Darlene Parman, chair of the Oklahoma Arts Council, is urging students, teachers, and families to call for fully funded arts education from state lawmakers. She asserts s that arts education represents a key tool in fighting rising student mental health needs in a time of...
According to this new report from the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER), Oklahoma now ranks third in the nation on access to pre-K education for 4-year-olds. Perhaps this shouldn’t come as a surprise: “Oklahoma’s commitment to early education is evident in the state’s...
Erika Stanish reports for KOKH FOX25 that “Oklahoma schools are setting new academic standards for their students and teachers.” She also notes that the state was “recently rated in the top eight states for the nation’s best pre-K programs and early education group,” as well...
According to the Associated Press, the Oklahoma State Board of Education has “approved the release of new A-F report cards for public schools that have previously been criticized by state educators for having flawed metrics.” State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister says the new grading system “was...
Jennifer Palmer reports for the Enid News & Eagle that after “a two-year hiatus,” Oklahoma’s school report cards are back. But now they have a new focus: “The school accountability tool underwent a significant revamp” under ESSA “and now will include student test scores, a...
The US Department of Education officially approved the state’s ESSA implementation plan, “Oklahoma Edge.” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister commented, “This plan is so much more than the charts, graphs and technical language that are routine components of official policy whitepapers,” rather, “Oklahoma...
According to The Oklahoman, the Education Department has requested “additional details and clarifications before giving” Oklahoma’s ESSA plan final approval. The state must resubmit its updated plan by January 8.
Oklahoma schools are held accountable differently under ESSA. While “the 95 percent attendance rate” under previous federal and state statutes “made schools focus on the number of students who showed up each day, it failed to draw any attention, or offer help, to the number...
In Oklahoma, advocates for students with disabilities, students of color, and low-income students are concerned about the state’s ESSA plan; while some “had recommendations adopted in the final plan,” others “say their concerns were brushed aside.”
Approved State Plans Alabama: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Alaska: Final Plan Approved (5/16/18) Arizona: Final Plan Approved (9/6/17) Arkansas: Final Plan Approved (1/16/18) Colorado: Final Plan Approved (5/7/18) Connecticut: Final Plan Approved (8/15/17) Delaware: Final Plan Approved (8/2/17) District of Columbia: Final Plan Approved (8/28/17) Georgia:...
