In case you missed it…
…here’s a recap of the week’s public education news
The Oklahoma City Public Schools board voted to allow students at the old John Marshall High School to enroll next year at the New John Marshall.
The decision delighted parents, who wanted their children to remain John Marshall students rather than spend time at Centennial High School, which is scheduled to open for the 2008 school year.
Depending on where their parents live, students will be assigned either to the New John Marshall or to Centennial.
(I haven’t seen the maps, so I’m not sure where the lines are drawn, but I’ll post them on the Education Station as soon as I find out.)
Oklahoma Gov. Brad Henry signed legislation to eliminate assistance to illegal immigrants.
Although public schools must allow students to attend under federal law, the bill may have indirect effects, such as keeping parents from enrolling their children in school because they fear deportation.
Schools, universities and the state Department of Education were tight-lipped about the law’s effects, saying they needed more time to study it.
Immigrant-rights advocates question the law’s constitutionality and vow to challenge it in court.
The South came out ahead. A report from the Southern Education Foundation shows the South, which often trails the nation in all sorts of rankings, leads in pre-kindergarten offerings.
Seventy-percent of Oklahoma 4 year olds attend a school district-sponsored pre-k program in Oklahoma, the highest rate in the country, state department of education officials say.
More than 34,000 Oklahoma children attend pre-k programs every day.
Overall, the South provides pre-k at more than twice the rate of the rest of the nation.
Voters in Midwest City-Del City and Dover school districts Tuesday approved spending more than $18 million in bond money.
The money will be used mostly for renovation and passed by a large margin.
Olney voters this week decided to close the school. Coalgate schools will annex the Onley district. The Olney school has 57 students and will close at year’s end.
The Olney superintendent said declining enrollment left the school without enough money to survive.
The state House and Senate education committees met to discuss a report from the U.S. chamber of commerce that gave the state low marks for its education system.
The report was particularly tough on Oklahoma students’ academic achievement and in the truthfulness of reported test scores.
Business leaders told legislators education was part of economic development.
The state received an A in teacher readiness for its certification and examination process for educators.
Also, check out my podcast of the week’s education news and ocassional commentary.
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