'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,
• Cameron University,
• 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,
• Langston University 
• Northeastern State University,
• Office of Educational Quality and Accountability,
• Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals & Oklahoma Middle Level Educators Association,
• Oklahoma Association of School Business Officials,
• Oklahoma Baptist University,
• Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition,
• Oklahoma Central PLAC (Parent Legislative Action Committee),
• Oklahoma Charter Schools Association,
• Oklahoma City University,
• Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education,
• Oklahoma Directors of Special Services,
• Oklahoma Education Association,
• Oklahoma Panhandle State University,
• Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness / Smart Start,
• Oklahoma PTA,
• Oklahoma Public School Resource Center,
• Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
• Oklahoma State School Boards Association,
• Oklahoma State University,
• 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, 
• University of Central Oklahoma, 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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