Results in class, fall 2009

              Results in Class Oklahoma State Department of Education • www.sde.state.ok.us
Volume 39 Number 1
FALL 2009
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Oklahoma 2008-09 test score averages reported Page 2
Workshops, Conferences and Opportunities Page 3
Upcoming Events Page 4
Results 2009
by State Superintendent
Sandy Garrett
Average ACT Test Scores
Graduating Class 2009, Oklahoma & National
The 2009-2010 school year is well under way presenting unlimited
opportunities, and challenges as well. Even though I am not in a classroom today, I can almost hear the locker doors slamming.
Of course, school zone lights are flashing, and phones are still
ringing "off the hook" with questions. What's new? What's different?
What's on the lunch menu? Yes, we get that one also.
Let me share with you some of the recent education news:
►► Oklahoma's ACT performance in math and science improved slightly
this year compared to last, but the state's average composite score was
the same for the Class of 2009 as for 2008. Our ACT mathematics
subscore continues to pull down the state average, while Oklahoma's
reading subscore is at the national average and English is just
0.1 below it.
The good news is
that the percentage of
Oklahoma's graduating seniors who
took the ACT is still
high, a projected 71
percent, and well
ahead of the national
average of 45 percent.
More Oklahoma
minority students are
taking the ACT, and
outperforming their
national peers -
indicating that more
students are interested
in going to college.
Oklahoma students take four years of language arts in high school, and our ACT
scores reflect that. But, Oklahoma's graduation standards require only
three years of math and science courses, and state average performance
in these courses continues well below the national average. These
critical skill areas must become more of a priority for students, parents
and school leaders.
►► Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests state average results were released
at our August 27 State Board of Education meeting, and you can find
information and a summary of these results on page 2 of this
issue of "Results: In Class" and more details on our Web site.
►► Possibly the most difficult news to start off this school year is that
the state of Oklahoma experienced a revenue shortfall in July, the
first month of the new budget year, Fiscal Year 2010. This caused a
2.74 percent reduction in the August state aid payment for schools.
See "Results 2009," page 4
English       Reading   Mathematics   Science    Composite
I Oklahoma average (71% tested)
l National average (45% tested)
SOURCE: ACT. Inc., August 2009
State Fair Ceremony: September 22
Oklahoma Teacher of the Year:
The 12 Finalists
The 12 finalists for Oklahoma Teacher of
the Year were announced during the State
Superintendent's Annual Leadership Conference in July On Tuesday, September 22, at
the State Fair of Oklahoma, the 2009-10
Teacher of the Year will be revealed.
Teachers who were honored at the local
level during the 2008-09 school year and who
submitted a portfolio application this spring
are eligible to be a
finalist. The process
involves six state
regional committees comprised of
teachers and parents. Two finalists
are chosen  from
LW Bi each region.
R-ggB A state selection
committee of business and community leaders meets in September to conduct personal interviews, review
the portfolios and video submissions of the
finalists teaching, and participate in a group
discussion of education issues.
"It is always a difficult task for the state
committee to select one winner," said Superintendent Garrett. "This group of finalists
represents well the high quality of educators
found in Oklahoma schools."
The Teacher of the Year will receive prizes
and money from generous sponsors worth
more than $60,000, plus additional grant
monies for the winner's school district. The
finalists also receive cash and prizes worth
thousands of dollars each. In addition, all
local teachers of the year are honored during
the State Fair ceremony.
The Teacher of the Year holds the honor as
Oklahoma's Ambassador of Teaching. The
winner will be entered into the national
competition sponsored by the Council of
Chief State School Officers and Scholastic,
Inc., this spring.
Biographies for each finalist are on the
State Department of Education's Web site at
<www.sde.state.ok.us>.
■ Kayleen Browning teaches
fifth grade social studies,
spelling and writing at Sky-
view Elementary School,
Yukon Public Schools.
■ Jennifer Daftari teaches
fifth grade science at Jay
Upper Elementary School,
Jay Public Schools.
■ Brian M. Grimm teaches
English and pre-Advanced
Placement English at Will
Rogers High School, Tulsa
Public Schools.
■ Janise Mclntyre teaches
senior English and "Reading
for Pleasure" at Elgin High
School, Elgin Public Schools.
■ Mary Pace teaches seventh
grade English at Whittier
Middle School, Norman Public
Schools.
■ Russell Randolph teaches
geometry and pre-Advanced
Placement geometry at
Mustang Mid-High School,
Mustang Public Schools.
See "The 12 finalists,"page 2