1. USSA believes that all schools receiving public funding, including those that benefit from tax credits, should be subject to the same accountability measures as all public schools.

2. USSA supports the development of a sustainable and stable plan to increase operational funding for public school districts which will bring Oklahoma per pupil expenditure to the regional average.

3. USSA supports the ongoing full funding of health insurance for certified and support staff.

4. USSA supports legislation to protect and preserve the Oklahoma Retirement System as a defined benefit plan, and to provide a cost-of-living adjustment for retired TRS members. 

5. USSA supports the development of a student weight in the state funding formula for full time virtual students that is reflective of the reduced cost associated with providing full time virtual education.

6. USSA supports legislation that will make school districts an equal partner with city and county governments in the development and approval of Tax Increment Financing Districts financed by ad valorem revenue.

7. USSA opposes any legislation that removes educational decisions from locally elected Boards of Education.

8. USSA supports legislation that removes statutory barriers to dual credit offerings to high school students in district facilities. We believe that school districts should be able to partner with Oklahoma Higher Education Institutions of their choice to provide dual credit courses. We support the expansion of dual credit enrollment for students beginning in the ninth grade, and we support partnerships with higher education that allow certified teachers to provide instruction in dual credit courses.

9.  USSA believes that salary increases alone will not solve the teacher shortage crisis facing Oklahoma Public Schools. To alleviate the teacher shortage, we support full reciprocity for teachers with out of state certificates, we support legislation to immediately allow retired teachers to return to the classroom without restrictions on earnings and we support the creation of programs that will increase the number of college graduates who obtain teacher certification, and we support a review of the current pathways to teacher certification

10. USSA strongly opposes any voucher legislation.

11. USSA supports an increase in transportation funding the reflects the cost of student transportation in the 21^st century. We also support a comprehensive review of state law and state department rules for school bus driver certification.

6. USSA supports legislation that will give school districts an equal voice with city and county governments in the development and approval of Tax Increment Financing Districts that are financed by ad valorem revenue.

7. USSA opposes any legislation that would remove educational decisions from locally elected Boards of Education.

8. USSA supports legislation that will allow school districts to enter into partnerships with Oklahoma Higher Education Institutions of their choice to provide concurrent course offerings for high school students in district facilities. We support the expansion of current enrollment to for students beginning in the ninth grade, and we support partnerships with higher education that allow certified teachers to provide instruction in concurrent enrollment courses.

9.  USSA believes that except for funding, the greatest challenge facing public education is the teacher shortage. To alleviate the teacher shortage, we support full reciprocity for all fully licensed teachers. We also support legislation to remove the three-year cap on earnings for retirees.

10. USSA strongly opposes any voucher legislation.

11. USSA opposes the expansion of tax credits for the Opportunity Scholarships Program and Educational Improvement Grants until legislation has been enacted that strengthens state oversight of the granting of the tax credits and the disbursement of funds.