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Fields floats extending Oklahoma’s school year by 15 days

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Fields floats extending Oklahoma’s school year by 15 days


OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — Oklahoma’s new State Superintendent is considering whether extending the school year could help boost student performance, saying students in other states are already spending more time in the classroom.

Some teachers say they’re open to the idea—but want to know whether it would actually make a difference.

State Superintendent Lindel Fields brought up the idea during a Nov. 9 appearance on News 4’s FlashPoint.

“Imagine if the Thunder practiced 15 days less than the Nuggets every year,” Fields said. “That’s what we’re doing in Oklahoma.”

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He said Oklahoma students spend about 15 fewer days in school each year than those in surrounding states.

“Over a kid’s lifetime that’s an entire year less,” Fields said.

He argued that increasing classroom time could improve student outcomes.

“When you think about, maybe where we rank and how much we go to school, maybe there’s a correlation there,” Fields said. “So I think it’s a conversation worth having.”

Oklahoma special education teacher Delana Whitfield told News 4 she thought the idea was well-intentioned.

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“I was like, oh, that’s interesting,” Whitfield said.

But she said she wants to see data.

“My biggest question is, is this going to make a substantial difference for these students? And if we can’t support that and provide evidence that it’s actual causation, that the 15 additional days actually provides better outcome for students and there’s not other factors, then I think we need to go back to the drawing board,” Whitfield said.

She and other educators say Oklahoma’s low test scores—especially in reading and math—may be caused by deeper issues than just the number of school days.

“I can think of other ways off the top of my head that I think could have a larger impact on student outcomes for those students,” Whitfield said. “If we had more interventionists in those areas, that we’re spending more specialized time with students that were struggling. If we were to offer more remedial classes for students that are struggling in those areas.”

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A spokesperson for Fields told News 4 this week the idea is still in the very early stages—and Fields does not believe it’s the only solution that might be needed to turn around educational outcomes in Oklahoma.

“We recognize that our students currently spend fewer days in school compared to neighboring states,” the spokesperson said. “This is a very preliminary conversation about what adding days could look like.”

Fields acknowledged there would be practical challenges.

“I think most people are on board with that,” Fields said. “But like most things, it comes down to, how do we pay for that?”

Whitfield said she hopes this discussion leads to a broader plan to support students.

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“If 15 days additional does show that there is a benefit to it, I think it should be a part of a larger plan because I don’t think there’s one single thing that anybody could do in any position with education that is going to make a substantial change,” Whitfield said.

Oklahoma currently requires a minimum of 165 instructional days per year.

That’s fewer than every bordering state except Colorado.

If the school year were extended by 15 days—up to 180—it would bring Oklahoma closer to the requirements already in place in Texas, Arkansas, New Mexico, and Kansas.

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Oklahoma leaders react after U.S. and Israel launch joint attack on Iran

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Oklahoma leaders react after U.S.  and Israel launch joint attack on Iran


State leaders are reacting after the United States launched an attack on Iran Saturday morning.

U.S. Senator James Lankford said he is praying for the safety of the American service members involved in the attack.

“Iran remains the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism and has long threatened the United States and our allies. Today’s military actions underscore the seriousness of that threat and the need to prevent Iran from ever obtaining a nuclear weapon,” Lankford said. “I’m praying for the safety of every American service member involved in these operations and for their families at home. God bless our troops and God bless America.”

Lankford also said that any Americans in the Middle East should keep an eye out for advisories and guidance from the U.S. Department of State.

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U.S. Representative Tom Cole released a statement following the attack:

It’s a time of reckoning for those who chant ‘Death to America.’ President Trump is right when he calls the effort to eradicate Iran’s nuclear weapons program and give its people the opportunity to seize their freedom ‘a noble mission.’ The evil Iranian regime has been the leading state sponsor of terror for decades. It has killed thousands of people within and beyond its borders, including hundreds of Americans. It must be defanged and dismantled.

The President did not take this action lightly or impulsively. He has warned Iran repeatedly that it must change its policies and its actions. He has negotiated with Iran in good faith and with great clarity. It was the Iranian regime that chose to ignore those warnings and make a mockery of those negotiations. In doing so, its tyrannical leaders made an enormous miscalculation.

Our Commander in Chief has made clear that his goal is not just to stop Iran from acquiring a nuclear weapon. It is also to give the Iranian people a chance to take back their country. Self-determination and freedom will be theirs to claim. I hope they will.

Like every American, my thoughts and prayers are with our brave and capable men and women in uniform who are carrying out this noble but hard and dangerous mission. I know that they will have the unwavering support of every American, and I am confident that they will acquit themselves with honor and distinction.

May God protect our troops and the innocent Iranian people – and once again – as He so often has, bless America.

U.S. Senator Markwayne Mullin said he is praying for the United States’ men and women in uniform in a post on Saturday.

“May God bless and protect our men and women in uniform—the greatest peacekeeping force in the history of the world. Americans are praying for your safety in this mission,” Mullin said.

U.S. Representative Kevin Hern said the Iranian regime is a threat to the U.S. and President Trump was left with no other choice than to take action.

As the world’s largest state sponsor of terrorism, the Iranian regime is an active threat to the United States, our allies, and stability across the Middle East.”

Iran’s refusal to accept a deal left President Trump with no choice other than to take decisive action to ensure the regime never possesses a nuclear weapon. There is no peace without strength, and the United States will not sit by while this regime pursues their nuclear ambitions, fuels their terrorist proxies, and brutalizes the Iranian people. I’m praying for our brave troops in the region. May God bless them, and may God bless the United States.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond said in a social media post that his prayers are with President Trump and Secretary Pete Hegseth as they work to achieve a safer world.

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“God bless and protect the men and women of the United States military engaged in the Middle East this weekend. My prayers are with our military, President Trump, Secretary Hegseth, and our Generals, as they use American force to achieve a safer world for the future of our children and grandchildren,” Drummond said.



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Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes

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Oklahoma County commissioners weigh state audit of jail trust amid detention center woes


An investigative audit into the Oklahoma County Criminal Justice Authority; it’s something the Oklahoma County Board of Commissioners is considering.

Fox 25 has been covering issues with the Oklahoma County Detention Center for years, from failed inspections to staffing issues and missed paychecks.

The issues had members of the Jail Trust recommending last June they undergo a performance review. Now, in a letter recently issued, county commissioners are asking State Auditor Cindy Byrd to look into the county Criminal Justice Authority, also known as the jail trust. But whether it’s tied to those ongoing issues remains unclear.

“I really wouldn’t know. I wouldn’t know where to begin with that. I just wouldn’t even want to speculate, honestly,” said Commissioner Myles Davidson.

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Commissioner Davidson told FOX 25 if the audit were to happen, it wouldn’t be cheap.

“To go into a budget that we’re extremely tight on, and start adding hundreds of thousands of dollars, and time, these audits don’t happen overnight. I don’t know that we would have an answer to any question we could possibly ask before the budgetary cycle is over,” said Davidson.

Davidson said that cycle ends June 1. Instead, he’s suggesting they look into existing audits to see if there’s any useful information there first.

“I would simply say that we need to look at the audits that have been submitted already to the state auditor that the jail trust has already paid for, and then if we have questions about those, we need to bring in that auditing agency and question them. We do have the authority to do that,” Davidsons said.

However, Davidson isn’t sure they have the authority to request this audit.

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“When it comes to statute, we have to have it lined out, expressly in statute that we have this authority, and every county commissioner across the state has to abide by that,” he said.

Davidson said they’ll be meeting Monday to find out whether or not they do have the authority to request this audit. He told FOX 25 the Oklahoma County District Attorney’s office reached out to folks with Cindy Byrd’s office and was told the audit would cost $100,000, adding that she’s so swamped that she can’t do it this calendar year.

FOX 25 also reached out to Jason Lowe’s office but they said they have no comment.



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Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith

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Oklahoma lawmakers vote to rename turnpike in honor of Toby Keith


OKLAHOMA CITY (KSWO) — Oklahoma lawmakers have voted to honor country music artist and Oklahoma native Toby Keith.

House Concurrent Resolution 1019 recognizes Keith’s lasting impact on music and proposes renaming a planned turnpike in his memory.

The concurrent resolution was authored by Rep. Jason Blair, R-Morgan, and Sen. Lisa Standridge, R-Norman.

The planned route will extend from Interstate 44 east to Interstate 35, then continue east and north to I-40 at the Kickapoo Turnpike.

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