Public Input Sought to Improve Education

Staff and Wire Reports

OKLAHOMA CITY - Gov. Brad Henry's top education adviser is planning a series of public meetings across the state to solicit public input on ways to reform education in Oklahoma.

Former Tulsa Mayor Kathy Taylor says the effort is part of a plan to strengthen Oklahoma's bid for federal education grants.

Henry appointed Taylor as his Chief of Education Strategy and Innovation earlier this year.

Taylor will hold meetings starting next week in Woodward, Altus, Ardmore, McAlester, Tulsa and Oklahoma City.

The ideas presented at the meeting will be included in Oklahoma's proposal for a federal "Race to the Top" grant administered by the U.S. Department of Education. The grant competition is designed to encourage innovation and reform that will spur gains in student achievement.

Five months ago, Oklahoma City and Tulsa Public Schools were placed on accreditation probation for failing to make the grade. School officials promised to turn things around and are still sticking by that pledge.

"We cannot, we cannot I repeat, do business as usual," Taylor said.

Now they may be getting some help from the feds. The U.S. Department of Education has launched a grant competition to help improve low performing schools.

"The ultimate goal is to have more kids graduate from high school, college and career ready," Taylor said.

Taylor is in Baltimore, Maryland attending a two-day conference about the program. Once she returns, she'll host the series of meetings around Oklahoma seeking input from teachers, parents and anyone interested in children's education.

"Fifty percent of any grant we receive is required by the competitive grant to go directly to the local school districts so they need to understand what the opportunity is for them," Taylor said.

Oklahoma City Public Schools Board member Wilfredo Santos Rivera is already making plans to attend.

"I am going to be very active in those meetings because I have some ideas that I think will be very productive, creative and innovative," Rivera said.

One of Rivera's ideas is to raise kids' math and reading levels at the elementary and middle school levels. But he stresses that education does not start or stop in the classroom.

"The key to a successful school are three components; a good teacher, a good principal and parental involvement," Rivera said.

Taylor says the grant application must be submitted by January 19 and she has to include all the interested schools and districts to qualify for that money.

If that application is approved, Oklahoma could get as much as $150 million from the U.S. Department of Education.

Discussion meetings will be held in six regions of Oklahoma from Monday, Dec. 14, to Wednesday, Dec. 16.

The schedule for meetings is as follows:

Monday, Dec. 14

9 a.m. Woodward High School Auditorium

1 p.m. Southwest Technology Center, Altus

Tuesday, Dec. 15

9 a.m. Ardmore Convention Center

1 p.m. McAlester High School Auditorium

5:30 p.m. Fulton Technology and Learning Academy, Tulsa

Wednesday, Dec. 16

1 p.m. Oklahoma City Schools Administration Bldg. Auditorium