Sandy Garrett’s Column
Kids Count focus: The well-being of children By Sandy Garrett, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Friday, August 14, 2009
As school bells ring and classroom doors open for the new school year, the quality of life for boys and girls in our state takes center stage with the national release of the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s “2009 Kids Count Data Book.”
This is a much-anticipated annual report that gives state and national comparisons for children’s well-being. And, unfortunately, what is considered the overall well-being of children in Oklahoma has fallen to a ranking of 44th in the nation; we ranked 38th just four years ago.
Of the 10 key measures studied in every state, we have improved in three, remained unchanged in one and worsened in six since 2000.
Better:
• Fewer teens (aged 16-19) are dropping out of high school in Oklahoma,
down from 14 percent to 8 percent in the most recent report.
• The number of teens not in school or working decreased from 11 percent
to 9 percent in Oklahoma.
• The infant mortality rate (deaths per 1,000 live births) has slightly
decreased from 8.5 percent in 2000 to 8.0 percent in 2006.
Same:
• The teen birth rate (births per 1,000 females aged 15-19) has stayed the
same since 2000.
Worse:
• More Oklahoma children are living in homes where no parent has full-time
or year-round employment, rising to 35 percent from 33 percent in 2000.
• Single-parent homes are the norm for 33 percent of Oklahoma children, a
3 percent increase since 2000.
• Children living in poverty—with a family income below $21,027—has risen
from 19 percent in 2000 to 22 percent.
• An increase of low-birth weight babies from 7.5 percent in 2000 to 8.3
percent.
• Child deaths (children aged 1-14 per 100,000) have gone from 25 percent
in 2000 to 29 percent.
• Teen deaths (teens aged 15-19 per 100,000) increased from 77 percent in
2000 to 85 percent.
Study after study has shown that family and economic factors such as enjoying regular meals, getting plenty of sleep, and feeling safe and secure impact children’s academic performance. These are not excuses; these are the facts of life. The better we take care of and invest in our children, the more opportunity for success they will have.
While state and national comparisons on the 10 “Kids Count” measures are helpful, data on how each county performs on these measures also is available here or by contacting the Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy. The Oklahoma Institute for Child Advocacy is our state’s point of contact for a variety of public awareness and engagement activities related to the status of children and families.
Every school day, no matter the situation in which children live and learn, school faculty and staff will continue providing academic instruction, nutritious meals and a caring heart to the children who enroll in Oklahoma public schools. We know that kids count!
Sandy Garrett’s Column
Yellow school buses and flashing school zone lights soon will be seen as early as this week in neighborhoods across our state as schools resume.
This is a busy, exciting time for families, and a great time to refresh on back-to-school safety basics.
School bus
More than 372,000 students ride school buses daily in Oklahoma. The school bus continues to be the safest form of transporting students, yet dangers can arise when boarding and leaving a bus.
• Never walk behind a bus or in front where a driver cannot see, and check to see that no traffic is coming if crossing the street.
• Wait for the bus to come to a complete stop before stepping off or on.
• Do not move around.
• Try to never wait alone.
Walking and bicycling
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says around 15 percent of students walk or bicycle to or from school. That percentage is higher in less urban areas.
• Wear a helmet and use hand signals; respect traffic laws and ride on the right-hand side of the street in the same direction as traffic.
• Walkers should have a planned route and follow sidewalks or paths if they exist.
• Look both ways before crossing the street, and only cross when clear.
• Walk with a buddy if possible. With younger students, try what the
American Academy of Pediatrics calls a “walking school bus,” in which an adult accompanies a group of neighborhood children to and from school.
• Avoid interaction with strangers.
• Stay clear of vacant lots, fields, and construction sites.
After school
The vast majority of children come from families where both parents work outside the home. If children are staying home alone after school, it is crucial to:
• Create a password for family or trusted adults to use when picking your child up from school or in the home when you are not there.
• Make sure children always have access to parent contact information and know what to do in an emergency; laminated cards are a great idea for younger children.
• Keep doors locked at all times.
• Never answer the door to a stranger, even one who is in uniform; refrain from allowing familiar adults into the home when alone and when they’re not expected.
• Avoid answering unnecessary phone calls and never tell callers they are home alone. Children should say their parent can’t come to the phone right now and take a message.
Adults and children also can make this school year a safe one by using SAFE-CALL, the nation’s first statewide school safety hotline. Citizens can make anonymous calls to the toll-free line 24 hours a day, 365 days each year to report any potential dangers to students or unsafe conditions at schools. The hotline is 1 (877) SAFE-CALL, extension OK1 (or 1-877-723-3225, ext. 651).
Let’s help make this year a safe and happy one for boys and girls!
Sandy Garrett’s Column
Schools’ summer breaks seem to be flying by and, with the flip of the calendar, August is here!
Over the next few weeks, Oklahoma schools will be back in session for the 2009-10 school year. For many families, it is time to get supplies such as pencils, paper, book bags and clothes, but helping a child get ready for the big day is much more.
A successful and happy start to the school year can result from following a few tips:
§ A week or more before the first day of school, set wake up and
bed times. This will help everyone adjust to time changes early.
Also, eating meals at a regular time will help boys and girls be
ready for a set lunch break during the week.
§ Visit the school before classes start. This gives children and
parents a chance to become familiar with the buildings and
classrooms and meet teachers and staff. Parents can ensure
records such as medical examinations, addresses and contact
numbers are up-to-date. While you are there, take a little time
to learn about resources available such as email, Web sites and
student manuals.
§ Communicate with your child’s teacher about his or her
expectations for the coming year. Talk with children about what
you expect and, in return, ask them what they want to achieve.
§ An upbeat, positive attitude about school will help get the year
off to a great start. Some children may be anxious about a new
class or unhappy about summer coming to an end. Take this time to
emphasize the positives like seeing old friends and making new
ones, getting new supplies or clothes and learning new skills.
§ Set a home study break. Turn off the TV and video games and set
aside time during the week for the entire family to spend time
reading a book or practicing other learning activities. Then,
when school resumes, that time can then be used for homework and
projects.
§ Get involved with the school. Ask about volunteer opportunities
that might be available for parents throughout the year in
classrooms, field trips and extracurricular activities. In
addition, your school may have parent groups or parent education
classes or events.
This time of year is exciting for the entire family and may include many changes, whether it’s a new building, teacher or classmates. The transition can be less about the end of summer vacation and more about starting a brand new school year off on the right foot!
For more information about the 2009-10 school year, see the State Department of Education’s “Back to School” Web page.
Sandy Garrett’s Column
Little boxes on the hillside,
Little boxes made of ticky-tacky,
Little boxes, little boxes,
Little boxes, all the same.
– “Little Boxes,” by Malvina Reynolds, © 1962
Many will remember the song “Little Boxes,” a social commentary on the cookie-cutter pursuit of the American dream that became popular in the 1960s. “Little Boxes” is now the theme song to a popular cable television series. It came to mind recently when preparing for my annual “State of Education Address” this summer.
Most are familiar with the typical school “box”—with four walls, a chalkboard and a teacher at the front. Each was the same, regardless of grade or school. Nothing else in the world is the same now as it was then.
To harness the power of our present and the opportunities of our future, we must look beyond that box. So, when school leaders gathered for our annual Leadership Conference July 15, I told them about the “perfect storm” that is brewing. This is the global, national, state and local forces impacting Oklahoma schools and their ability to successfully educate every child.
These forces are:
· The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression.
· The concern that not all in the workforce today have the skills needed
to be successful.
· The ongoing demographic changes resulting in more Oklahoma children
living in poverty, and more students who are homeless.
This converging of forces into a perfect storm makes it imperative that schools focus on the future and be willing to change quickly. It’s time to transform schools to better prepare every student to compete in the global economy now and to adapt to the job market of their future.
The president has offered a crisis plan to help chart a course through the storm. His recent initiatives include:
1. Promoting innovation and excellence in schools. In Oklahoma this can
mean increasing the quality and quantity of learning time; adding to the number of places for learning from which parents can choose (traditional public or private, charter schools, online, etc.), and engaging students with the tools of technology they will use in the workplace.
2. Encouraging higher academic standards and better assessments by
continuing to raise the bar on tests and advocating for common standards among states.
3. Recruiting and rewarding teachers in ways that help retain the current
teaching force and assist new teachers in being effective with students at that particular school.
4. Developing partnerships with CareerTechs and colleges, and continuing
our work aligning postsecondary standards with Pre-K through 12th grade.
5. Ongoing efforts to improve the quality of early learning programs –
even in Oklahoma where our Pre-Kindergarten programs are considered the national model.
Urgency is needed locally to rethink Oklahoma’s outdated school calendar, embrace new technologies, and tailor teaching to each child’s educational needs with a goal of 100 percent of students graduating from high school.
Schools can break free of the “little box” mentality of the past, and
focus our schools on the future. Because every child deserves a bright
future, I urged school leaders to do whatever it takes to “leave no future behind.”
Read to a child – the benefits last a lifetime!
Making music
Despite playing the clarinet during my years in school, I never knew what went into keeping an instrument in playing condition, but I recently got a little lesson from some Oklahoma City band directors.
The band directors are working this summer to repair and catalog all of the more than 2,000 band instruments in the district’s middle and high schools. Chris Lehew, assistant band director at Northwest Classen, was kind enough to let me tinker with a clarinet when I visited one of their repair sessions. He showed me how to cut and glue down the cork on the joints of the clarinet and then sand it so that the instrument’s pieces fit snugly together. I tried my hand at a little sanding and felt a little sentimental for my clarinet-playing days.
Lehew and other band members replaced pads, fixed bent keys and replaced screws on instruments that day. They said they hope that their efforts will make for sweeter music after school starts.
- Staff Writer Dawn Marks
Sandy Garrett’s Column
Learning is no longer confined to four walls and a chalkboard. In today’s classrooms, laptops, PDAs and other technologies have broken down the walls for teachers and students; literally bringing the world to their classrooms.
Technology is making a positive difference in schools and revolutionizing the way educators teach and children learn. Just this week the U.S.
Department of Education released a study indicating online education
Today, 98 percent of Oklahoma school districts use computers for curriculum, assessment and administration. In the last eight years, the number of computer in schools has more than doubled.
This is impressive considering the funding for hardware, software, and connectivity has come primarily through local bond issues and federal funds, grants or Education Rate (E-rate) discounts.
According to the State Department of Education’s annual “School Technology Survey” released at the regular June State Board of Education meeting, in Oklahoma:
— along with traditional face-to-face teaching — is an effective strategy for 21st century education. •
school year;
Schools spent more than $105 million on technology during the 2007-2008•
One-third use interactive whiteboards and PDAs;•
50 percent of schools subscribe to digital streaming;•
In addition, several districts are pursuing goals with 1:1 learning, which provides students with their own laptop computers to use each day.
A growing number of schools are also issuing iPods to students to enhance learning.
One innovative district that is integrating multiple digital technologies into classrooms is Howe Public Schools in LeFlore County. Under the direction of Superintendent Scott Parks, broadcast journalism students have created distance learning virtual field trips that enable other students to experience historical locations without leaving their classroom. Students broadcast a weekly news podcast and teachers are able to post homework and lessons online through computer programs.
Oklahoma’s core curriculum for Grades Pre-K through 12, the Priority Academic Student Skills (PASS), has standards that define basic skills of technology, including learning the operation of a computer, problem solving and telecommunications skills, and ethical and legal issues related to students using technology.
Our ever-growing global society makes the world available to every desktop. As such, the integration of digital tools into classrooms is a must for students to have the knowledge and skills needed to be competitive and successful as adults.
62 percent employ student blogs and 32 percent use instant messaging.
Educare Opens
I had the chance to visit the Oklahoma City Educare site on its first day Monday. It looks like such a fun place for children. Organizers say the center will provide high quality child care where lower-income children can learn and receive services they need. Throughout the building, I found touches especially for children like spinning wood blocks on the walls for when they stand in line and on the playground recycled tanks made into drums. Children practice family-style eating in their rooms with their teachers. When it’s lunch time, children learn to serve themselves, eat and talk with each other and then clean up and brush their teeth. Many organizations and people throughout Oklahoma City worked to raise the $9.3 million to build and equip the building at 500 SE Grand. Now they’re raising money for an endowment and organizations also have committed to give annually to the $3 million operating budget. Here are some pictures from the first day.
Sandy Garrett’s Column
From Will Rogers and Marjorie Tallchief to Carrie Underwood and Kristen Chenoweth, many famous artists have called Oklahoma home.
Oklahoma’s talent is home grown and our classrooms are full of budding young artists waiting to shine in the spotlight of success.
Talented students in the fields of acting, creative writing, ballet, modern dance, orchestra, chorus, photography, drawing/painting, and film/video attend the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain near Lone Grove each summer.
An intensive, two-week residential program gives young Oklahomans the opportunity to study with nationally renowned artists including winners of the Pulitzer Prize and of the Academy, Emmy, Grammy and Tony Awards.
One of the first students to attend the Summer Institute is also one of its most famous alumni, Megan Mullally, known for her recent starring role in the award winning TV show, Will & Grace.
Participants aged 14-18, and a few graduating seniors aged 19, are selected through competitive, statewide auditions. Nearly 1,300 students applied this year, and 268 were accepted. Each receives a full scholarship to the institute worth more than $2,000.
Scholarships are provided by the State Department of Education with funding from the Legislature and matched by private donations secured by the Oklahoma Arts Institute—headed by a dynamic president, Julie Cohen.The summer institute also receives support from the Oklahoma Arts Council.
These scholarships are an important way to support student artists who have high ambitions.
At the 19th annual State Superintendent’s Awards for Arts Excellence, I had the privilege of honoring recent high school seniors who attended the summer institute.
We honored 109 talented high school seniors from 40 Oklahoma communities in a ceremony at the Scottish Rite Temple in Guthrie. We also recognized school leaders and fine arts teachers.
The State Department of Education, along with the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma and the Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education
—an affiliate of the Kennedy Center Alliance for Arts Education Network, are sponsors of the event.Every year I am inspired by the creativity, passion and talent of the young artists we have in our classrooms. They give me hope for the future, but make me wonder what would happen if there were no arts programs in our schools.
It would be difficult for many of these young people to find creative outlets and to realize the academic benefits. Thankfully, the arts are a key component of Oklahoma’s core curriculum, the Priority Academic Student Skills.
Students of all ages and backgrounds benefit from exposure to the arts. A direct connection between arts participation, higher test scores and student success has been well documented. This has been especially evident in the studies of SAT scores.
We believe the arts are an integral part of a well-rounded education and I urge you to support youth arts in your community!
For information about the State Superintendent’s Awards for Arts Excellence, visit the SDE’s Web site
www.sde.state.ok.us. For details concerning the Summer Arts Institute, visit the Oklahoma Arts Institute’s Web site www.oaiquartz.org or call (405) 321-9000.
Lunch Program Continues through July 29
Oklahoma City children can still get school lunch most of this month although school is out. The district is paricipating in the free summer meal program and several sites are offering lunch and breakfast. The program will continue through July 24 at all participating schools, and until July 29 at some schools. Breakfast is from 7:30 to 8:30 a.m. and lunch will be from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. For more information, call 587-1032.
Sites are:
› Britton Elementary School, 1215 NW 95
› Columbus Enterprise, 2402 N Pennsylvania Ave.
› Hawthorne Elementary School, 2300 NW 15
› Hayes Elementary School, 6900 S Byers
› Hillcrest Elementary School, 6421 S Miller
› Heronville Elementary School, 1240 SW 29
› Lee Elementary School, 424 SW 29
› Madison Elementary School, 3117 N Independence
› Martin Luther King Elementary School, 1201 NE 48
› Prairie Queen Elementary School, 6609 S Blackwelder
› Rockwood Elementary School, 3101 SW 24
› Telstar Elementary School, 9521 NE 16
› Wheeler Elementary School, 501 SE 25
› Capital Hill High School, 500 SW 36
› Douglass High School, 900 Martin Luther King Ave.
› Northwest Classen High School, 2801 NW 27
› Star Spencer High School, 3001 N Spencer Road
› U.S. Grant High School, 5016 S Pennsylvania Ave.
Sites open until July 29:
› Rancho Village Elementary School, 1401 Johnston Drive
› Ridgeview Elementary School, 10010 Ridgeview Drive
› John Marshall High School, 12201 N Portland Ave.
› Southeast High School, 5401 Shields
Sandy Garrett’s Column
Summer break is in full swing and students likely have indulged in sleeping in and spending hours playing with friends.
That is wonderful. Summer vacations should be full of fun. However, they don’t have to mean a break from learning. In fact, they shouldn’t mean a break from learning.
Countless studies continue to show that children experience learning loss during the summer months, particularly students in low-income homes.
On average, all students lose about two months in math skills over the summer months. While upper and middle income students gain in reading skills during this time, lower income students experience a loss according to a study by Dr. Harris Cooper, professor of psychology at the University of Missouri-Columbia.
A recent report from the Nellie Mae Education Foundation, “The Learning
Season: The Untapped Power of Summer to Advance Student Achievement” shows that nonacademic experiences during the summer can support success during the school year, including higher grades and test scores.
Families can prevent a “summer brain drain” and help children enrich their learning skills during the summer by heeding a few low-cost suggestions adapted from the Center for Summer Learning:
•
Take family educational trips. These can be visits to parks, historicalor children’s museums, zoos and nature centers.
•
Practice math daily by measuring items around the house or yard.Children can add and subtract items at the grocery store and cooking (with adult supervision) is a good way to learn fractions.
•
Do good deeds together. Children learn better and “act out” less whenthey engage in activities that aid in their social emotional development, such as community service, maybe planting trees or cleaning up a park.
•
Enroll children in summer programs offered by local schools, recreationcenters, universities or community-based organizations.
•
Keep a schedule. Continuing daily routines will provide structure andlimits. This will provide a balance and keep young minds engaged.
•
Get outside and play. Intense physical activity and exercise contributeto healthy development and release pent up energy.
Also, providing plenty of reading material in the home and finding quality educational activities online are helpful to preventing summer brain drain.
Whatever you have planned, don’t forget to make the most out of the time you have together as a family. Here’s to plenty of fun and learning this summer!
