TULSA, Okla. — After months of tension, Tulsa Public Schools leaders have answered Ryan Walters’ call.
“This work is very important to us, and we know it is important to you, too,” said TPS Superintendent Dr. Ebony Johnson.
Their efforts led to improvements or improvement plans in three key areas: reading comprehension, teacher professional development, and MRI (more rigorous intervention) school improvement.
Four schools recently moved from MRI to lower CSI (comprehensive support and intervention) status, including McClure Elementary School, Walt Whitman Elementary School, Hamilton Elementary School, and Tulsa Met Junior and Senior High School.
Leaders want 12 of the 18 facilities to be removed from the MRI designation.
Johnson says these schools need volunteer tutors to work with kids like Trevon Lee.
The students “are all very unique, very fun and energetic, and have a lot of potential,” Lee said.
Another concern is how to read music scores. According to TPS’ own data, an average of 35% of Oklahoma students are at a “below basic” reading level. Meanwhile, her 59% of Tulsa kids are below basic level.
“Statewide competency benchmarks are rigorous and have a very high bar,” said TPS Data Director Sean Berkstresser.
Johnson says testing incentives can help improve performance.
Mr Johnson said: ‘Essentially, assessment culture is just a reminder of what we know to prepare students for any assessment. We can become apathetic when it comes to testing,” he said.
Educators can also receive professional development. By the end of the year, 100% of teachers will be trained in the Science of Reading program. All principals and head teachers will also receive training.
“We know that [the work is] It’s most important to our Tulsa community,” Johnson said.
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