Are ALL children receiving a high-quality education in Ardmore, Oklahoma? Not yet.

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1 Are ALL children receiving a high-quality education in Ardmore, Oklahoma? Not yet. Despite a relatively high graduation rate, too many students are not graduating from Ardmore Public Schools ready for college and careers. ACT scores lag behind benchmarks for college and career readiness. Similarly, students at the beginning of their education in Ardmore are also falling behind: 46% of 1 st 3 rd graders have been identified for reading remediation compared to the state average of 34%. i The Ardmore Public School district was given a C by the state on its newly developed A F report cards based on its assessment results and other indicators of success. To address these challenges, there are promising initiatives in place to produce real results. The state s new requirement that all 3 rd graders are proficient in reading before moving on to 4 th grade has placed a new focus on literacy in the early grades. Oklahoma s implementation of standards and assessments aligned to college- and career-ready expectations will raise the bar statewide for all students. The state s new teacher evaluation system will place a significant emphasis on improving student results and allow districts to reward highperforming teachers. New accountability measures will show student growth over a school year. These are all important steps to take to close achievement gaps and improve overall achievement, and the next few years will be critical as states and districts work together to lay the ground work for improved outcomes for kids. 1

2 Ardmore Public Schools at a Glance ii Total enrollment 3,080 Number of schools 6 Number of charter schools 0 Students who receive free or 86% reduced lunch White 40% Black 22% Hispanic 13% Asian 2% Native American 19.5% Other 6% Four-Year Graduation Rate 85% Has the state received a No YES Child Left Behind waiver? Is the state a Race to the Top NO Grant recipient? How are Oklahoma schools failing the business community? Oklahoma needs more educated workers to fill high-skill jobs. Fifty-nine percent of jobs in Oklahoma will require a career certificate or degree by 2020, but only 30% of adults in the state currently have these qualifications. iii By 2018, the number of STEM jobs in Oklahoma will increase by 15%. Forty-five percent of those jobs will be computer occupations such as computer technicians, programmers and scientists. iv Of students who enroll full time in two- or four-year public colleges or universities, only 11% graduate on time. v On average, a high school graduate in Oklahoma earns $7,140 more each year than a high school dropout. In 2011, approximately 14,700 students did not graduate from high school, equaling lost lifetime earnings of $1.7 billion. vi If half of the dropouts had managed to graduate, the additional spending and investments by these graduates would be enough to support as many as 500 new jobs and increase the gross state product by as much as $81 million by the time they reach their career midpoints. vii 2

3 Not enough students graduate from high school prepared for college or the workforce. Approximately 17 high schools in Oklahoma are considered dropout factories because graduation rates are 60% or below from viii Statewide, only 20% of the class of 2012 achieved a score on the ACT that indicated they are ready for college-level courses, compared to a national average of 25%. ix In Ardmore, average students ACT scores reached the college- and career-ready benchmark for English composition, but they missed the benchmark for science, math, and reading. x Nearly 60% of students in Oklahoma attending two-year colleges and more than 28% of those entering four-year colleges required remediation. xi If Oklahoma s high schools prepared students for college, the state could save as much as $123 million in college remediation costs and lost earnings. xii Ardmore High School Graduation Rates, Class of 2012 Source: Oklahoma State Department of Education. Note: Oklahoma has received a waiver since it was unable to meet the federal deadline for reporting an adjusted cohort graduation rate. It will begin reporting a cohort graduation rate in

4 Not enough students attend high-quality schools and meet standards for proficiency in reading and math. Despite relatively high passing rates on the Oklahoma state assessment, the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) shows that most students are not attaining proficiency in reading, math, or science. Oklahoma faces significant socioeconomic achievement gaps. On the NAEP assessment, 81% of low-income 4th grade students are not proficient in reading compared to 61% of their more affluent peers, and 84% of low-income 8th grade students are not proficient in math compared to 61% of their more affluent peers. The state gave Ardmore Public Schools a C on its district report card (2.33 GPA). Four schools received a C and three, including Ardmore High School received a B. xiii According to the state assessment, in Ardmore Public Schools, 38% of economically disadvantaged 4th graders are not proficient in reading compared to 28% of their more affluent peers. xiv Forty six percent of 1st 3rd graders require reading remediation, compared to a statewide average of 34%. xv Oklahoma 2011 NAEP and Ardmore Oklahoma School Testing Program (OSTP) Scores Percentage of Students Who are Not Proficient Source: NAEP, and Oklahoma State Department of Education, 4

5 What is Oklahoma doing to improve schools and prepare students to meet college- and career-ready standards? Implementing state standards and assessments aligned to college- and careerready standards. Oklahoma adopted the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in English language arts and math in July xvi The state is on track to implement these standards and aligned assessments by June xvii In 2011, the state passed legislation to end social promotion for students in 3rd grade who are not reading at grade level. Students will be identified as being at risk and receive remedial reading instruction who are identified for retention in the school year will participate in an accelerated reading program. Common Core State Standards in reading and math. Oklahoma is committed to transitioning to standards in reading and math aligned to the CCSS by June Assessments aligned to CCSS. Oklahoma is a governing state in the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and plans to transition to the PARCC assessment by the school year. College- and Career-Ready Graduation Requirements. In 2005 Oklahoma adopted the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act (ACE), which implemented college- and career- readiness expectations for graduation. A common core of courses designed to prepare all students for success after high school is the default for all high school students: Four credits of English, three credits of mathematics, three credits of science with a laboratory component, three credits of social studies, two credits of a foreign language or computer science, and two credits of fine arts are included in the CCR curriculum. The mathematics requirements were designed so that students complete courses through at least the level of Algebra I. What to Watch:? Staying the course. Will Oklahoma and Ardmore maintain their commitment to the current timeline for implementing CCSS standards and the PARCC assessments? Or will those calling for a delay be successful?? Will increased standards and assessments lead to improved college and career readiness? As a result of increased expectations, will more students graduate ready to attain postsecondary credentials and meet the demands of the labor market? Holding all schools accountable for meeting state standards. In 2011 the Oklahoma legislature adopted an A F School Grading System designed to provide schools with incentives to challenge their students to meet college- and career-ready standards. As part of its approved NCLB waiver the state is implementing a new accountability system tied to school grades. 5

6 High-achievement goals. Oklahoma has set a goal of 100% of students reaching college, career, and citizen readiness by 2020, base on achievement, growth, attendance, and graduation rates. xviii Accountability for all students. Oklahoma measures the achievement of all subgroups, but places a greater weight on the performance of the bottom 25% of students. xix Consequences for low-performing schools and districts. Any school that receives an F will be identified as a Priority School and school that receives a D school will be a Targeted intervention school. xx High School Accountability. The state s new A F grading system holds high schools accountable for key measures such as graduation rates, participation in advanced coursework, ACT or SAT participation, and the graduation rate of low-achieving 8th grade students. xxi Transparent school and district grading reports. Oklahoma is in the process of implementing a new A F school grading system and report cards. What to Watch? Student achievement needs to improve! As Oklahoma implements new early literacy requirements, as well as standards and assessments, will student achievement scores in Ardmore Public Schools improve? Improving teacher effectiveness. In 2010, in part of its effort to be competitive for the federal Race to the Top competition, Oklahoma adopted legislation ushering in a new era of teacher and leader evaluations. The phase in of the Teacher and Leaders Effectiveness Evaluation System is expected to be complete by the school year. Under the new system, half of a teacher s evaluation rating will be based on quantitative components including student growth and other academic measures of student progress. Teachers who are identified as needing improvement or ineffective must have remediation plans and teachers can be dismissed for instructional ineffectiveness or unsatisfactory teaching performance. xxii The policies are part of the state s effort to develop strategies for professional growth, identify the cause and effect relationship between teaching and learning, and design performance pay and other compensation models tied to the system. xxiii Annual evaluation of all teachers. Oklahoma requires that all teachers receive annual performance evaluations. 6

7 Evaluating teachers based on student results. Oklahoma requires that 50% of a teacher s effectiveness rating is based on quantitative measures with 35% based on objective measures of student growth and the remaining 15% based on other academic measures. Tenure and dismissal based on performance. Oklahoma has clear dismissal policies related to ineffective performance; teachers who receive two consecutive ineffective ratings are subject to dismissal. With regard to tenure, probationary periods are contingent on performance: Teachers with a consistent record of highly effective performance serve a shorter probationary period, while those with an effective record of performance serve a slightly longer one. xxiv Layoffs based on performance. When forced to lay off teachers during a budget-related reduction in force, schools must consider performance as the primary factor. xxv Pay for performance. Oklahoma allows school districts to develop their own pay schedule and, beginning in school year, districts in the state are committed to improvement performance-based pay plans for effective teachers and/or teachers will to teacher in high need schools or shortage subject areas. xxvi What to Watch:? Implementation delays. Oklahoma s Teacher and Leaders Effectiveness Evaluation System was slated to go into effect in school year but as of April 2013 has now been delayed by two years. Is this a major setback for the state s effort to revamp its teacher workforce or will implementation stay on track? What options are available for parents who want something better for their child? School choice, charter schools, and online learning. Parents in Oklahoma have a limited range of options when deciding where to send their child to school, especially if they live outside of the largest school districts.? Charter school law. Oklahoma permits charter schools, but the state law only allows charter schools to be established in districts with more than 5,000 students and in districts that have schools on the states school improvement list. As a result, charter schools are allowed to open in 21 of the state s 521 districts, but not in Ardmore. School choice. Districts are required to provide school choice to students attending Priority Schools.? Parent Trigger. The Oklahoma Senate passed legislation in March that would allow a school that has been a D or F school for two years to be converted to a charter school, or have its 7

8 administrators fired, if 51% of parents sign a petition to do so. xxvii The option to dismiss administrators only applied to districts with 5,000 or more students. The bill was not considered in the House in 2013 but its sponsors plan to try again in Tax Credit scholarships. In 2011, Oklahoma law enacted a tax-credit scholarship program that permits tax credits for contributions to non-profit scholarship granting organizations that provide scholarships to low- to middle-income students. xxviii Vouchers are available for students with disabilities. Online Learning. In 2012, Oklahoma passed legislation permitting virtual charter schools. What to Watch:? Allowing charter school growth. Will the state change its charter school law so that all students have increased educational options, including students in Ardmore? How are local education leaders selected? School governance in Ardmore. The Superintendent of Ardmore Public Schools is Sonny Bates. Five citizens of Ardmore serve on the Board of Education, which sets the policy for and guides the operation of the school district. Each member is elected to office and serves for a term of five years. For more information see: How to get involved: Contact the Ardmore Chamber of Commerce: 8

9 i Education Oversight Board, Office of Accountability (n.d.). Profiles 2010 District Report. Retrieved April 17, 2013 from ii Ardmore City Schools. (February 9, 2012). State of the District. ; Oklahoma State Department of Education. (2012). A-F Report Card: Ardmore. Retrieved April 20, 2013 from 0. iii Complete College America. (2011). Oklahoma Retrieved April 17, 2013, from iv Anthony Carnevale, Nicole Smith, and Michelle Milton. (October 2011). STEM State-Level Analysis. Retrieved February 4, 2013, from v Ibid. vi Alliance for Excellent Education. (2012). Oklahoma High Schools. Retrieved April 17, 2013, from vii Alliance for Excellent Education. (2011). Education and the Economy: Boosting Oklahoma s Economy by Improving High School Graduation Rates. Retrieved April 17, 2013, from viii Alliance for Excellent Education. (2012). Oklahoma High Schools. ix ACT. (2012). The Condition of College & Career Readiness 2012: Oklahoma. Retrieved April 17, 2013, from x Ardmore City Schools. (February 9, 2012). State of the District. xi Complete College America. (2011). Oklahoma Remediation Retrieved April 17, 2013, from xii Alliance for Excellent Education. (2012). Oklahoma High Schools. xiii Oklahoma State Department of Education. (2012). A-F Report Card: Ardmore. Retrieved April 20, 2013 from 0. xiv Oklahoma Department of Education, Accountability and Assessment. xv Education Oversight Board, Office of Accountability (n.d.). Profiles 2010 District Report. Retrieved April 17, 2013 from xvi Oklahoma State Department of Education. (n.d.) C3 Implementation Timeline. Retrieved April 17, 2013 from xvii Ibid. xviii Oklahoma State Department of Education. (n.d.). Oklahoma s ESEA Flexibility Request. Retrieved April 23, 2013 from xix Ibid. xx Ibid. xxi Ibid. xxii Oklahoma s Teacher and Leader Effectiveness Evaluation System, Frequently Asked Questions, retrieved April 18, 2013 at: xxiii Oklahoma State Department of Education, see: retrieved April 18, xxiv Students First State Policy Report Card 2013 for Oklahoma, retrieved April 18, 2013 at: xxv Students First State Policy Report Card 2013 for Oklahoma, retrieved April 18, 2013 at: xxvi National Council on Teacher Quality, Cultivating an Effective Teacher Workforce, at: (October 2012) xxvii Parent Revolution Blog. (April 1, 2013). Oklahoma Lawmakers, Parents Express Disappointment Parent Empowerment Act Will Not Advance in Retrieved May 1, 2013 from parent-empowerment-act -will-not-advance xxviii See: 9