CONTINUING COVERAGE TOPICS

Weleetka killings of two girls

Tulsa Elections 2013

Tulsa oral surgeon investigation

A special report: 61st and Peoria

2013 Capital Improvements package for Tulsa

Craft Beer in Oklahoma

Open Carry

Gun Debate

EMSA investigation

American Airlines

"August: Osage County" to film in Oklahoma

2012

2013 Bassmaster Classic

Arrow Trucking

Casino controversy in Broken Arrow

Delaware County Lawsuit

Good Friday Shootings in Tulsa

Grand jury investigation of TPD

OKC Bombing

Oklahoma Crisis: Child Abuse and Neglect

Oklahoma's school funding crisis

State of Addiction

Supreme Court ruling on health care law

Teen Pregnancy

The Money Crunch

Trash Service in Tulsa

Tulsa's meth abuse epidemic

Workers compensation

World War II Veterans

CONTINUING COVERAGE

Education

An education rally about budget cuts at Edison Preparatory School on April 26, 2012. JAMES GIBBARD/Tulsa World

Your website for in-depth reporting and analysis on issues, trends and events affecting Oklahoma's public and private education systems.

Here are some of the latest reports

An Examination of the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s
A-F Report Card: Commissioned by OSSBA and CCOSA

2013 Mid Year State Aid allocation

Oklahoma School test scores: If you can't find your school on the right side of this page, visit the State Board of Education website to search all Oklahoma schools.

How to read the A-F report card

A-F Report Cards quick reference guide for parents

A-F Report Card guide from the Oklahoma State Department of Education

”Raise the Grade Together” resource guide for school districts

School demographics: Some Tulsa-area school districts are seeing larger and slightly more diverse student populations as people move into the suburbs. Collinsville and Bixby showed the largest percentage growth.

School administration perks: A review of auto allowances and use of district-owned vehicles for Tulsa-area school administrators shows that they can be expensive, taxpayer-funded perks in some cases.

A-F school grade system: View a map of the school districts that have joined the coalition criticizing new A-F school grading system. / View the names of each school involved.

Contact the education reporters

Staff Writer Kim Archer covers suburban schools.
kim.archer@tulsaworld.com
918-581-8315
Follow Kim on twitter

Staff Writer Andrea Eger covers Tulsa Public Schools.
andrea.eger@tulsaworld.com
918-581-8470
Follow Andrea on twitter

HEADLINES

Jump to Date:

Couple says Tulsa Public Schools lost their 7-year-old for hours 6/19/2013

A couple is searching for answers about how Tulsa Public Schools officials lost track of their 7-year-old daughter on the first day of summer school.

State teacher education programs criticized in national report 6/19/2013

Most of the nation's 1,450 teacher-preparation programs - including programs in Oklahoma - are falling far short of adequately training teachers for the realities of the classroom, according to a national report released Tuesday.

TCC Metro Campus closed Wednesday to restore electricity 6/19/2013

The Metro Campus of Tulsa Community College will remain closed Wednesday as technicians work to restore electricity to its main building and replace a power distribution panel that caught fire Monday night, officials said.

State ranks 42nd in U.S. for college degrees 6/18/2013

Oklahoma ranks 42nd in the nation for the number of adults who have college degrees, up from 43rd place the previous year, according to a recent national report.

TPS' deputy-superintendent search advances 6/18/2013

The Tulsa school board's search for a deputy superintendent - and a candidate to succeed Superintendent Keith Ballard - advanced with the first in-person interview on Monday.

OU finds online material to replace costly textbooks 6/17/2013

Leading the effort at OU is Associate Chemistry Professor Mark Morvant, executive director of the school's Center for Teaching Excellence.

See Mark Morvant,executivedirector of OU’sCenter for TeachingExcellence,discuss the costof college textbooks.

Tech academy proposed to reach high school dropouts 6/17/2013

At-risk youths in Tulsa could soon have a new path to high school credentials and job skills that would prepare them for the job market immediately.

Technology shouldn't kill cursive writing, educator says 6/15/2013

In a digital world of computers, keyboards and fonts, there is still a place for cursive writing, according to workshop facilitator and certified handwriting specialist Angie Kalman.

Tulsa Community College tuition to rise by 2.36 percent 6/14/2013

The Tulsa Community College board of regents voted Thursday to raise tuition and mandatory fees by 2.36 percent, increasing the cost for in-state students by $2.50 per credit hour.

Oklahoma special-education teacher shortage sparks 'boot camps' 6/13/2013

The state Board of Education on Wednesday approved policies for 150-hour intensive boot camps to get more special education teachers into Oklahoma classrooms amid a severe shortage statewide.

State Board of Education OKs special ed teacher boot camps 6/12/2013

For candidates, a boot camp would be the start of a three-year alternative pathway to a standard teaching certificate and open the door to those who decide to continue on to earn a master's degree in special education.

Sequester cuts dip TPS Title I budget by $1.7M 6/12/2013

Classrooms across the city will soon feel the squeeze from higher-than-expected federal sequestration-related cuts, Tulsa Public Schools officials said Tuesday.

CONTINUING COVERAGE: Read more in-depth reporting on education in Oklahoma.

Local banks step in after tornado prevented Moore district from paying schoolteachers on time 6/12/2013

“It was very crazy — there was nothing we could to get that information at the time,” said Jeannie Oden, payroll supervisor for Moore Public Schools.

Oklahoma City elementary principal loses job after funds investigation 6/12/2013

District officials have led an investigation since February to determine whether the principal negligently managed school funds.

OSU-Tulsa willing to make it worth students' while to attend class on campus 6/12/2013

Administrators at Oklahoma State University-Tulsa say there are benefits to taking a college course in a classroom, and they are willing to put money on it.

Struggling seniors getting more help to pass EOI exams, TPS says 6/11/2013

Abraham Richards had earned B's in geometry class, so when he failed to pass Oklahoma's End of Instruction exam in that subject, he found himself in a state of denial.

CONTINUING COVERAGE: Read more in-depth reporting on education in Oklahoma.

Former Oklahoma Department of Education official to run for state superintendent 6/11/2013

Jack Herron, a former assistant superintendent of finance for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, announced Monday that he will run for state superintendent of public instruction in 2014.

Teach for America recruits arrive in Tulsa for summer institute 6/11/2013

Teach for America welcomed 700 of its new recruits to Tulsa on Monday for the kickoff of the city's second TFA Summer Institute.

Future of student loan interest rates up in the air 6/9/2013

With interest rates on a popular form of student loans set to double July 1, Congress and the Obama administration appear locked in a stalemate over how to fix the problem.

Tulsa Public Schools program offers children free breakfast, lunch 6/8/2013

For a whopping 85 percent of Tulsa kids, school isn't just the place they go to fill their minds - it's also the place they rely on for full bellies.

Probe shows Jenks faculty not involved in mass test opt-out 6/8/2013

'I am not buying the explanation that seems to insulate Miller and others. There had to be a great deal of conversation between Rob and the parents. Clearly this was orchestrated,' state Superintendent Janet Barresi wrote.

CONTINUING COVERAGE: Read more in-depth reporting on education in Oklahoma.

Oklahoma Department of Education reports 56 school buildings damaged in May storms 6/8/2013

As many as 56 Oklahoma school buildings were damaged after massive tornadoes and severe storms ripped through the middle part of the state in a two-week period last month, the state Department of Education reported Friday.

Tulsa-area graduates receive National Merit Scholarships 6/8/2013

Graduates from 20 area high schools have been named recipients of National Merit Scholarships.

Tulsa's Webster High School to mark 75th anniversary 6/8/2013

For Hilda Guevara, the year she spent as a foreign exchange student at Tulsa's Daniel Webster High School was one of the best in her life.

Storms damage at least 56 schools in two weeks 6/7/2013

Three Moore schools were obliterated by an EF5 tornado on May 20, killing seven elementary school students.

A-F SCHOOL GRADES

View the grade information sheet on each district in the Tulsa metro.

Tulsa

Bixby

Catoosa

Jenks

Liberty

Owasso

Sand Springs

Sapulpa

Skiatook

Sperry

Union

The state school board voted Oct. 25 to release the A-F school grades.

View the grade information sheets on each school in districts in the Tulsa metro.

Tulsa

Bixby

Catoosa

Jenks

Liberty

Owasso

Sand Springs

Sapulpa

Skiatook

Sperry

Union

Oklahoma School test scores: If you can't find your school, visit the State Board of Education website to search all Oklahoma schools.

How to read the A-F report card

A-F overview from of Maridyth McBee, assistant state superintendent of accountability and assessments.

A-F Report Cards quick reference guide for parents

A-F Report Card guide from the Oklahoma State Department of Education

”Raise the Grade Together” resource guide for school districts

TEST SCORES

View all of the 2010-2011 district test scores

View all of the 2009-2010 district test scores

SCHOOL FUNDING

Education funding down $198 million
Oklahoma school districts are struggling to cope with sharp cuts in state spending for education. Meanwhile, the governor and state legislators are working on plans to cut taxes. Read complete coverage of the issue.

SALARY DATABASE

Search a Tulsa World database of public school staff salaries for school year 2011-2012.

Top 5 districts by average teacher base salary
1. Tannehill, Pittsburg County: $43,152.57
2. Straight, Texas County: $42,610.76
3. Chouteau-Mazie, Mayes County: $42,379.17
4. Cleora, Delaware County: $42,337.42
5. Thomas-Fay-Custer Unified, Custer County: $42,173.51

See the median and average teacher base salary for all Oklahoma school districts. (Excel document).