Bullying Prevention Town Hall, Oct. 29 in Oklahoma City

The Anti-Bullying Collaboration of Oklahoma City is holding a Town Hall meeting to discuss bullying prevention from From 7 to 8:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 29, 2013, at Southern Oaks Library, 6900 S Walker Ave. Educators, parents and guardians and members of the public are invited to attend.

The purpose of the town hall is to discuss new legislation -- the School Safety and Bullying Prevention Act, Oklahoma House Bill 1661. The town hall additionally will highlight the training for administrators and school staff required by this legislation and detail several bullying prevention initiatives.

Local experts will answer questions. Expert panelists are Melissa White, Executive Director of Counseling and ACE with the Oklahoma State Department of Education; Joy Hermansen, Coordinator/Prevention Specialist with the Oklahoma State Department of Education; Tracy Alvarez, Federal Programs Coordinator for Climate, Truancy and Intervention with Oklahoma City Public Schools; Steve Hahn, Prevention and Safety Chair for the Oklahoma PTA; Rachel Yates, with HeartLine; and Gayla Westbrook, Family Builders. Jeff George, an anchor from Fox 25 will moderate the panel discussion.

Please register for the event at okcbullyingtownhall.eventbright.com or at Facebook.com/OKPTA.

The town hall is hosted by collaboration partners: the State Department of Education, Oklahoma City Public Schools, Oklahoma PTA, and others.

Special Education Keynote Calls for High Expectations and Improved Outcomes for all Children

Crucial topics for students with disabilities and guidance for special education directors and teachers were provided this week by Dr. Melody Musgrove, Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) for the U.S. Department of Education.




Musgrove was the keynote speaker at the Oklahoma Directors of Special Services (ODSS) Fall Conference held in Norman on October 23-24.

Musgrove’s call to kindle high expectations of and improve outcomes for all children stirred the passions of enthusiastic leaders in special education. Dr. Rene Axtell, Oklahoma’s Assistant State Superintendent of Special Education, praised Musgrove’s commitment and leadership toward Oklahoma’s educators. “Our State is so fortunate that Dr. Musgrove could come in person to share her inspiration and guidance with us today. She is a frontrunner for excellence in special education,” Axtell said.

Musgrove was invited to speak by the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), working in collaboration with the Special Education Services (SES) and the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA), and Oklahoma Directors of Special Services (ODSS).

The White House selected Musgrove as director of the OSEP in August 2010. OSEP is responsible for providing leadership to the early intervention and educational agencies serving the nation’s 6.7 million infants, toddlers, children and youth under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Musgrove’s career is distinguished by her commitment to collaborative frameworks that find creative solutions to difficult educational problems. She is focused on improving outcomes for all children, and experienced in using data to influence systemic improvement decisions. Since becoming director, Musgrove has been leading OSEP staff through a thoughtful process, in collaboration with stakeholder groups, to change the way OSEP works and to shift, as Secretary Arne Duncan has said, “from a compliance-driven bureaucracy to an engine of innovation” that is focused on improving results for children and families.

State Board of Education approves FY 2015 budget request

OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 29, 2013) – The Oklahoma State Board of Education today approved a $2.5 billion fiscal year 2015 budget request for the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE). Representing a $174.9 million increase over last year, the proposal will go before the state Legislature when it convenes in February.

The budget requests an $81.4 million increase in financial support for schools, part of $1.9 billion overall in the State Aid Funding Formula.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi said the budget addresses a number of academic and financial challenges facing Oklahoma schools.

“This budget is responsible, realistic and takes an important step forward in connecting new funds to proven performance,” she said. “Adequate funding is critical to a sound education, of course, but money itself is not a cure-all. Oklahomans must know their tax dollars are being invested wisely in schools.”

To that end, the budget request sets aside 20 percent of the new funds – about $16 million — to reward schools that show academic improvement among a large student population on free and reduced lunches.

“This is a way to recognize and build on the successes of the many schools in our state that are rising to significant challenge. Through innovation, tenacity and a commitment to excellence, these teachers, administrators and parents are working hard to ensure a bright future for the next generation of Oklahomans.”

Barresi urged district superintendents to use part of the new funds to increase teacher pay.

“There is no question that inadequate teacher salaries are a big reason we lose many of our best and brightest educators to other states,” she said.

The funding request includes $593.5 million for the activities budget, an $86.4 million increase over FY 2014. That figure reflects how Oklahoma schools are continuing their shift toward stronger academic standards and heightened expectations, providing $69 million for the implementation of various reforms.

That amounts to a $26 million increase in reform spending over last year.

This includes:

$21.7 million for Achieving Classroom Excellence (ACE) remediation;
$16 million for reading sufficiency;
$5 million for REAC3H coaches ;
$2.8 million for school reform competitiveness grants;
$2.4 million for the Think Through Math program;
$564,000 in Oklahoma Academic Standards implementation;
$500,000 for third-grade reading readiness support teams; and
$200,000 for charter school incentives.
In the wake of the Affordable Care Act, health insurance costs are taking a significant portion of the would-be budget.

“As is proving to be the case throughout the nation, the consequences of Obamacare are severe and painful. Millions of dollars that could have gone to the classroom instead must be eaten up in insurance costs,” Barresi said.

OSDE is requesting a flexible benefit allowance budget of $426.9 million in FY 2015, a $59 million increase over last year. More costly premiums and an increase of fulltime, insured school employees are responsible for the requested increase.

OKDHS Response to 1st Co-Neutral Commentary

Statement from OKDHS -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services appreciates the Co-Neutrals’ recognition of the progress our agency has made during the first year of implementing the Pinnacle Plan. This includes the reorganization of Child Welfare Services to achieve sustained progress, greater accountability and transparency, as well as more effective and efficient communication and performance. The new management team assembled within Child Welfare Services ensures new and current workers will have the necessary leadership and supervisory guidance to carry out their child welfare responsibilities. 

Co-Neutral Commentary One, Issued October 24, 2013

Another main point of progress was the integration of the Office of Client Advocacy and Child Protective Services investigation protocols, standards and reporting systems. This change will provide us with consistent child abuse and neglect data in both family homes and settings where children are placed in congregate care such as group homes and residential treatment facilities. 

We believe we have in fact made a lot of progress in just one year’s time. This is not a sprint, it is a marathon. We acknowledge that we have not yet met every target, however, we are totally committed to making the necessary improvements to our system that everyone wants. We fully expect to meet the Pinnacle Plan goals over the next four years. 

DHS greatly appreciates the Governor’s and the Legislature’s strong support of our work and in securing $57 million in additional funding to assist DHS in meeting our obligations under the settlement agreement. 

We wholeheartedly agree with the co-neutrals this is an iterative process to establish baselines and targets for DHS to report progress with Pinnacle Plan initiatives. This will be an ongoing process for some metrics due to the realization that further clarification is needed about the data which could not have been predicted when the Metrics Plan was agreed upon. For example, the public reporting requires DHS to post data each month prior to the co-neutral’s validation process. The validation process may result in additional changes in previously reported data, future targets and measures. Both parties are continuously working on the data and what the data means. 

Ongoing review of the data may often result in revised measurements. Another example of a changing data set is the foster home recruitment goal. DHS, in good faith, recruited and approved in excess of the target number of foster homes as defined in the baselines and metrics both parties agreed to previously. Only after further reflection on the data did the issue of how long the approved homes would be open without children being placed become a factor in determining the counting of such homes towards the target. 

“[T]he Co-Neutrals will judge good faith from the activities and decisions of the state, and not just its intention to do better or improve,” and “will not draw any conclusions with regard to DHS’ good faith efforts until their next report to be released in the first half of 2014.” -- From the Co-Neutral Commentary

Obviously, DHS needs a sufficient number of active foster homes to care for the children coming into state care. To recruit homes that are never used would be a waste of resources. 

DHS committed in the Pinnacle Plan to build a pool of homes and create a matching process whereby children would be placed with the best foster home and avoid multiple moves. To have a successful matching process, DHS will need a wide variety of homes across the state in which to place children together with their siblings, in their home communities and in their same schools. In a statewide system such as this, it stands to reason that some of the homes may not have children placed in them for a period of time. 

We understand further discussion of the metrics in this data set is warranted in light of these circumstances and additional consideration given to the goal of a statewide matching process. We are committed to continuing our work with the co-neutrals to further refine data collections and definitions, and to ensure accuracy and consistency in our data reporting. We appreciate the expertise and the guidance offered by the co-neutrals as we work together to develop the measurements of our progress.

The seven performance categories measured:

• Maltreatment (abuse and neglect) of children in the state’s legal custody; 

• Development of foster homes and therapeutic treatment foster homes (TFCs); 

• Regular and consistent visitation of caseworkers with children in the state’s legal custody; 

• Reduction in the number of children in shelters; 

• Placement stability, reducing the number of moves a child experiences while in the state’s legal custody; 

• Child permanency, primarily through reunification, adoption or permanent guardianship; and, 

• Manageable caseloads for child welfare staff. 

Sommers addresses new attack on A-F school grading system

The Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administrators (CCOSA) this week released a new report critical of Oklahoma’s A-F school grading system. The report complains that the school grades are based on student achievement as measured by standardized tests. 

“[S]chools do affect test results, but the effect size is routinely found to be between 20 and 30 percent,” the report states. “Thus, composing school letter grades from student test performance alone will frequently give false credit or blame to schools for effects that are mostly unrelated to what they do.”

In a memo to its members, CCOSA refers to a similar report issued in January which claimed that basing school grades on student achievement, student growth, and whole school performance is flawed.

The reports are part of an effort by CCOSA to discredit the new A-F school grading system. The basis for the new school grading system is similar to that of the Academic Performance Index (API), the previous school grading system. The API used a 0-1500 scale that few people understood.

The Legislature made changes to the A-F school grading law earlier this year to address many of the concerns raised by CCOSA after the first A-F school grades were issued last year. CCOSA and the report’s researchers dismissed these changes saying the problems identified in the first report “have possibly been intensified.”

Dr. Robert Sommers, Secretary of Education and Workforce Development, issued a statement critical of the assumptions used in crafting the report. He expressed alarm at the contention that schools have little influence on student success. 

“You suggest that no more than 30 percent of the variation in student achievement is due to a school and its teachers,” said Sommers. “We reject this notion outright. We think high quality teachers and high quality schools, such as we have in Oklahoma, have significantly higher impact.

“You also suggest that to be valid, any form of performance measurement should include school processes and conditions. We strongly disagree. Results come from process decisions.  

There are other issues with the report according to Sommers’ statement.

“The analysis only includes 63 urban schools and 15,000 kids, which is not representative of the over 1,800 schools and 655,000 students in Oklahoma.  

“Second the entire analysis is based on the number of questions answered correctly on the Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP).  OSTP is not scored based on percent of items correct, it is based on scoring that does not yield the same interpretation as a percent correct method because it does not equate one item with one point. Therefore the very premise of the report is flawed.

“We value our schools and our teachers and the critical role they play in student learning and achievement.

“We know of schools and teachers who have beaten the odds and have helped students learn in spite of external hardships. These schools and teachers disprove your assumptions. Conditions such as poverty and minority status are factors that should not be ignored, but neither should they be an excuse for having low expectations for the students most in need. Certainly time and time again we have seen such obstacles overcome with great success.  

“It is unconscionable to give up on any student especially those who have the most to gain. It has been proven that we can defy the odds and the future of our state depends on it.”

Fallin Appoints Dan Keating to State Board of Education

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today appointed Daniel Keating to the State Board of Education. Keating will represent the First Congressional District and replace Joy Hofmeister, who stepped down from the board. The appointment requires Senate confirmation.

Keating is currently the president of Summit Consolidated Group, a national brokerage and insurance company with offices in Tulsa, Oklahoma City and several other states. Previously, he served as president of Valley National Bank in Tulsa. He currently serves on its board of directors.

Fallin previously appointed Keating to the Tulsa Community College Board of Regents. Keating resigned from his post in order to serve on the State Board of Education.

In 2002, President Bush appointed Keating to the Board of Advisors on Tribal Colleges and Universities. He is also a member of Oklahoma Wesleyan University Foundation’s board of directors. He previously served as an adjutant professor at Oral Roberts University, teaching a class on banking.

“Dan has a lifelong interest in public service and, in particular, education,” Fallin said. “As a business executive, he knows how important it is to give children the skill-sets they need to succeed in today’s competitive, high-tech economy. I know he’ll work hard in this new role to ensure that our schools are delivering a high quality education.”

Keating serves on the board of directors of the State Chamber of Oklahoma. He is also a past finance committee chairman of the Oklahoma Historical Society Board and a current board member of the Salvation Army. He was a member of the Oklahoma Military Advisory Commission and has served on the boards of Junior Achievement, Tulsa Ballet Theater, the Oklahoma Mental Health Association, Easter Seal Society, Metropolitan Utility Authority and Utility Board, the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce, the Oklahoma Bankers Association Insurance Company and Hillcrest Medical Center Foundation.

Keating served in Vietnam with the United States Marine Corps.

He and his wife Kathy have two sons. He is the brother of former Oklahoma Governor Frank Keating.

Nelson Reacts to New Lawsuit against Special Needs Scholarships Law

OKLAHOMA CITY – A new legal challenge to the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program Act filed yesterday represents “ideological hostility to the rights of parents to direct the education of their children,” according to the author of the bill that created the scholarships.

State Rep. Jason Nelson said the program helps children with special needs attend a private school of their choice by providing state-funded scholarships. It has been in place for three years. A lawsuit filed by two Tulsa-area school districts was tossed out by the Oklahoma Supreme Court in 2012 on the grounds that schools cannot sue on behalf of taxpayers. The new lawsuit targets the state superintendent, the state department of education and the state board of education. The Obama Administration filed a lawsuit against a similar law in Louisiana this year.

“I first heard about this latest lawsuit from a parent who is concerned about what will happen to her child now,” said Nelson, R-Oklahoma City. “This new lawsuit mirrors the previous one that was struck down just this past fall and many of the plaintiffs have ties to school districts but are suing as individuals this time.”

Nelson said there are two things about the lawsuit that stand out to him.

“First and most importantly, not one of the plaintiffs has a child with special needs in the public school system where the school is failing to meet the needs of their child,” Nelson said. “None of them are facing the very real circumstances faced by parents of more than 200 children who use the Henry scholarship program because the needs of their children were not being met.

“Second, none of the plaintiffs in this case have demonstrated any interest or willingness to address the legitimate concerns expressed about challenges in public schools faced by parents of the students who are currently using the Lindsey Henry Scholarship.

“There’s a fundamental disagreement here. Children do not exist to fund the institutions. The institutions exist to support and educate the children and when that doesn't happen, regardless of the reason, we have a moral obligation to do whatever is necessary to ensure those children get the education they need and that the taxpayers are paying for, regardless of where they receive that education.

“This law has benefitted the public school system by increasing per-pupil spending on students in the public school system every year it's been in existence. This is a fact that is easily demonstrated but universally ignored by opponents. One of the plaintiffs has a background in school finance. I’m amazed this fact has escaped him.”

Nelson noted that the lead plaintiff is employed by Oral Roberts University, which was allocated more than $380,000 in state-funded scholarships through the Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant program, or OTEG, for the current academic year.

“OTEG is virtually identical to the Henry Scholarship Program,” Nelson said. “If the lead plaintiff is so offended by the Lindsey Henry Scholarship Program why has he not challenged the OTEG law that he benefits from – I would be embarrassed. He must be familiar with Jesus’ teaching, ‘Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye?’

“If you use their actions as a guide, the opposition here and in the Louisiana case is about an ideological hostility to the rights of parents to direct the education of their children – not about legitimate legal concerns. There are many state programs that do exactly what the plaintiffs here claim is unconstitutional. The plaintiffs simply can’t see that this is not about funding institutions but about ensuring children get the best education possible regardless of where they get that education.”

Nelson said he looks forward to working with state Superintendent Janet Barresi, Attorney General Scott Pruitt, the state Board of Education, parents and other supporters to vigorously defend the law. 

“The Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program is a constitutional, common sense law that benefits the students using the program, the public school system and the taxpayers,” Nelson said. “I’m confident the law will ultimately be upheld.”

Short documentary about the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program

Fallin Announces Appointment to the Oklahoma State Board of Education

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today announced the appointment of Cathryn Franks to the Oklahoma State Board of Education. She is replacing Bryan Haden, who resigned. Franks will serve the remainder of his term ending in April 2015, pending confirmation from the Oklahoma Senate.

Franks is a former history


teacher who taught at Killeen High School in Texas. She was twice named “teacher of the year.” She also taught U. S. history classes in Germany and Korea.

Now a resident of Roosevelt, Oklahoma, she is the director of international cultural education for Musco Lighting International, a company that provides lighting at major sporting events and stadiums around the world.

Franks previously served as an executive board member for the Military Child Education Coalition, a non-profit organization that works to ensure quality educational opportunities for military children affected by mobility, family separation and transition.

Franks received a bachelor’s of science degree in education based curriculum from Oklahoma State University and a master’s of arts in education and human development from George Washington University in Washington, D.C.

She has received numerous awards for public service including the Commander’s Award, Department of the Army Outstanding Civilian Service Award, Secretary of the Army Public Service Award and the Secretary of Defense Award for Outstanding Public Service.

Cathryn Franks is married to retired General Tommy Franks, who served as the commander of the US Central Command overseeing the United States Armed Forces in a 25-country region.

She serves as an advisor to the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum, a non-profit student education organization dedicated to enhancing leadership skills in middle school students.

“Cathryn Franks is a tireless advocate for education,” Fallin said. “Her experience in the classroom, dedication and passion will serve her well on the board.”

DHS seeking agencies to help with backlog of case reports

OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Oklahoma Department of Human Services (DHS) is asking for

proposals from qualified vendors to help resolve past due Child Protective Services (CPS) case reports. As of September 9, 2013, approximately 3,100 CPS case reports were backlogged, meaning the case is pending after 60 days. In these cases, an investigation was conducted, the children interviewed and an initial safety decision was made by CPS staff; however, the case has not been documented in the child welfare system and closed according to DHS policy. DHS is working aggressively to address the backlog using a variety of approaches, but there will likely be around 2,000 past due cases still requiring closure.

“This backlog is the direct result of the sharp growth in the number of children in our custody combined with the lag time it takes to hire, train and deploy the many new caseworker positions we began filling at the start of the calendar year,” said DHS Director Ed Lake. “Our efforts to reduce what is essentially a paperwork backlog are taking significant time and resources away from child safety, foster care and permanency planning priorities.”

Approximately 65,000 allegations of possible abuse and neglect are received each year by the DHS Abuse and Neglect Hotline. Approximately half of the reports are accepted for investigation with abuse and neglect found in around 20 percent of the cases. A significant number of children are found to be in immediate danger and must be placed in the foster care system. Many other families are offered services to remain together and the cases closed without need for further intervention. Documentation of all investigations is critical in the event any future reports are made which could indicate a pattern of problems within the family.

DHS is looking to partner with successful vendors to close all backlog cases by January 31, 2014. DHS will provide training to vendors on Oklahoma State Statutes regarding child abuse investigations, CPS policy and procedures, best practices related to child abuse investigations and documentation in the child welfare system.

Interested vendors can view the request for proposals and qualifications posted on the Office of Management and Enterprise Services Central Purchasing Division website at https://www.ok.gov/dcs/solicit/app/viewAttachment.php?attachmentID=58857.

A bidders’ conference will be held at 9 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 13 in the Sequoyah Auditorium, 2400 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City.

Fallin Signs Extradition Order for Dusten Brown

OKLAHOMA CITY – Governor Mary Fallin today signed the

extradition order for Dusten Brown, the biological father of “Baby Veronica.”

Brown is contesting Veronica’s adoption to Matt and Melanie Capobianco of Charleston, South Carolina. His arguments have now been rejected by the United States Supreme Court as well as courts in South Carolina and Oklahoma.

South Carolina Governor Nikki Haley requested Brown’s extradition from Oklahoma to South Carolina on August 13. Brown, who has refused to release Veronica to her adopted parents, faces charges of custodial interference in South Carolina.

Brown’s extradition does not affect the current placement of Baby Veronica.

“My goal in the Baby Veronica case has been to encourage both Mr. Brown and the Capobianco family to reach a quick settlement and come to an agreement that protects Veronica’s best interests,” Fallin said. “I said previously that I was willing to delay Mr. Brown’s extradition to South Carolina as long as all parties were working together in good faith to pursue such a settlement. I also outlined parameters for what I believe to be acting in ‘good faith:’ both Mr. Brown and the Capobianco family should be able to see Veronica; both parties should continue meeting to pursue a resolution outside of court; and both parties must obey the courts and the rule of law.

“Unfortunately, it has become clear that Dusten Brown is not acting in good faith. He has disobeyed an Oklahoma court order to allow the Capobianco’s to visit their adopted daughter and continues to deny visitation. He is acting in open violation of both Oklahoma and South Carolina courts, which have granted custody of Veronica to the Capobianco’s. Finally, he has cut off negotiations with the Capobianco’s and shown no interest in pursuing any other course than yet another lengthy legal battle.

“As governor, I am committed to upholding the rule of law. As a mother, I believe it is in the best interests of Veronica to help end this controversy and find her a permanent home. For both of these reasons, I have signed the extradition order to send Mr. Brown to South Carolina.”

Pruitt Offers Back To School Internet Safety Tips

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Scott Pruitt issued a warning for kids and parents to be aware of Internet safety as students return to school.

“Many smartphone apps, social media sites and Internet scams can have consequential outcomes for children who do not practice Internet safety,” General Pruitt said. “As these outlets expand, it is essential that parents and caregivers review Internet safety with their children to help prevent them from falling victim to Internet and digital dangers.”

The Attorney General’s Office and the Federal Trade Commission recommend talking to kids of all ages about the importance of digital dangers, including popular apps such as Snapchat that younger adults wrongly assume erases their photos. Children should be aware of the consequences of their actions on the Internet and with their smartphones.

The Attorney General’s Public Protection Unit provides the following Internet safety tips:

First special education task force meeting set Wednesday

The first meeting of the RESPECT Task Force is tomorrow, Wednesday, September 4, at 4 p.m., at the state Capitol in Room 512A.

The RESPECT Task Force was created by the Legislature to study the special education system in Oklahoma and to recommend a plan to improve that system.

At this initial meeting the goals for the task force will be presented, committees will be created to focus on specific policy areas, and a time-line for future meetings will be decided.

The interest and expertise of the members of the task force will be influential in improving special education services making the future brighter for thousands of Oklahoma school children.

Anyone with an interest in special education and related services in Oklahoma is encouraged to attend the task force meetings. 

State leaders announce higher academic standards

OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 28, 2013) – In 2010, Oklahoma made a commitment to raise the educational bar for children. With the passage of Senate Bill 2033 that called for the implementation of college and career ready standards, Oklahoma teachers are now in the final stages of aligning instruction to those new standards this school year.

"Now that we've reached our first milestone, increasing the rigor of the Oklahoma Academic Standards, Oklahomans across the state need to give full support to our teachers as we begin to assess children on these new standards," State Superintendent Janet Barresi said. "Education reform is never easy, but I know that our teachers and our students are ready to answer this challenge."

Governor Mary Fallin applauds the efforts of our students and teachers. “Nothing is more important to the prosperity of this state and its residents than high quality education. To deliver that education and ensure our children have the skills they need to succeed in today’s economy, Oklahoma must raise the bar when it comes to academic standards.

“Oklahoma has great teachers and great schools. If we increase rigor in the classroom, students will rise to the challenge. We know that requiring higher scores on exit exams and standardized tests comes with growing pains. We will work through these challenges with teachers, administrators, parents and students to ensure these higher standards are met. Ultimately, greater rigor in the classroom will empower our children by helping them to achieve success both in school and in the workforce.”

Superintendent Barresi made the call to action for supporting teachers and students in increasing academic achievement at a press conference on Wednesday, August 28, in the Governor’s Blue Room at the State Capitol. The event coincided with State Department of Education officials releasing preliminary student test scores from spring 2013 to school districts.

Joining Superintendent Barresi in the call to action were Dr. Robert Sommers, Secretary of Education and Workforce Development and State Director of the Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education; Dr. Glen Johnson, Chancellor of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Chuck Mills, President of Mills Manufacturing Company and Chairman Elect of the State Chamber of Oklahoma; and Fred Morgan, President and CEO of the State Chamber of Oklahoma.

More challenging test questions were included in the 2013 spring assessments to reflect the more rigorous Oklahoma Academic Standards. Questions were added to the 5th and 8th grade science and writing tests and end-of-instruction biology test. These more challenging test questions helped prepare students for the more rigorous assessments that follow full implementation of college and career standards. Cut scores to measure proficiency also were increased for these tested subjects. Cut scores are like the defined range of scores that qualifies student work for letter grades such as A’s, B’s, etc. on classroom assignments and tests.

SDE officials say assessments aligned to the new academic standards will become more rigorous. Although this will mean an initial drop in test scores across the state, as teachers and children become accustomed to this new, better way of learning, test scores will rebound.

“Just as the new standards incorporate reading, writing and math across all subject areas, the new assessments will as well. We are no longer asking students to memorize facts and figures for multiple-choice tests. We are asking them to read two or more paragraphs, write out their answers in short essay form and, in some cases, defend their answers by showing their work,” explained Dr. Maridyth McBee, Assistant State Superintendent of Accountability and Assessment.

“Now that we know the extent of the challenge, everyone must join together and support our teachers and students. This is what we want. We want our children to be college, career and citizen ready. Prepared to compete with the best and the brightest,” Barresi said. “The toughest part of our journey is here, and we cannot let our teachers and students travel the road alone. We must be there for them to provide all the support they need.”

To help teachers, the State Department of Education offers several professional development opportunities such as:

• The REAC3H Network, an instructional team that delivers professional development to classroom teachers and school administrators in regional trainings throughout the state.
• Sixty REAC3H Coaches who provide literacy training to teachers in their classrooms.
• The PD on Your Plan program. When launched, this will provide virtual professional development teachers can access during their planning period. This means instructional time will not be taken away from students in the classroom.
• The OKMath/OKSci program modeled after Leadership Oklahoma. This program creates leaders who can identify challenges and create solutions for math and science educators. They also can serve as a support system during implementation of the Oklahoma Academic Standards.
• Convenings of English, math and science teachers who work to determine the needs of teachers for implementation of the more rigorous standards and develop resources and tools to address those needs.
• A partnership with the National Math and Science Initiative (NMSI) project that increases access to Advanced Placement courses for students and provides training and resources in AP coursework to teachers.
• The school improvement program designed to help some of the state’s most struggling schools.

In closing, Barresi commented, “Time and again I have seen the bar raised for children, and they have successfully risen to meet the challenge. We must remember, if there was ever a state that has proven it can rise to a challenge and come out on top, it’s Oklahoma.”

University of Oklahoma President David Boren and Oklahoma State University President Burns Hargis released statements in support of higher standards. Boren and Hargis believe these higher standards and increased rigor are essential for improving student performance.

OU President David Boren:

“The University of Oklahoma supports high academic standards across all academic areas.  The new proposed state science standards have included input from many stakeholders, including OU scientists and K12 educators.  We believe the increased rigor will better prepare students for success in STEM fields as they enter college.”

OSU President Burns Hargis:

“Oklahoma State University supports standards that better prepare students for college and inevitably lead to higher retention and graduation rates.  OSU partners with public schools across our state to assist teachers in challenging students in ways that engage them to improve achievement.  We appreciate those who are working hard to improve education for Oklahoma's students.”

Obama is ignoring anti pot laws, fighting school choice law

Let me get this straight. Pres. Obama is ignoring a federal law out of respect for state laws allowing parents to buy and use marijuana but he is fighting a school choice law in Louisiana that empowers parents to choose a better school for their child.

Obama sues to stop parents from using LA school choice law

Baton Rouge, La. – The American Federation for Children, the nation's voice for educational choice and its state affiliate, the Louisiana Federation for Children, last week strongly condemned President Obama and Attorney General Eric Holder for seeking to limit educational options for the children of Louisiana. A motion filed by the U.S. Dept. of Justice seeks to prevent the state of Louisiana from offering school vouchers to children in school districts with existing desegregation orders for the 2014-15 school year unless the state receives authorization from the federal court overseeing the desegregation case.

Kevin P. Chavous

“President Obama's assault on educational options is unprecedented and directly impacts low-income families who have the right to high-quality educational options," said Kevin P. Chavous, executive counsel to the American Federation for Children. "We remain committed to fighting for children and ensuring those trapped in failing schools are not left behind."

(Read Chavous' Blog post "Obama to Louisiana Children: ‘You must remain separate and not equal’")

The Louisiana Scholarship Program awarded scholarships to 8,000 students for the 2013-14 school year after receiving nearly 12,000 applications from parents across the state who demand better choices for their children. In just one year, the Louisiana Scholarship Program showed a 60 percent growth, highlighting the popularity of this program that offers scholarships to students trapped in failing schools. To qualify, students must either be enrolled in a school ranked C, D or F or be entering kindergarten for the first time; they must also meet strict income guidelines.

Across the state, 128 schools in 32 parishes are participating in the Louisiana Scholarship Program, which was expanded statewide in 2012. Prior to the expansion, the program served children in New Orleans since its creation in 2008.

##

Kevin P. Chavous is a noted attorney, author, and national school reform leader. A former member of the Council of the District of Columbia and a former chairman of D.C.’s Education Committee, Chavous was responsible for enacting numerous education reforms in D.C. Chavous also presides as board chair for Democrats for Education Reform and is a former chair of the Black Alliance for Educational Options.

For the record: my position on Common Core

The context of a quote in the Oklahoma Watch story "Effort to block Common Core education growing in Oklahoma" does not accurately reflect my position on this issue. The story ran in the Sunday, August 25, 2013, editions of the Tulsa World and The Oklahoman.

The story erroneously states, "I definitely plan to introduce legislation" that would repeal and replace Common Core.

I provided the following statement to the editor of Oklahoma Watch on Monday: "I'm still visiting with constituents, educators and others about the merits of the Common Core Standards already adopted by the state and do not have plans to introduce legislation repealing existing standards. I do intend to file legislation to prohibit the state from adopting the science and social studies Common Core State Standards."

While I'm on the subject, I also intend to file legislation to prohibit the State from accepting federal education funds requiring adoption of or compliance with the Common Core State Standards.

I will continue to work with Representative David Brumbaugh to better protect student data which is related to how the Common Core is implemented.

Because of the misunderstanding and confusion created by this article, I wanted to take a moment to inform readers of my position.

Barresi Calls for $2,000 Raise for Oklahoma Teachers

Oklahoma City –Oklahoma State Schools Superintendent Janet Barresi this weekend called for giving all Oklahoma teachers a $2,000 raise.

The raise would not require increased state appropriations, but could be funded by tapping surplus funds and reducing schools’ administrative overhead.

“How many of you have heard of all the teachers leaving for Texas?” Barresi asked the crowd of administrators and school board members attending a Saturday event hosted by the Oklahoma State School Boards Association. “With a $2,000 raise, we will see Oklahoma teacher pay jump past numerous states, including our neighbor to the east, Arkansas, and get within just a few dollars of Missouri. We’ll also cut by more than half our gap with Texas.”

To provide teachers that raise, however, Barresi said Oklahoma’s school administrators will need to reset priorities. Oklahoma schools are facing a massive shortage of quality teachers.

“Our shortage is quality teachers, not administrators,” Barresi said, pointing to reforms in her administration that have reduced state Department of Education Department spending by more than $250,000 a month. “Aside from parents, teachers are the single most important factor in a child’s success.”

Barresi’s plan calls for moving less than 10 percent of Oklahoma schools’ carryover money – currently more than $700 million – to teacher pay, while also asking individual school superintendents and school boards to redirect 2 percent of money now going to administrative overhead to teacher pay.

Despite the biggest recession since the 1930s Oklahoma schools have left a record amount of money on the table in their carryover – money that is just sitting there, unused. Barresi noted it doesn’t do Oklahoma kids any good to have hundreds of millions of dollars sitting on the sideline when the state is facing a teacher shortage and the teachers that schools have are often financially stressed.

“By combining the 2 percent reallocation of non-instruction costs with a slight reduction to the carryover, we can give every teacher in the state a $2,000 pay raise in the next fiscal year,” Barresi said before challenging her audience. “At this point, this is not a mandate. There are many people who want to set a percentage of how much money goes to the classroom.  I want to see where your commitment is.

“I’m asking you to redirect 2 percent from your overhead to give our teachers a $2,000 raise. Make the adjustments where and how you see fit. Two percent for two grand, for every teacher in Oklahoma,” Barresi concluded. “Our teachers need our support. They have mine.”

ACT Scores Show Increase in Oklahoma Reading Benchmarks

ACT results released last week show that more Oklahoma graduating seniors are ready for college and career than in previous years.

According to ACT's 2013 Condition of College and Career Readiness report, the percentage of the state's 2013 graduates who met all four benchmarks in English, reading, science and math rose to 23 percent from 20 percent the previous two years and from 17 percent in 2008. The report is based on the results of the 2013 ACT college entrance exam.

“I’m bolstered by these results,” said State Superintendent Janet Barresi. “This shows that our education reform efforts in Oklahoma are paying dividends in student performance."

Barresi said while she is pleased with the bright spots in the state highlighted in the report, she is not satisfied.

"There is still much work to be done," she said.

A total of 28,988 students took the ACT this year; 75 percent of Oklahoma’s 2013 graduating class took the test at least once.

Oklahoma’s ACT 2013 composite score rose .1 to 20.8 over the 2012 score of 20.7, while the national composite declined from 21.1 to 20.9.

In Oklahoma, 23 percent of ACT-takers last year met all four benchmarks. Fourteen percent of students met three benchmarks, 17 percent met two, 18 percent met one and 29 percent met no benchmarks, according to the report.

Nationally, 26 percent of students met all four benchmarks. Oklahoma students, however, exceeded the national average for meeting the English benchmark -- 66 percent versus 64 percent; 45 percent of Oklahoma ACT-takers met the reading benchmark, slightly above 44 percent nationally. At the same time, reading scores were up from 21 to 22 for state test-takers.

Barresi said these results show that efforts to target reading instruction are translating into success.

Superintendent Barresi has hired 60 REAC3H Coaches to offer job-imbedded professional development for reading teachers throughout the state in addition to other training.

Only 37 percent of Oklahoma students met the math benchmarks, and 35 percent met the science benchmarks, compared with the national 44 percent and 36 percent figures, respectively.

Barresi pointed to the recent efforts at the State Department of Education that will help improve scores in these areas in the future.

Teams from the State Department of Education’s Office of Instruction are providing regional professional development workshops for educators throughout the state, free of charge to participants. The department also has gathered leading educators from throughout the state in science and math to participate in the inaugural class of OKSci and OKMath. This program is fashioned after Leadership Oklahoma with the goal of growing leadership participants who will work to disseminate best practices and resources with the goal of improving student performance in these subject areas.

In addition, the department is in the second year of offering Think Through Math, a digital program that prepares elementary and middle school students for Algebra. Participation in this program has doubled since the program started a year ago.

The State Department of Education also has partnered with the National Math and Science Initiative to increase the number of Advanced Placement courses available and the number of students participating in AP courses in science, math and English in selected high schools throughout the state.

Barresi said she’s confident these offerings will boost performance in all subject areas in the coming years.

Barresi said she while she is pleased with state results for minority groups, which outpaced the nation, she still would like to see more improvement and even more participation in the future. A breakdown by ethnicity shows:

• Black/African American students made up 7 percent of the ACT-tested population, 2,067 students compared to 8 percent, 2,306 students in 2012. The composite score for this population was 17.4, which outdistanced the composite score of 16.9 achieved by national counterparts.
• American Indian/Alaska Native students made up 8 percent of those tested, 2,428 students, compared to 9 percent, 2,723 student sin 2012 – a decline for the third consecutive year. The ACT composite score for this population was 19.0, significantly above the national composite of 18.0.
• Hispanic/Latino students represent 10 percent of the ACT-tested population, 2,856 students, up from 9 percent or 2,717 students in 2012 – an increase for the sixth consecutive year. The composite score was 19.0, much higher than the national of 18.2. Hispanic/Latino participation has increased by 92 percent over the last five years.
• White students make up 57 percent of those tested, 16,418 students, compared to 58 percent, 16,989 students, in 2012. White students earned a composite score of 21.7, up .1 from 2012 but still below the national composite of 22.2.

Happy 15th Anniversary Lori - I love you!

Septemberfest to be held Saturday, September 7

OKLAHOMA CITY – Preparations are underway for the 17th annual Septemberfest to be held Saturday, September 7, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Governor’s Mansion and Oklahoma History Center. Hosted by Governor Mary Fallin and First Gentleman Wade Christensen, Septemberfest is a free annual event for the whole family.

“Septemberfest is a beloved fall tradition for many Oklahoma families,” said Governor Fallin. “The First Gentleman and I are excited to open the Governor’s Mansion and its beautiful grounds to Oklahomans from across our great state as we proudly host the 17th annual Septemberfest.”

A celebration of what makes Oklahoma unique; Septemberfest features a variety of attractions for people of all ages. Activities featured at this year’s Septemberfest include historic re-enactments, a chalk artist, pony rides, crafts, inflatables, carriage rides, steer roping, an outdoor music stage, American Indian dancers, chuck wagon cooking, a rock-climbing wall, and more, ensuring families an action-packed day of entertainment.

The Oklahoma History Center, located across Northeast 23rd street from the Mansion, is open free to the public all day and this year will bring the past to life. Along the Red River Journey, an exciting outdoor exhibit, visitors will enjoy interaction with living historians representing WWII, cowboys, land run participants, 19th century American Indians, antebellum musicians, the Civil War, plein air painters, and more! We will bring the past to life with learning stations, hands-on activities, demonstrations, and games. The adventure continues inside the History Center with live performances, storytelling, and unique exhibits about Oklahoma.

Some new and exciting features this year will include an outdoor music venue that highlights musicians from our great state, including local high school bands, Kyle Dillingham, Sarah Dye and Carter Sampson. Guests can hunt for hats throughout the exhibits, make their own hat, and enjoy a hat passport as they visit the living historians along the Oklahoma History Center’s Red River Journey.

Septemberfest was founded in 1997 by Friends of the Mansion, Inc., a non-profit, non-partisan organization whose mission is to preserve and improve the Governor’s Mansion, as well as its grounds and furnishings. The Oklahoma History Center began co-hosting Septemberfest with Friends of the Mansion in 2004. The chairman of this year’s event is Jim Hasenbeck, President of Studio Architecture. This is Hasenbeck’s 11th year to lead the event as chairman.

“Septemberfest is a gift passed from governor to governor for the

people of Oklahoma and it continues to grow each year, and with it, the number of activities we are able to offer. We are looking forward to this year’s event which promises to be one of the best yet,” Hasenbeck said.

Septemberfest is free and open to the public with no registration required. If you are interested in volunteering at Septemberfest, please register with the United Way Volunteer Center at http://www.unitedwayokc.org/help/volunteer-center. For more information about the event, please visit the Friends of the Oklahoma Governor’s Mansion Facebook page or contact Keili McEwen of Friends of the Mansion at 405-557-0198.