Noble Public Schools.

The agency presented its $4.4 billion fiscal year 2028 budget request to the Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday, Oct. 22, Oklahoma Voice reported. That total represents a 2.88% increase over the current budget. The request now goes to the Oklahoma Legislature for its 2027 session, which begins in February.

The proposal includes funding for school employee insurance and statewide literacy services, though allocations for Norman and Noble have not been identified in the reporting.

Norman Public Schools enrolled 16,048 students and spent roughly $189.7 million in the 2024-25 school year, according to OSDE transparency records. Noble Public Schools enrolled 2,998 students and spent about $35.3 million over the same period, according to its OSDE summary. Oklahoma Voice’s report did not identify district-level allocations or proposed service-center locations.

Literacy law drives new spending

A new state literacy law accounts for $9 million of the request. The OSDE proposed spending $7 million to open regional service centers so teachers and administrators can get literacy training closer to home instead of traveling to the agency's Oklahoma City headquarters, Stephens said.

"Districts need for us to be more accessible to them," Stephens said, according to Oklahoma Voice. "There is something about proximity. Proximity matters."

The centers would partner with local facilities such as CareerTech centers. The budget request does not specify how many centers would open or where.

The literacy law also requires second graders to take the third-grade state reading test starting in the 2027-28 school year. Administering those tests would cost $2 million.

Building upgrades and research office

The OSDE asked for $3 million for improvements to its Oklahoma City building and $1.3 million for operations. Part of the operations money would create an internal research department to track statewide education data, Stephens said.

New superintendent could shift priorities

The budget proposal could change before lawmakers act. State Superintendent Lindel Fields did not seek election. Voters will choose his successor, either Robert Franklin or Jennettie Marshall, on Tuesday, Nov. 3. The new superintendent takes office in January and could bring different spending priorities.

The Legislature will take up the request when its 2027 session opens in February.