Honestly, the news out of Oklahoma hasn’t been very good the last few months, but there is some good news to report, and we talk about this week on Oklahoma Forum. Oklahoma’s Early Childhood Education program is rated number one in the nation, for the sixth year in a row!

The architect of Oklahoma’s program was recently honored by Oklahoma Today magazine as Oklahoman of the Year for 2009, Dr. Ramona Paul. For background on the program and Dr. Paul’s selection, I recommend you grab a copy of January/February, 2010 issue of Oklahoma Today. It describes how Dr. Paul was tasked by former State Superintendent of Public Instruction Leslie Fisher to develop an educational program for four-year-olds. She did, and it has become the envy of the nation.

Oklahoma governors and legislators have been supportive of the program ever since, and under the direction of State Superintendent Sandy Garrett the program has grown and flourished over the last twenty years. Full funding was provided in 1998 and additional money for full-day kindergarten was signed into law in 2003.

Be sure and watch the show, and catch it on-line on the Oklahoma Forum web site.

Until next time,
Dick Pryor