OKLAHOMA CITY (Oct. 27, 2016) – The State Board of Education (SBE) today approved the release of 2016 A-F Report Cards for all public schools in Oklahoma. They are available at afreportcards.ok.gov.
This year’s tally included 196 A’s, 455 B’s, 582 C’s, 319 D’s and 213 F’s. By contrast, in 2015, schools earned 212 A’s, 497 B’s, 536 C’s, 333 D’s and 183 F’s.
The report cards released today are likely to be the last using the A-F calculations that have been in effect since the 2012-2013 school year. Under the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and a new state law, House Bill 3218, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is developing a new school accountability calculation to take effect in the 2017-2018 school year.
“Our sights are fixed on a stronger school accountability system that will be a more meaningful and accurate measure for Oklahoma schools and districts, one that will better provide contextual information that educators, families and communities need to know about our schools, their academic performance, student growth and progress especially for high-need and at-risk student groups,” State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said.
In addition, board members received a report from OSDE’s Oklahoma Accountability and Assessments Task Force on the development of state assessments as required by House Bill 3218. For more information about HB 3218, click here.
The 95-member task force, which represents a diverse range of education stakeholders, is collaborating with OSDE staff to craft a new statewide assessment system that conforms to requirements of ESSA and HB 3218.
The task force recommended assessments for grades 3-8 in math, reading, writing and science. For high school, the group supports meeting ESSA requirements with a college-readiness assessment administered in spring of grade 11.
Hofmeister praised the work of task force members.
“We are so grateful for the commitment and dedication of all of our task force members. Over the past four months, they have given generously of their time and expertise to ensure that Oklahoma will have a statewide assessment system that positions Oklahoma students for postsecondary success,” she said.
The task force will issue a preliminary report on a new statewide accountability system at the Nov. 15 SBE meeting, with final recommendations presented at the December meeting. The final report must be delivered to the Oklahoma Legislature by Feb. 3, 2017.
Also at today’s meeting, the SBE approved OSDE’s Fiscal Year 2018 budget request of $2.64 billion for common education, which includes an increase of $221 million over the FY 2017 budget. The increase maintains per-student funding to reflect Oklahoma’s student population growth, adding $56.7 million to the school funding formula and restoring funding for the Instructional Materials, Support of Public School Activities and Agency Support for Schools line items.
It also increases the amount devoted to the Flexible Benefits Allowance required by law to pay for teacher and support staff health insurance.
Additionally, in order to begin implementation of House Bill 3114, passed last legislative session after a recommendation from OSDE’s Teacher Shortage Task Force, the agency has requested funding of $15 million for a pilot modeled after Iowa’s successful mentoring and instructional coaching program. This work has become even more crucial as more than 50,000 students this school year are being taught by emergency certified teachers across the state.