Mission
The Commissioners of the Land Office mission statement says it all: “Managing Assets to Support Education.” It is the only mission for the Land Office and one that we strive to fulfill every day. In fiscal year 2025, the CLO distributed more than $114 million to common (K-12) schools. Common schools do not have any restrictions on how the Land Office dollars are used and may be used for everything from teachers’ salaries to bus maintenance and expense.
Common school funds are distributed on a per capita basis. The Department of Education provides the CLO with the average daily attendance (ADA) for each school district in the state. The dollars are then distributed by the CLO on a monthly basis based on those numbers.
In fiscal year 2025, the Land Office distributed more than $41 million to higher education beneficiaries. Higher education is required to use the funds for capital improvements, which could include anything from maintenance to funding for new buildings or dormitories.
The Oklahoma Constitution and statutes determine the colleges and universities that receive funds. The money distributed is based on the lands that were set aside for that school at statehood.
Vision
Preserve the “sacred trust”, maximizing the return on School Land assets to grow both the Permanent Trust and the distributable income for the benefit of future and current beneficiaries.
Core Values
• Be good stewards of the land, minerals, and investments the agency manages
• Actively manage Trust assets, ensuring every dollar owed to beneficiaries is paid timely and accurately
• Create and maintain an investment policy consistent with Oklahoma Constitutional mandates
• Keep records of preservation to ensure accuracy and transparency
• Create efficiencies in operations, hiring and retaining professional and qualified staff