Representative Ellen Pogemiller

D

District 88

Hi, I’m Ellen Pogemiller and I represent the people of Oklahoma’s 88th District.

representative

News & Announcements

Oct 23, 2025

Pogemiller studies causes, solutions to chronic absenteeism in schools

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, conducted an Interim Study in front of the Common Education Committee on the causes of chronic absenteeism in schools and proven solutions to grow student attendance. Chronic absenteeism is defined by a student missing 10% or more of school days. “We know kids don’t learn if they don’t show up,” said Pogemiller. “I have also heard from school counselors that the biggest issues seen in schools are the ones that occur outside of the school. This means that schools cannot solve chronic absenteeism on their own. It is important to understand the root causes of chronic absenteeism and work to develop solutions that help improve the lives of students and make it easier for them to attend classes.” Over the past three years in Tulsa Public Schools, eviction records show that 2,121 students experienced at least one eviction filing, 467 students faced eviction twice, and 327 students were filed against three or more times, with some experiencing up to 11 eviction filings. Proportionately, Pre-K and Kindergarten students had the highest rates of eviction filings. Impact Tulsa is working to help TPS schools identify families that are being evicted and provide support to those families. They also highlighted the challenges around evictions including low filing fees and short windows on evictions (number of days).  Moore Public Schools, Bridges of Moore and Moore Public School Foundation are partnering together to help address chronic absenteeism around homeless youth. Students experiencing homelessness are absent twice as often as the general population, not because they don’t care, but due to a lack of stability.  Bridges of Moore supports students in developing stability and independence by requiring participants to maintain employment, pass all enrolled classes, attend Life Skills sessions, follow housing rules, and pay rent on time. These expectations help students build responsibility and prepare for life beyond the program. As a result, 100% of Bridges of Moore students leave the program with a plan for their next step—whether that’s entering the workforce, enrolling in college, pursuing a career, or joining the military. In addition, in Fall of 2026 they are set to open housing for up to 20 students experiencing homelessness.  Presenters from Sand Springs Public Schools and Norman Public Schools talked about their work addressing suspensions using opioid abatement funding. Yukon Public School created an attendance officer that has partnered with city and county government to support the DHS School Based Specialists.   “One thing I’ve learned working in a non-profit and then moving into education advocacy is that it is all connected,” Pogemiller said. “We cannot provide the best outcomes for students when we don’t address the root challenges they face.” -END-

Oct 21, 2025

House Democratic Legislators comment on federal funding for SNAP to be suspended, urge federal support of Oklahomans

OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, released the following statements after it was announced that federal funding for SNAP will be suspended beginning November 1, 2025, because of the federal government shutdown. “Just as we predicted earlier this month, Oklahomans are paying the price of our federal delegation refusing to work together. Over 684,600 Oklahomans–mainly the elderly, veterans, and children– rely on SNAP benefits, and now that burden will be placed on local community resources who are already overwhelmed. This is a direct result of those in Congress not doing the job they were elected to do to serve their constituents and protect the services and jobs on which Oklahomans rely. I urge Oklahomans to take advantage of local community resources as they need. I further urge the federal delegation to consider the consequences that will only continue to worsen the longer this shutdown continues and to do what needs to be done to protect Oklahomans who are just trying to make it by each day.”  –House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City “Oklahoma families are going to suffer because the Republican controlled federal government won’t compromise. This will be a hard Thanksgiving unless we learn to compromise. I’m calling on our state’s federal delegation to come up with a deal that protects essential services for working families.”  –Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa “Oklahomans are already struggling to afford food, and halting SNAP benefits in November will be devastating for families and seniors who are barely making ends meet. SNAP is our state’s safety net against hunger. While nonprofits and churches will do their best to step up, they simply cannot fill the gap this would create.” – Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City “I’m worried for the families who will have to make even more tough decisions this holiday season due to bad choices in Washington D.C. In a time where government leaders should be working to end hunger, this move will only make hunger more severe and widespread. People deserve better. Since the federal government has failed us once again, it is my hope that all of my colleagues work together to meet needs and fund programs at the state level to keep people fed.”  –Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (OKDHS) says that unless the federal government resolves the shutdown, no new SNAP benefits will be issued on November 1. Recipients can continue using their current SNAP benefits and any remaining balance on their EBT card through October 31. OKDHS says it is unclear whether existing balances will remain available beginning in November. For now, OKDHS recommends continuing to use your benefits through October and to plan and budget in order to get the best use of your existing SNAP benefits. Recipients are to continue to submit all eligibility and recertification paperwork as usual and are encouraged to check on updates from OKDHS as they arrive. Local resources can be found on the  Be a Neighbor page. -END-

Oct 9, 2025

Menz, Pogemiller, Waldron conduct interim study on childhood hunger

OKLAHOMA CITY – Tuesday, Rep. Annie Menz, D-Norman, Rep. Ellen Pogemiller, D-Oklahoma City, and Rep. John Waldron, D-Tulsa, conducted an interim study on childhood hunger in Oklahoma and its impacts. Officials from Hunger Free Oklahoma, Norman Public Schools, Seminole Public Schools, Regional Food Bank of Oklahoma, OU Health, and Mission: Readiness, as well as the Oklahoma Secretary of Agriculture presented during the study. The study revealed many findings about the state of childhood hunger in Oklahoma and explored potential solutions. It showed that 64% of Oklahoma families qualify for free/reduced lunches and that one in four children in Oklahoma are food insecure. Oklahoma ranks 46th in the nation for food insecurity. The study also found that food insecurity in teens has a negative impact on their mental health, which increases the risk of suicide and other mental health struggles. “Food insecurity has lasting health costs for our state,” said Pogemiller. “When we expand access to SNAP, school meals, and summer feeding, we invest in healthier kids and stronger communities.” Oklahoma is not alone in its battle against childhood hunger. According to the study, 77% of America's youth can't meet the physical qualifications for military service, making childhood malnutrition a national security threat. “Investing in solutions to childhood hunger isn’t just feeding children, it’s fueling the future,” said Menz. “Every meal given today nourishes a mind, strengthens a community, and builds a more prosperous society for us all.”  The study showed there are efforts in place to combat this, such as Oklahoma farmers supplementing feeding programs in the state. The Oklahoma Department of Ag's "Local Food 4 Schools" program also helps keep food quality high for feeding programs. The study explored that a large portion of schools in the state are eligible to leverage federal funding to expand their free lunch programs, but they are not doing it because they would still have to pay for part of it and they can't afford it.  One solution offered during the study was the formation of a task force with the goal of providing great quality meals in schools with no costs to families.  “School’s lunch and breakfast programs are a win-win,” said Waldron. “Feeding kids boosts health and nutrition, behavior and test scores. Oklahoma is a farm state where no child should go hungry. I’m glad the Chairman wants a bipartisan task force to produce ways to improve school nutrition.” You can view the entire study on the  Oklahoma House of Representatives website. -END-