'Capacity review’ of State Department of
Education aims
To improve meeting needs of Oklahoma students
OKLAHOMA CITY (Feb. 10, 2015) — As part of a comprehensive effort by
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister to strengthen the
work and mission of the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE), education
management experts are in Oklahoma City today and tomorrow for a “capacity
review” of the agency.
The review is part of a
process that began in November. At that time, then-Superintendent-elect
Hofmeister distributed a survey statewide seeking feedback on the agency. That
survey elicited more than 10,300 respondents, the majority of which were from teachers.
A four-person review
team from U.S. Education Delivery Institute (EDI) is facilitating focus groups of
OSDE leadership and staff, as well as a wide range of public- and
private-sector stakeholders in Oklahoma’s public education system. Preliminary
findings of the study will be presented Wednesday to the superintendent’s
transition team.
“The capacity review is
an important step forward in closing existing gaps to meet the educational
needs of Oklahoma students,” said Hofmeister. “I am grateful for the
perspective and feedback of so many Oklahoma stakeholder groups assisting us in
this review.”
EDI has conducted
similar reviews for education departments in several states, including
Colorado, Iowa, Kentucky, Massachusetts, Michigan, Tennessee and Texas.
The review includes representatives
from various stakeholder groups, including:
- American
Federation of Teachers,
- CCOSA
(Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration),
- Governor’s
Council for Workforce and Economic Development,
- Greater
Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce,
- Inasmuch
Foundation,
- Kaiser
Family Foundation,
- Office of
Educational Quality and Accountability,
- Oklahoma
Association of Elementary School Principals & Oklahoma Middle Level
Educators Association,
- Oklahoma
Association of School Business Officials,
- Oklahoma
Business and Education Coalition,
- Oklahoma
Central PLAC (Parent Legislative Action Committee),
- Oklahoma
Charter Schools Association,
- Oklahoma
Department of Career and Technology Education,
- Oklahoma
Directors of Special Services,
- Oklahoma
Education Association,
- Oklahoma
Partnership for School Readiness / Smart Start,
- Oklahoma PTA,
- Oklahoma
State Regents for Higher Education,
- Oklahoma
State School Boards Association,
- Oklahoma
Teachers’ Retirement System,
- OK
Parents/Educators for Public Education,
- Organization
of Rural Elementary Schools,
- Organization
of Rural Oklahoma Schools,
- Potts Family
Foundation,
- Professional
Oklahoma Educators,
- Regional
University System of Oklahoma,
- ROPE
(Restore Oklahoma Public Education),
- Sand Springs
Parent Action and Advocacy Team,
- Stand for
Children,
- State
Chamber of Oklahoma,
- Statewide
Virtual Charter School Board,
- Tulsa
Classroom Teachers Association,
- Tulsa
Community Action Project,
- Tulsa
Regional Chamber of Commerce,
- United
Suburban Schools Association, and
- VOICE
(Voices Organized in civic engagement).
EDI’s review is a free
service to member states of the Council of Chief State School Officers.
Photo of focus group available upon request.
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