OKLAHOMA CITY (March 14, 2012) – The State Department of Education will hold a public forum on March 19 to hear comments on draft rules and a rule intent statement for the A-F School Grading System along with several other administrative rules, including proposed changes to the Bullying Prevention Act and a proposed draft of Oklahoma C3 Standards for Social Studies.

The public forum will begin at 10 a.m. in the State Board of Education room at the State Department of Education, 2500 N Lincoln Blvd.

The proposed rules have been posted on the State Department of Education’s website, http://ok.gov/sde/education-law-book. The rules are open for a public comment period through 4 p.m. March 19. 

The State Board of Education will vote on the rules at its regular monthly meeting March 29.

A-F was one of several reforms passed by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Mary Fallin last year.

The A-F School Grading System will use assessment results from the 2011-12 school year in determining a ranking that is designed to encourage parent and community engagement and better understanding of school performance in a manner transparent to school leaders and easily communicated to the public, State Superintendent of Public Instruction Janet Barresi said. In addition to test scores, a school’s grade will include student learning gains, improvement of the lowest 25 percent of students in reading and math, and whole school improvement among other factors. 

Send written comments on A-F or other draft rules submissions to the State Board of Education Office, 2500 N. Lincoln Blvd., Oklahoma City, OK 73105-4599, or rules@sde.ok.gov.