Fewer schools are getting A’s and more are getting F's in the third round of Oklahoma’s A-F school report cards, released Wednesday.
According to the 2014 report:
- 289 schools got an overall grade of A, down 22.5 percent from 2013
- 473 got a B, down 5.5 percent
- 504 got a C, up 6.3 percent
- 299 got a D, up 12 percent
- 200 got an F, up 18.5 percent
- 30 did not get a grade this year, down from 31 last year.
The letter grades are based on student results on spring 2014 end-of-instruction tests in reading, English, writing, math, algebra, geometry, science, biology and U.S. history. This is the third year that letter grades have been issued.
State Schools Superintendent Janet Barresi said the results show Oklahoma is still failing students by watering down education reform initiatives, such as dropping Common Core academic standards and easing retention requirements of the state’s third-grade reading test.
"These grades do not tell the entire story of a school, nor are they intended to," Barresi said in a written statement. "But they do provide an important and concise look at how a school is performing in terms of academic achievement."
But shortly after the state Board of Education voted to release the grades Wednesday, social media also lit up with critics saying the report cards were useless for measuring performance.
Alex Public Schools Superintendent Jason James said in an interview that dropping results from the fifth- and eighth-grade writing assessment highlights the problem of relying on test scores to create a grading system.
The writing results were not used after vendor CTB/McGraw-Hill gave many students the same grade across the board.
“It just goes to show the State Department of Education realizes that using tests is a flawed metric,” he said. “They just don’t want to give it up totally.”
Here are some excerpts of statements issued Wednesday about the grades:
Gov. Mary Fallin
"The A-F grading system is designed to empower parents by providing them with an easily understood measurement of how a school is performing. This year’s grades demonstrate that Oklahoma has hundreds of 'A' schools and many pockets of excellence. It also continues to show – as we have known for years – that there are many schools that are struggling. The superintendents and teachers of schools receiving a D or an F must remember: a bad grade is not a punishment; it is a call to action."
Full statement.
Joe Dorman, Democratic candidate for governor
"These school grades are meaningless and a completely inaccurate measure of Oklahoma's schools and educators. A study by OU & OSU last year said the grading system was seriously flawed, and yet Mary Fallin continues to support her failed policy."
Full statement.
Superintendent Janet Barresi
“The A-F report cards are vital to ensuring accountability. Parents and communities must know what schools are excelling and what schools need additional help. In so doing, Oklahoma educators and schools can build on successes and focus on particular challenges.”
Full statement.
Alicia Priest, Oklahoma Education Association vice president
"Teachers and administrators are not surprised by the A-F grades released today. The report card did what it was intended to do: label students and teachers without providing additional funding, resources or support to help schools improve teaching and learning. To paraphrase the old saying, 'The bullying will continue until morale improves. We're ready for elected officials to stop grandstanding and do something that helps public education, like restore the $200 million in funding we've lost since 2008 while gaining 40,000 students."
Full statement.
