Owasso and Collinsville public schools collectively received nearly $420,000 from the Cherokee Nation as part of the tribe’s annual Public School Appreciation Day initiative.
The Cherokee Nation allocates 38% of its annual car tag revenue directly to education, aside from the millions of dollars it provides to the state of Oklahoma for education funding each year through gaming.
This year, the tribe distributed a record $7.9 million to 107 school districts, “providing vital discretionary funds that support teacher salaries, classroom technology and other critical needs,” Cherokee Nation Principal Chief Chuck Hoskin Jr. said in a news release.
“Our car tag compact with the State of Oklahoma is good for schools, good for students, good for teachers and good for communities across the state,” Hoskin said. “We firmly believe that investing in education, including through the sale of tribal car tags, is one of the most important things we can do to build strong communities and ensure a brighter future for the next generation.”
People are also reading…
Cherokee Nation operates its own tag agency, issuing its own titles and registrations as part of the compact.
A significant portion of revenue collected is allocated to more than 100 school districts each year, benefiting all students in each district that receives funding.
The tribe also allocates portions of the revenue for law enforcement, water and road infrastructure, cell towers and other investments within the tribe’s reservation.
Each school district makes the decision on how to use the funding provided by the Cherokee Nation. In past years, schools have used the funds to cover teacher salaries, upgrade facilities, support operations, expand technology and bolster school programs.
School leaders from across Northeast Oklahoma gathered at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino for a luncheon on Tuesday, March 26, and received this year’s annual distribution from the Cherokee Nation.