Oklahoma

It's time to think differently about how we educate Oklahoma children. Community schools would help • Oklahoma Voice

Published

3 months ago

August 23, 2024

It's time to think differently about how we educate Oklahoma children. Community schools would help • Oklahoma Voice

Oklahoma’s dismal bottom 10 rank in education outcomes highlights a need to think differently about how we’re educating our children who continue to struggle with academic performance, chronic absenteeism and emotional and behavioral issues.

It’s time for our education leaders to take a hard look at the evidence-based benefits that come from increased investments in the community school model.

Community schools provide students with “wraparound services.” They focus on holistic approaches to educating children, understanding that for a child to thrive in school an integrated support system is also needed for their families at home. The model focuses on student and family engagement, collaborative leadership, enriched learning opportunities and integrated support systems.

Fortunately, in part by the pandemic and federal Covid funding, the Federation of American Scientists found that in 2023, “60% of public schools were utilizing a “community school” or “wraparound services model.” That was up from 45% the year prior.

If you think this model won’t work in a state that has an abundance of charter and private schools and is known for perpetually underfunding our public school systems, think again.

Tulsa Union is an example of an Oklahoma public school district that has successfully integrated the model. As one of the earliest adopters, the district received national attention for its student success.

Education expert, David Kirp, wrote in a New York Times opinion piece that contrary to the pressure to focus on rapid academic test score growth, former superintendent Cathy Burden understood that “focusing entirely on academics wasn’t enough, especially for poor kids.”

Instead, Union, which at the time reported 70% of students received free or reduced-price lunches, laid a foundation for meaningful learning by offering a “cornucopia of activities — art, music, science, sports, tutoring — that middle-class families routinely provide.”

Kirp wrote that the district opened its schools early. It helped families access health care. It worked to connect parents with job-training opportunities. It provided clothing, furniture and food to struggling students. It even offered daycare for teen mothers so they could graduate.

U.S. News and World Report now ranks Union High School as one of the nation’s top high schools. It is over 70% minority, and nearly 50% low-income, but it is basically tied with Oklahoma’s high schools for academic achievement.

Other districts have also experimented with the model.

In 2017, when a bus load of Oklahoma City partners visited Rosa Parks Elementary School, we toured their health center, the “Tinker Lab” for hands-on learning, and their organic gardens built around the theme of “Peace.” The key to success was teamwork. The students selected the crops they wanted to grow and built a kiln in the garden. A teacher created “Wind Wonders” to teach aeronautics.

My favorite story was about the Rosa Parks teacher who rushed out of the building, saying she had to go to Jiffy Lube. The teacher had been trying to track down a parent for a conference and she’d just learned that the mom was about to take her lunch break.

Drawing on Tulsa Union’s success, a scientific consensus, and the work of Linda Darling-Hammond’s Learning Policy Institute regarding the benefits of community schools, a grassroots movement created the David R. Lopez Community School at Edgemere.

Despite its great success, Oklahoma City School Public Schools shut it down during the implementation of its Pathway to Greatness plan.

In spite of that setback, I see the community school model as being one that could increase our academic outcomes by acknowledging a holistic model is needed for our children — and their families — to thrive in a post-pandemic landscape.

But in order to achieve greatness, we’d need visionary leadership. We need leaders who are patient enough to lay the groundwork today in hopes of netting substantial gains years down the road.

The model won’t succeed if our leaders are looking for a short-term, easy political victories and immediate results because wraparound services are more expensive and take considerable resources to get off the ground.

I’m hoping we have some visionary education leaders.

Because I don’t see a path forward for improving the academic and social outcomes for low-performing schools until we commit to implementing community schools statewide.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma initiative kicks off by training librarians to help with telehealth visits

Published

4 hours ago

November 21, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma initiative kicks off by training librarians to help with telehealth visits

Oklahomans living in areas with limited internet access soon will be able to receive help with virtual doctor’s appointments at their local library.

An initiative from Arkansas-based Heartland Forward, a “policy think-and-do tank,” and a grant from the James M. Cox Foundation is making this possible.

Here’s what we know.

Librarians receiving training on supporting telehealth visits

With the help of a $25,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation, the nonprofit and philanthropic arm of Cox Enterprises, Oklahoma librarians will be trained on accessing and preparing for a telehealth appointment using the Telehealth DigitalLearn module, according to a news release.

Librarians can then use the module, which was funded by the Ford Foundation, to help community members learn more about telehealth.

Why Heartland Forward is targeting Oklahoma, Arkansas for telehealth access

According to the latest benchmark from the Federal Communications Commission, broadband or high-speed internet is defined as receiving 100/20 mbps download and upload speeds.

The latest FCC broadband map shows just over 91% of Oklahoma homes and businesses are covered by broadband, not including satellite technology, which Engagement Director Nicholas Camper, with the Oklahoma Broadband Office, said amounts to about 450,000 Oklahomans without high-speed internet access.

According to the Oklahoma Broadband Office’s interactive map, there are more than 100,000 locations in Oklahoma that could receive broadband that have not, and more than 80,000 locations that are underserved.

In addition, a Heartland Forward study found that 25% of counties surveyed in the region had a population-to-primary care physician ratio more than double the U.S. average. Telehealth can help bridge this gap, but only for those with access to the internet.

The new initiative will allow libraries to connect Oklahomans to “critical health services,” Education Secretary Nellie Sanders said in the news release.

“Libraries are often the first place community members turn to for resources and support, especially in areas where healthcare access can be limited,” Natalie Currie, director of the Oklahoma Department of Libraries, said in the release. “By training librarians to help Oklahomans navigate telehealth technology, we’re opening doors to essential healthcare services and enhancing the well-being of our communities.”

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma vs Alabama injury report: Initial updates, news for Week 13

Published

11 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma vs Alabama injury report: Initial updates, news for Week 13

Injuries have plagued the Oklahoma Sooners during the 2024 season. It’s been an unfortunate reality for Brent Venables and his staff, particularly on the offensive side of the football.

With a pivotal game coming this week in Norman against the Alabama Crimson Tide, the Sooners are hoping for any sort of positive news on the injury front. Oklahoma looks like they’ll get one of their key offensive linemen back this week, Michael Tarquin. That should help provide better protection for quarterback Jackson Arnold.

Here’s a look at Wednesday’s initial injury report.

Oklahoma injury report

Player	Position	Status 11/20
Jayden Gibson	WR	OUT
Gentry Williams	DB	OUT
Geirean Hatchett	OL	OUT
Nic Anderson	WR	OUT
Kendel Dolby	DB	OUT
Andrel Anthony	WR	OUT
Jacob Sexton	OL	OUT
Jake Taylor	OL	OUT
Deion Burks	WR	Doubtful
Jovantae Barnes	RB	Questionable
Joshua Bates	OL	Questionable

Alabama injury report

Player	Position	Status 11/20
Keon Sabb	DB	OUT
Cole Adams	WR	OUT
Quandarrius Robinson	LB	OUT

Michael Tarquin injury update

After missing Oklahoma’s last two games against Maine and Missouri, it looks like starting tackle Michael Tarquin will be back in action this week after not landing on the initial injury report. Now, the question becomes, does he take over at right or left tackle?

Deion Burks injury update

Deion Burks was concussed late in the Sooners’ loss to Missouri. He had been out of action since the Tennessee game and looks like he’ll be unavailable this week against Alabama.

Jovantae Barnes injury update

Jovantae Barnes sprained his ankle during his 200-yard effort against Maine and was forced to miss the game against Missouri. Though listed as questionable for this week, he’s had two weeks to rest. Depending on how severe the initial injury was, he could be back in action this week.

Gavin Sawchuk injury update

Running back Gavin Sawchuk was off the injury report for Oklahoma’s game against Missouri but didn’t play. Instead it was Taylor Tatum, Xavier Robinson, and Sam Franklin getting the running back snaps. Could Sawchuk be available this week to help the Sooners rushing attack?

Joshua Bates injury update

Joshua Bates missed the game against Missouri with an undisclosed injury. Troy Everett has solidified the center position for the Sooners but you would like to have some depth available.

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Oklahoma

Oklahoma’s House members sworn in at Capitol

Published

19 hours ago

November 20, 2024

Press Room

Oklahoma’s House members sworn in at Capitol

The newly elected and reelected members of the Oklahoma House are sworn into office Wednesday at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Emma Murphy/Oklahoma Voice)

OKLAHOMA CITY — Members of the Oklahoma House were sworn into office Wednesday in the House chambers at the Capitol.

Both newly elected and reelected members took time to recognize their family, friends and constituents who elected them to serve.

The Oklahoma House Republican caucus elected Rep. Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, Tuesday as Speaker-Elect of the House for the 60th Legislature.

“Together, we must rise to the occasion of the urgent challenges facing Oklahomans, including the ongoing pinch of inflation, a widening workforce skills gap and much-needed investment in our public infrastructure system including transportation, water, wastewater and broadband connectivity,” he said in a statement Tuesday. “Our caucus is ready to make the tough decisions needed to move Oklahoma forward.”

The House will formally vote for the next Speaker of the House on its organizational day in January. If elected, Hilbert, 30, will be the youngest House speaker in Oklahoma history.

Rep. Ajay Pittman, D-Oklahoma City, was in attendance with her mother, Anastasia Pittman, who previously served in the Oklahoma House and Senate.

“I stand before you today as the new chair of the Oklahoma Legislative Black Caucus,” she said. “And I’m just so humbled to the constituents of House District 99 and the voters for allowing me to come back here for my fourth term and continue the legacy of leadership.”

Rep. Scott Fetgatter, R-Okmulgee, thanked his constituents and colleagues as he offered advice to the freshman lawmakers.

I would like to thank the constituents in House District 16 for electing the unelectable for the past eight years,” he said. “Going into my ninth year … I’m looking forward to serving with everybody in this room. If you’re a freshman the one thing that I would like to impart to you is that if I yell at you while we’re on the floor, it’s not personal.”

Oklahoma House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson, D-Oklahoma City, welcomed new members of the House in a statement Wednesday.

“I am excited to work with these incredible individuals and look forward to serving the State of Oklahoma alongside my House Democratic colleagues returning to the state Capitol,” Munson said in a statement. “House Democrats will remain focused on lowering costs for working Oklahoma families, keeping public dollars in public schools, pushing back against harmful rhetoric and actions from our state superintendent, and ensuring Oklahomans have access to the health care they need.”

The 101 members of the House will convene for an organizational day Jan. 7 ahead of the upcoming legislative session on Feb. 3.

The Oklahoma Senate was sworn in Nov. 13.

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