Oklahoma teachers fight education cuts by winning elections

Despite the funding gaps, Republican leaders in Oklahoma continued to push for more income tax cuts and corporate tax incentives, even as an oil market bust ravaged the economy and prompted widespread layoffs.

[...] tens of thousands of teachers and parents thronged the Capitol for rallies in 2014 and 2015, urging Republican leaders to increase teacher pay, roll back the tax cuts and get rid of some of the state-imposed requirements on schools.

Oklahoma Parents and Educators for Public Education, a Facebook page launched by an elementary school teacher and a mom frustrated with the Legislature's lack of action, quickly grew to nearly 25,000 followers.

While funding for public schools has been cut in other states, the political fallout in Oklahoma is particularly striking, said Jonah Edelman, co-founder and CEO of the group Stand for Children, a national education advocacy group.

Typically, Republican primary challenges in Oklahoma come from conservatives in a state where common GOP campaign themes are cutting government spending, pro-gun, anti-abortion, and anti-gay marriage.