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Oklahoma Education Board Requests Large Budget

Oklahoma City, OK – The state Board of Education will ask for a nearly $3 billion dollar budget for the next school year.

The request is about $480 million more than the current budget and includes $36.5 million to add two more days to the school year.

State schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett says it's important to lengthen the school year in Oklahoma.

The average length of the school year nationally is 180 days and Oklahoma's school year is 175.

Education officials also want to use $20 million to hire and train 380 graduation coaches who would help at-risk students find ways to meet graduation requirements.

Another $107 million would be for teacher pay raises that would average about $2,000 each.