Latest news with #OklahomaCityPublicSchools
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
How to address Oklahoma's chronic school absenteeism problem
Every child in Oklahoma deserves an excellent education. Research shows that our students aren't learning at the rate they need to. As a community we owe it to our kids to do better, and we have to start by looking at why 20% of Oklahoma students are chronically absent from school. Students who have consistent attendance perform better academically. I'm encouraged by the steps that we're seeing schools and districts take locally —implementing systems to track attendance, introduce incentive programs and monitor progress. This is vital work and needs to go hand-in-hand with community investments. As the executive director of Teach For America (TFA) in Oklahoma, my colleagues and I have the opportunity to work in partnership with five districts across Oklahoma City. Here's what we are seeing work, and how you can support local students and schools: More: Oklahoma students are missing class and failing in reading. What's happening? Don't underestimate the power of community. When schools leverage people in their communities to lend their time and talents, everyone benefits. A recent EduTalk that we hosted on the topic of chronic absenteeism brought together Ariel O'Shields, a TFA alum and the Attendance Advocacy Coordinator of Oklahoma City Public Schools, seven different school districts and teachers, school leaders, school board members, donors and community leaders to learn from evidence-based practices that are leading to increased time in school for local students. What expertise or time can you lend to your local school community? Invest in mentorship programs. Students are more motivated in school when they have strong role models. Teach For America's Ignite Fellowship is a tutoring corps designed to accelerate learning and foster belonging with students through high dosage tutoring. Fellows are bolstering academic outcomes for students and adding capacity for teachers while building relationships that increase student engagement. At Thelma Parks Elementary, 72% of third- and fourth-graders who received proficient or advanced scores on their state tests were involved in Ignite. At Santa Fe South Spero Upper Elementary School, 100% of second-grade students who entered third grade at or above grade level were a part of Ignite. Students have positive relationships with their tutors, which we know leads to increased attendance and learning. Contact your local school to see if they have a tutoring program you can support. More: Poor math and reading skills in our public schools must improve — and quickly | Opinion Give teachers the resources they need to prioritize time with students. What this can look like is providing professional development that strengthens instructional quality and student engagement — teachers have more capacity to focus on student work and relationships. Through our partnership I saw firsthand how Harding Charter Preparatory Middle School at Independence made strategic changes like increasing principal presence in classrooms to provide coaching for teachers, so that teachers could invest more in their students. As a result, the school saw student chronic absenteeism rates drop by 45%. Advocate for your local districts to receive the funding they need to invest in their greatest resources — students and teachers. Provide wraparound support to students. We know there are often many obstacles that keep students from regularly attending school. For example, research shows a correlation between kids having access to clean clothes and increased attendance, which is why we partner with Whirlpool, who installs washers and dryers in schools in Oklahoma. You don't need to be a large company to help though — donations of clean clothes, nutritious snacks, and supplies are needed by most school communities and when a student knows that their school is equipped to meet some of their basic needs, that can make a real difference in their ability to attend school. I have witnessed Oklahoma City rise and rally when we face challenges, which gives me confidence that we can come together to ensure every child achieves meaningful academic outcomes that they desire and deserve. Everyone has a part to play. Volunteer or substitute at a school, come to an EduTalk, or support a program. When Oklahoma's children succeed, we all succeed. Sarah Park is the executive director of Teach For America Oklahoma. This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Here's what works to get more students into the classroom | Opinion
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Gov. Kevin Stitt champions school choice at inaugural Oklahoma Charter Schools Conference
Dozens of Oklahoma charter schools stakeholders heard Gov. Kevin Stitt during a conference on Friday champion school choice and emphasize the role quality education plays in the state's economic success. The governor addressed a group of charter school administrators, board members and authorizers on Friday during the second day of the inaugural Oklahoma Charter Schools Conference. He called education the driver of innovation, and the key to securing the American dream for the next generation. "For decades, education in America was a system that prioritized bureaucracy over students. Well, not anymore," Stitt said. "You guys are leading the way in that we believe in parents having the power to make decisions about their child's education. A ZIP code should never determine a child's destiny." Stitt touted the state's Parental Tax Credit program that nearly 8,000 Oklahoma families took advantage of for spring 2025. The program was approved by legislators in 2023, and was officially launched that December. Under the program, any family whose children attend private schools can claim between $5,000 and $7,500 annually, with priority given to families with household incomes of $150,000 or less. "Rich people already have school choice," Stitt said. "They can send their kids anywhere they want. Now, every single family in Oklahoma has the ability to do the exact same thing." More: Over 5,000 Oklahoma City Public Schools students doubled their projected growth in reading A mandated report released by the Oklahoma Tax Commission revealed that about 21% of the tax credits issued as part of the program for spring 2025 went to families making more than $250,000. During the conference, the governor criticized Tulsa Public Schools' decision to close its campuses for over 300 days during the height of COVID-19. "These parents would tell me, they would say, 'Governor, it is not fair. I'm in Tulsa Public Schools, and my son, or my daughter, is not learning how to read right now on Zoom. We don't have good internet connection at the house. I have to go to work during the day,'" Stitt said. These conversations struck a nerve, Stitt said, which is why he wanted open transfers. The Education Open Transfers Act went into effect in 2022, which took a month-long open transfer window that occurred in the summer and stretched to the entire calendar year. During the 2021-22 school year, 59,755 Oklahoma students were enrolled in charter schools, according to a report by the Oklahoma State Department of Education. That's down nearly 27% from the previous academic year, but a massive increase from 6,923 students in 2011. Stitt referenced a 2023 study from Harvard University, which ranked Oklahoma No. 6 among 36 states for the academic success of its charter schools, according to test score data from 2009 to 2019. "You don't have the ability to bond like the public schools. Some of your facilities aren't quite as nice as the public schools. We're trying to narrow that gap for you in our Legislature," Stitt said. "If you know a Senate or a House member, I'll give you a whole list of things and call them to tell them to do OK? That's one of them." "I believe that rising tides lift all boats. Charter schools and private schools are not a threat to public education. They actually encourage competition." The governor also boasted the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to hear arguments on April 30 over a legal case that could lead to the establishment of the nation's first religious online charter school, based in Oklahoma. In January, the court consolidated two petitions that had been filed, one by the Statewide Charter School Board and one by St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School, after the Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled last year that the board's predecessor must rescind its contract with St. Isidore due to constitutional issues. "Why does the government stand in the way to say that I can't put my faith in my children?" Stitt said. "I mean, it's just common sense. It's religious freedoms. Don't let people spin you into thinking this is somehow a controversial issue, because government should not stand in the way of businesses or excluding any kind of religious organizations from public programs just because they're faith based." To close his speech, Stitt said the state is fighting for ensuring that every child has the best shot at success, and thanked the charter schools stakeholders for their work. "If we continue down this path, expanding choice, driving innovation and putting parents in the driver's seat, Oklahoma will be the model for the entire nation," Stitt said. "We'll be the state where students are thriving, where businesses are flourishing and the American dream is alive and well." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: Gov. Kevin Stitt champions school choice at charter schools conference
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
OKCPS students double projected reading scores
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Student learning is growing at Oklahoma City Public Schools. New data shows that over 5,000 OKCPS students doubled their projected reading growth after teachers looked at the results of an exam at the beginning of the school year. Improving reading skills throughout the district is a goal at OKCPS. This is the third year students have taken a test with the Northwest Evaluation Association. The test is given at schools that want to use it Nationwide. Now, OKCPS has the data to see the results of improved teaching methods throughout the district. 'When the students take it at the beginning of the year in August, September, we'll get a result of where their achievement level is and then they will have a projected growth goal that is based on national norms,' said Jason Galloway, the Chief of Staff at OKCPS. Students then re-take the test in the winter to see how they improved since the first time. One of the district's success stories highlights a student at Bodine Elementary who was predicted to grow 10 points on the reading scale. Instead, that student's reading improvement doubled. Lawmakers push for change in power at OSBE 'At the beginning of the year were performing at the 20th percentile nationally in reading. And now at the middle of the year, at the 52nd percentile,' said Laura McGee, the Senior Executive Director of Elementary Schools and Leadership. Teachers at OKCPS focus on the 'science of reading' to teach students. Which means students learning to read will break down words and then learn to comprehend them. 'Nationally we're seeing a shift back to an emphasis on phonemic awareness and phonics instruction to ensure our students can learn to read at a high level,' said McGee. As students continue to learn in the classroom, leaders at OKCPS said the assessment test is crucial to analyzing student growth. 'So it gives us views of how they're doing, both in student growth and how they're doing in achievement as compared to their peers across the country in whatever grade level they're in or whatever subject level we're looking at,' said Galloway. OKCPS staff said in addition to seeing how students improve in the classroom with reading, it also helps predict how they would perform on the Oklahoma State Assessment. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Enrollment begins for 2025-2026, says OKCPS
OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – On Wednesday, Oklahoma City Public Schools announced the start of online enrollment for the 2025-2026 school year. OKCPS says, families can now enroll through its streamlined process allowing parents and guardians to enroll at their preference in securing a spot for the upcoming school year. 'We are thrilled to offer our families a convenient way to enroll their students for the 2025-26 school year,' said Dr. Jamie Polk, Superintendent of OKCPS. 'Early enrollment isn't just about securing a seat—it helps us plan ahead to ensure we have the best teachers, the right resources, and the high-quality programs our students deserve. When families choose OKCPS, they're choosing a district that provides the support, opportunities, and education needed to ensure our graduates walk across the stage ready for what's next—whether that's enrolling in higher education, enlisting in the military, or entering the workforce with the skills to thrive. We invite families to enroll today and be part of a district that is focused on student success at every level.' According to OKCPS, online enrollment is open to both new and returning students. New families are asked to enroll without delay to guarantee school placement. Returning families can also use the portal to update their information and confirm their child's enrollment for the new year. New legal challenges filed against latest OSDE proposal for Bible-based lessons Families can expect to use the portal to update information and confirm enrollment for the year through the OKCPS website click To enroll, families will need: A parent/guardian email address Proof of residence (for new families) The student's proof of identity (birth certificate or passport) Immunization records Additionally, OKCPS confirmed hosting district-wide in-person enrollment events, mobile enrollment buses, and assistance at district-hosted back-to-school events. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Over 5,000 Oklahoma City Public Schools students doubled their projected growth in reading
Over 5,000 Oklahoma City Public Schools students doubled their projected growth in reading from fall to winter 2024 in national achievement tests. The Northwest Evaluation Association Measuring Academic Progress Growth is an exam that measures what students know and informs what they're ready to learn, according to a presentation given Monday to the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education by Verna Martin, the district's senior executive director of secondary schools, and Laura McGee, OKCPS senior executive director of elementary schools. The Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) projected growth is an estimate of how much a student is expected to improve academically over a specific period based on their current score compared to the average of similar students. It predicts how many Rasch UnIT (RIT) score points a student should gain based on their starting point and grade level. RIT is a measurement scale used to simplify the interpretation of test scores. More: Oklahoma City schools implements prevention system to address increasing dropout rates From fall to winter, 5,381 students at Oklahoma City Public Schools doubled their projected growth, according to the presentation, including 1,151 elementary school students, 2,123 middle schoolers and 2,107 high school scholars. "Each of these 5,381 OKCPS scholars who doubled their projected growth in reading from fall to winter has their own unique story of progress and achievement," Martin said Monday. "We celebrate all of these scholars for their demonstration of perseverance, diligence and academic excellence." Natalie Johnson-Papageorge, OKCPS elementary principal supervisor, and Shane Sanders, OKCPS secondary principal supervisor, shared stories of individual students who doubled, or more than doubled, their projected growth in reading. "Our first scholar is from Adams Elementary. A fourth-grader scholar, who is an English language learner, had a projected growth of seven RIT points," Johnson-Papageorge said. "However, through goal setting and his hard work, he achieved 26 growth points from fall to winter." A second-grader from Bodine Elementary was projected to grow 10 RIT points, but achieved 23, Johnson-Papageorge said. A seventh-grade student from F.D. Moon Middle School was projected to grow three RIT points, Sanders said. Instead, she grew 13. An 11th-grade student at John Marshall Enterprise High School achieved the 97th percentile after she exceeded her growth projection of one RIT point and achieved 19 points, Sanders said. "This is what OKCPS is about," said Board Member Jessica Cifuentes. "We are prioritizing growth within our students. We are using evidence-based practices, and just to see these data points today is incredible and truly so beautiful and awe-inspiring." The students' achievements are examples of the work being done at Oklahoma City Public Schools through the district's strategic plan, instructional framework, planning, curriculum and support, Johnson-Papageorge said. "We have to be more focused and intentional with our small groups and differentiated support, and we will continue to see more of our scholars increase their academic growth and academic achievement," Johnson-Papageorge said. "This was just the growth from the beginning of the year to the middle of the year. Stay tuned. The best is yet to come for the end of the school year data." This article originally appeared on Oklahoman: OKCPS national achievement tests: Students show progress in reading
