State Board of Education Meeting Highlights June 27, 2013

Think Through Math Students Donate to Tornado Victims
Think Through Math representatives presented a check for $11,873 to the Central Oklahoma Chapter of the American Red Cross at the June 27, 2013, State Board of Education meeting.

Students participating in the math program completed almost 2.7 million math problems, earning $6,873 for the program’s charitable donation option. Through this option, students are able to donate points they earn for each completed math problem to a charity rather than cashing in their points for items such as individual gift cards, avatar items or pizza parties. Students wanted the money to go to victims of the widespread tornado outbreak in central Oklahoma during the month of May. Think Through Math pledged a matching donation of up to $5,000 to go to storm victims. 

Outstanding Students/Educators Recognized
The State Board of Education also honored several students and educators at its regular monthly meeting. Recognized were:

• Representatives from Union Public Schools for receiving the National Association of  Music Merchants Foundation designation of Best Communities for Music Education. The award acknowledges schools and districts across the United States for the commitment to and support of music education in schools for maintaining high standards for music education. Out of approximately 2,000 applicants, 307 school districts received this prestigious award.
• Neil Hill, an Advanced Placement European/U.S. History teacher at Putnam City West High School, is the winner of the 2013 AP Award for Teachers. The award recognizes individuals who have demonstrated significant involvement with the AP program. Hill teaches six AP courses. His department is responsible for 80 percent of the scores of 3 or higher on the AP exams at Putnam City West, according to the College Board.
• Alyson Glass is the winner of the 2013 Bob Costas Grant for the Teaching of Writing. The award is named for the Emmy Award-winning broadcaster and author for his dedication to the craft of writing and his generous public service work on behalf of the National Commission on Writing. Glass currently teaches three English language arts classes to 8th- through 12th-grade students at Geronimo High School. With the grant funding, Ms. Glass will be able to introduce her students to the world of professional writing through activities including public writing workshops as well as the initiation of a Creative Writing Club that will publish a literary magazine. Ms. Glass also states that next year she will “have the honor of starting an AP program” for students at Geronimo High School. Glass was unable to attend Thursday’s meeting.
• Sarah Keglovits of Holland Hall School and Stephen Slater of Booker T. Washington High School, 2013 U.S. Presidential Scholars. Lydia Bradford of Edmond Santa Fe High School, Seth Neal of Broken Bow High School,  Jared Ontko of Classen School of Advanced Studies and Claire Thompson of Union High School were congratulated as semifinalists. The program recognizes some of our nation’s most distinguished graduating seniors, including those who have demonstrated accomplishments in academic and artistic success; leadership; and school and community involvement. Annually, up to 141 students are chosen for the award and about 550 are named semifinalists. Claire Thompson was the only student able to attend Thursday’s board meeting.
• Skiatook High School students Sarah Smith, Kathryn Adams, Mary Loveless, Trey Martinez and technology teacher Michael Lewis were recognized for winning first place in Oklahoma for their research and presentation entry in the U.S. Army’s eCYBERMISSION national Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) competition. The competition is designed to inspire student interest in STEM and to challenge students in grades six through nine to develop solutions to real-world problems in their local communities. First-place winning teams receive a $1,000 U.S. Savings Bond and move on to the regional competition, where 64 regional finalists will be chosen. Four regional winning teams from each grade level will compete for the National award in Washington, D.C.
• Annetta McCoy, Counselor at U.S. Grant High School, and Jae Strickland, Principal at Hayes Elementary School, both in the Oklahoma City Schools District, were recognized for their outstanding commitment to education and involving the community and parents in innovative education programs throughout their years of teaching. McCoy has been a professional educator in the Oklahoma City School District for 25 years, first at John Marshall High School and now at Grant. McCoy has helped implement successful integration programs for the district and helps guide and educate her students. Strickland began her teaching career in 2002 in Plano, Texas. She later moved to the Mid-Del School District before being appointed principal at Hayes. Strickland has instituted a wide range of innovative programs for the district, such as reading buddy, Scouting, a community advisory board, and a gifted and talented program. As a result, her school has fewer disciplinary issues and greater parent involvement.

Board Award Competitive Grants to 13 Vendors
The board also awarded grants to 13 service providers under the State Department of Education’s new Oklahoma C3 Competitive Grant Pool Program. The department was allocated $2.8 million for the program; providers responded to the department’s request for proposals.

Receiving grants:

Robotics: Kiss (Botball), $75,000
Robotics: First, $70,000
OK A+ Schools, $275,000
Payne Education Center: PK-K, $50,000
Payne Education Center: 1-3, $125,000
Great Expectations, $1,050,000
Science Fair: ECU, $50,000
OKAGE, $200,000
Catapult Learning (Literacy First), $445,000
Street School, $185,000
OSU: Rural Oklahoma, $86,000
Oklahoma Council on Economic Education, $75,000
A vendor that cannot yet be named because of Request for Proposal rules received $114,000. 

New Cut Scores Set for Biology I Assessments
The board also adopted new cut scores for 2012-2013 Biology I Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests (OCCT) and Oklahoma Modified Alternate Assessment Program (OMAAP) exams.

Cut scores determine performance levels for students, showing what content they know and are able to do in order to be reported as either unsatisfactory, limited knowledge, proficient or advanced. 

Based on the new cut scores, about 35 percent of the students in the state scored proficient on the biology I OCCT and 15 percent scored advanced, For the OMAAP, 38 percent scored proficient and 18 percent advanced.

New C3 Partnership Schools Named

Nine schools were accepted as new C3 Partnership Schools with the State Department of Education.

C3 partnership schools are those identified as the most in need of help in improving performance for students and those in which the greatest impact is expected. The schools enter into a three-year partnership with the state and receive a customized list of intervention strategies designed to improve student performance and school climate.

On the list this year is Bodine Elementary and Marcus Garvey Charter School in the Oklahoma City Schools District; Kenwood Elementary; Mannsville Elementary; Dustin Elementary; Graham High School; McLain Junior High School in Tulsa; and Wewoka High School.

Last year, six schools were selected as C3 partnership schools.

Emergency Rules Adopted
The board also voted to adopt four sets of emergency rules to mirror recently enacted legislation.

 Adopted are:

• A rule that adds a procedure whereby drivers with monocular vision conditions and insulin- dependent drivers with diabetes can qualify to obtain a school bus driver certificate.
• An amendment to the rule governing supplemental online course procedures. The amendment changes the definition of what constitutes an “educationally appropriate” supplemental online course. “Educationally appropriate” means any instruction that is not substantially a repeat of a course or portion of a course that the student has successfully completed, regardless of the grade of the student, and regardless of whether a course is similar to or identical to the instruction that is currently offered in the school district.
• A rule that adds a procedure for non-traditional special education teacher certification for teachers who have completed a special “boot camp” program approved by the State Department of Education and met the requirements for non-traditional certification established in House Bill 1233. The bill was enacted to address a current shortage of special education teachers in Oklahoma.
• An amendment to the rule governing student transfers. The amendment adds a procedure whereby a student who has been the victim of harassment, intimidation, and bullying may request an emergency transfer to another school district if the sending school district was notified of the incident/incidents before the student files the application for transfer.

 Two Students Granted ACE Appeals
After executive session, the board voted to grant appeals to two Oklahoma City Public Schools students seeking waivers from Achieving Classroom Excellence graduation requirements.