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Contents:
The Office of Alternative Education will host five spring regional meetings in February. Topics of conversation will include strategies related to attendance and student engagement as they relate to at-risk students. Answers to FAQs will also be shared.
Please bring with you any strategies that work in your program, resources you rely on for student success and any questions you may have.
Southeast Regional Meeting
February 27, 9 a.m.-noon
Kiamichi Technology Center
301 Kiamichi Dr., McAlester
Register here
Southwest Regional Meeting
February 28, 9 a.m.-noon
Canadian Valley Technology Center
1401 W. Michigan Ave., Chickasha
Register here
If you have questions, contact Jennifer Wilkinson, Director of Alternative Education, at jennifer.wilkinson@sde.ok.gov.
Hunger does not stop when school is out.
Together we can ensure that children of Oklahoma get the nutritious meals they need this summer through SFSP or Seamless Summer Option (SSO) under the National School Lunch Program (NSLP).
Schools are ideal Summer Food Service Program sponsors.
There are children 18 years old and under in every county in Oklahoma who need food for the summer months, but several counties do not offer a Summer Feeding Program.
Increasing the number of schools participating as sponsors in the SFSP or SSO will help move toward the goal of having at least one summer feeding program in every county. Please consider sponsoring a site for SFSP this summer.
To have a successful 2019 Summer Food Service Program, contact the Office of Child Nutrition at (405) 522-4943 for assistance in becoming a sponsor.
Required Training
Once it is determined that a school or organization qualifies to become a sponsor, a representative must attend an SFSP training. Available training dates are listed below. All trainings will be held 8:30 a.m.-4 p.m.
Oklahoma City Trainings
Location: Oklahoma State Dept. of Education
Thursday, February 28
Wednesday, March 6
Friday, March 8
Wednesday, March 13
Thursday, March 14
Tuesday, March 19
Thursday, March 21
Register for a training here.
Sponsors who have participated in the SFSP the last two years are eligible for SFSP training online. The training will require a participant to take a test with a passing score of 80 percent.
If you have questions, contact Dee Houston, SFSP Coordinator, at dee.houston@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-4943.
The Office of School Safety & Security would like to remind districts that severe storm season is quickly approaching. Best practices in maintenance and preparation for your sheltering areas can prevent unwanted surprises in times of necessity. Please inspect all shelter doors for proper function and alignment. If they do not close and secure as intended, in most cases, simply cleaning and lubricating your hardware will help mitigate issues in the future. Ensure that your shelter areas are clean, usable and functioning.
Thank you for all of your efforts in protecting our state’s most precious resource.
If you have questions, contact Jon Parker, Executive Director of School Safety & Security, at jon.parker@sde.ok.gov or (405) 521-6387.
The Advanced Placement (AP) Summer Institute, scheduled for June 24-27 at the University of Oklahoma, is for new and experienced AP teachers. Teachers will conclude their institute experience with renewed enthusiasm and be equipped with new ideas and resource materials to use in their AP classrooms in the fall. Again this year, OSDE will cover the tuition cost of the summer institute for any Oklahoma public school teacher.
View OU’s summer institute web page for more details and to register.
Out-of-State Tuition Scholarships for AP Summer Institutes
For the summer of 2019, OSDE is expanding the opportunity for Oklahoma teachers to attend out-of-state AP summer institutes. Reimbursement is contingent upon all three of the following factors:
- Capacity has been reached in courses offered at OU’s summer institute
- AP summer institute workshop availability is found out-of-state
- Availability of funds
More information is available on the AP Professional Development web page.
If you have questions, contact Robbyn Glinsmann, Director of Gifted and Talented & AP, at robbyn.glinsmann@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-3522.
OSDE, the Oklahoma Alliance for Arts Education and the Masonic Fraternity of Oklahoma invite all juniors and seniors who have excelled in the disciplines of band, choral music, dance, orchestra, piano, theater or visual art to apply for the State Superintendent’s Award for Arts Excellence, the premier accolade that honors students who demonstrate mastery of the arts. Furthermore, the award can serve as the crown jewel on any scholarship or college admission application.
The State Superintendent’s Award for Arts Excellence is also open to notable teachers, administrators and school boards for their passion and support of the fine arts in Oklahoma schools.
Administrators are encouraged to apply for the honor and nominate students, teachers and school boards.
All students, teachers and administrators selected to receive this distinguished award will be showcased, celebrated and medaled by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister at a ceremony on April 23 in Guthrie.
Download the administrator, school board and educator application.
Download the student application.
All applications must be completed and postmarked by March 1. View more information on the Fine Arts web page.
If you have questions, contact Elizabeth Maughan, Director of Fine Arts, at elizabeth.maughan@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522- 0863.
Nominate a deserving secondary mathematics or science teacher within your district to win $10,000.
Anyone – including principals, teachers, parents, students, business leaders or members of the general public – may nominate exceptional mathematics or science teachers who are currently teaching grades 7-12 for the 2018-19 award year.
Teachers may also apply directly on the PAEMST website.
Nomination Deadline: March 1, 2019
Application Deadline: May 1, 2019
The Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching (PAEMST) is the highest honor bestowed by the United States government specifically for K-12 mathematics and science teaching.
The award recognizes teachers who have both deep content knowledge of the subjects they teach and the ability to motivate and enable students to be successful in those areas. Since the program’s inception, more than 4,800 teachers have been recognized for their contributions in the classroom and to their profession.
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Join OSDE staff and gifted educators from across the state for a webinar aimed at improving your gifted program.
Webinar: How to Revise Your District Gifted Education Plan
Tuesday, March 5, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
When was the last time your district's gifted education plan was revised? Come hear from other district leaders in Oklahoma who have successfully updated their plans and learn best practices, including how to include your Local Action Committee, getting feedback from vital stakeholders and creating a robust plan that enriches the curriculum while creating high expectations.
Register here.
If you have questions, contact Robbyn Glinsmann, Director of Gifted and Talented & AP, at robbyn.glinsmann@sde.ok.gov at (405) 522-3522.
Alternative Education webinars for the 2018-19 school year are listed below. These topics were scheduled based on the results of a Google survey sent out to alternative education programs last spring.
Register using the links below or on the Alternative Education webinar page, which also features archived webinars if you miss your scheduled webinar time.
Upcoming Webinars:
School Connections to Chronic Absenteeism
March 6, 1 p.m.
Facilitator: Elizabeth Suddath, OSDE
*CEU approved
Register here
What You Need to Know About Oklahoma Standards & Curriculum
April 17, 1 p.m.
Facilitator: Tiffany Neill, OSDE
Register here
Input and suggestions regarding webinar topics are always welcome. If you have a topic idea, contact Jennifer Wilkinson, Director of Alternative Education, at jennifer.wilkinson@sde.ok.gov.
Download the new School Employee Wellness Guide for practical tools and information related to implementing wellness programs for employees. School employee wellness programs are designed to increase recruitment, retention and productivity of staff by focusing on improving the health and quality of life of employees. This guide focuses on one of the ten components of the Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model.
View a quick overview video of the guide and learn how to share this information with staff here.
As a part of this initiative, OSDE will also be partnering with Thrive, the Oklahoma State Employee Wellness Program, to release a series of webinars that focus on the wellness of school employees. Webinars will be posted online.
Register for a webinar below.
Fuel + Fitness
March 7, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
There is so much information available about nutrition and exercise, it can be difficult to determine what is best to eat and what exercise regimen to follow. This presentation will give you a brief overview of nutrition and fitness concepts so you can be more informed about what is the best fuel and fitness for you.
Register here.
The Importance of Managing Stress
April 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
You will learn what causes stress, how it affects our physical and emotional well-being and how to recognize signs and symptoms. Attendees will learn and practice effective techniques that can help to manage, improve and control the stress they face, whether at work or home.
Register here.
Maintain a Healthy Brain by Simple Lifestyle Choice
May 8, 3:30-4:30 p.m.
Focus on healthy brain function by learning how to move, which foods affect brain health and how mindfulness can maintain and improve learning and cognition. You will learn that no matter how old you get, you can still generate new brain cells.
Register here.
If you have questions, contact Savannah Owen, Director of Health and Physical Education, at savannah.owen@sde.ok.gov or (405) 522-1576.
LETRS (Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling) is a comprehensive professional development that responds to the growing need for high-quality support for literacy educators. More than any other professional development curriculum, LETRS prepares educators for the challenging work of teaching literacy.
OSDE is offering a free opportunity for early childhood educators and principals to attend LETRS training. To maintain the integrity of the LETRS training, participants are asked to commit to all days of the training. Previous LETRS experience is not required. All materials will be provided.
Module 8 Training
Module 8 focuses on screening, diagnosing and monitoring the instructional needs of students in grades K-3. The purpose of these activities is early identification and intervention to minimize reading failure at these early levels. Case studies are used to practice interpretation of assessment data to determine student needs.
March 11-12, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: Central Technology Center, Drumright
Register here.
March 13-14, 8:30 a.m.-3 p.m.
Location: Metro Technology Center, Oklahoma City
Register here.
If you have questions, contact Melissa Ahlgrim, Director of Reading Sufficiency, at melissa.ahlgrim@sde.ok.gov.
Oklahoma Honor Society promotes high standards of scholarship among Oklahoma students. Districts can nominate the 10 percent of its student body making the highest average marks for the honor. If you have a tie, it is important to have a policy in place to determine a tie-breaker.
Nomination forms for Oklahoma Middle, Junior High or High School Honor Society are due March 15. Any applications received after this date will not be processed.
Download the Junior High/Middle School Honor Society nomination form here.
Download the High School Honor Society nomination form here.
Download the Perfect Attendance form here.
Thank you for continuing to recognize the academic excellence of your students.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Accreditation at (405) 521-3335.
A new proposed OSDE administrative rule is now open for public comment. A copy of the proposed rule and Rule Impact Statement are available on the OSDE Administrative Rules web page.
The rule change now open for comment is:
210:10-1-22. Guidelines for nontraditional public schools [NEW]. The proposed rule addresses guidelines for conversion schools and partnership schools, two types of public school entities authorized by statute, which differ from both traditional public schools and charter schools. For conversion schools, the rule clarifies the statutory requirements for “conversion plans” by stating the elements of the plan in clear language, as the authorizing statute uses citations and cross-referencing rather than simply stating the required features. For both conversion schools and partnership schools, the rule provides that nontraditional public school sites are subject to the same accreditation standards as charter schools.
Written comments on the proposed rule changes will be accepted until 4:30 p.m. Monday, March 18. Comments may be submitted via email to rules@sde.ok.gov during the open public comment period. If you wish to submit an oral comment, you must attend the public hearing on these rules. The public hearing is scheduled for 2 p.m. Monday, March 18, at the Hodge Education Building, State Board Room (Room 120), 2500 North Lincoln Boulevard, Oklahoma City.
If you would like to be notified by direct email when proposed OSDE rules open for comment, please send a request to rules@sde.ok.gov to be added to the notification list.
The Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) Immunization Service has submitted proposed updates to the rules for school immunization requirements. The proposal removes guidance within the rules that specifies the number of doses, minimum ages and appropriate intervals for required vaccines and replaces it with general guidance stating adherence to the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recommendations for only those immunizations that are required for Oklahoma schools and child centers. There are no new vaccines required.
The primary change that schools can anticipate under the proposed rules is a requirement for a second varicella vaccine and a dose of polio vaccine on or after the fourth birthday. This proposed update will simplify requirements for schools by aligning the school schedule with the ACIP schedule and alleviating the need to update the Oklahoma state rules each time ACIP makes a new recommendation.
School nurses and administrators responsible for determining immunization compliance will be most impacted by the change.
Review the potential changes and submit comments here.
If you have questions, contact Kellie Clark at kelliec@health.ok.gov or (405) 271-4073, ext. 46166.
The deadline is fast approaching to submit your district’s independent audit for the 2017-2018 school year. The total amount of federal expenditures determines the type and submission deadline for each district’s audit. This information can be located on the district’s Federal Determination Letter, which can be found here.
If a district had federal expenditures totaling more than $750,000 during a fiscal year, the district is required to submit a single (program-specific) audit to the State Department of Education no later than March 28. Any district not meeting the March 28 deadline in accordance with Uniform Administrative Requirement 2 C.F.R Part 200.338 will have all federal award payments withheld until the audit is received.
If a district had federal expenditures totaling less than $750,000 during a fiscal year, it is required to submit a financial and compliance audit to the State Department of Education no later than April 30. Any district not meeting the April 30 deadline in accordance with 70 O. S. § 22-112 will have State Aid payments withheld until the audit is received.
Audits may be submitted by email to katherine.black@sde.ok.gov or by mail to:
Oklahoma State Department of Education
Attn: Financial Accounting-Audits
2500 N. Lincoln Boulevard, Suite 420
Oklahoma City, OK 73105
If you have questions, call (405) 521-3197 or (405) 521-2517.
Four Star Leadership with General Tommy Franks is a world-class leadership program developed as a partnership between the General Tommy Franks Leadership Institute and Museum and Oklahoma Christian University. Four Star Leadership offers 70 top high school students invaluable leadership experience through an exciting and challenging curriculum at no cost to students.
Students will be challenged with practical leadership and ethical scenarios and then asked to address them individually in a persuasive speech and writing competition as well as collaboratively in an Ethics Bowl competition. The program includes team-building exercises, spontaneous problem solving and coaching in persuasive speaking and writing. Accepted students will have the opportunity to win over $30,000 in scholarships.
Nominate a student here. Nominations are due April 15.
If you have questions, contact D’Lese Travis at dlese@tommyfranksmuseum.org.
The 2017-18 Civil Rights Data Collection (CRDC) is open through April 24. For the 2017-18 data collection, OSDE has submitted partial data for all districts (see matrix below). Each district can choose to use either the data submitted by OSDE or overlay it with their own submissions.
To view the data OSDE will provide, review the CRDC Data Element List here.
Note: Changes have been made to the matrix, which was last sent out on December 18. Any changes have been noted in column Q.
Please send any questions to Lakisha Simon and/or Dawn Williams at CRDC@sde.ok.gov.
Under the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Act, state educational agencies must ensure that homeless children and youth have access to the same free, appropriate public education as provided to other students.
In an effort to increase the success of homeless children and youth in school, the Office of Federal Programs is making available the Title IX, Part A funds appropriated by the Congress for FY20.
Download the McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Competitive Grant Application Packet.
Applications are due to OSDE’s Office of Federal Programs by Friday, April 26 at 4:30 p.m. Districts that have identified 20 or more homeless children and youth are encouraged to apply.
Upcoming Application Training Webinar
Webinar: McKinney-Vento Homeless Education Assistance Grant Application Training
February 28, 1-2 p.m.
Register here.
If you have questions, contact Tammy Smith at (405) 522-3260.
The Consortium for School Networking (CoSN) and the Oklahoma Council of Educational Technology Leaders will host a Chief Technology Officer (CTO) clinic on April 26.
This free, one-day clinic is a high-level executive event that will bring together senior district level technology decision makers, superintendents, associate superintendents, business officers and educational technologists for industry standard solutions focused on data privacy. Sessions at the CTO Clinic will include in-depth presentations and discussions on a wide range of topics of interest and relevance to technology leaders.
This is a free event, but pre-registration is required. Continental breakfast and lunch will be provided.
Date: April 26
Time: 8 a.m.-4:30 p.m.
Location: Moore Norman Technology Center (Penn Campus)
Register here.
The FY20 Small, Rural School Achievement (SRSA) grant application is now open on grants.gov.
Access the application package here.
SRSA-eligible local education agencies (LEAs) have until April 26, at 10:59 p.m., to submit an SRSA application.
Applicants must complete the following pre-application actions in order to complete and submit a FY 20 SRSA application on grants.gov:
- Check Column K on the FY20 REAP Eligibility Spreadsheet, indicating your LEA’s SRSA eligibility status. Only those LEAs listed as eligible can receive a FY20 SRSA grant award.
- Make sure you accurately record your LEA’s NCES ID number from Column A on the spreadsheet. You will need this number to complete the SRSA application on grants.gov.
- Confirm that your LEA’s DUNS number is active and registered on SAM.gov.
- Register as an Organized Applicant on grants.gov.
- Create a workspace profile in grants.gov for your SRSA application.
FY20 SRSA Application Walk-Through Webinars
March 6, 2-3 p.m.
Register here.
March 21, 2-3 p.m.
Register here.
April 10, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
Register here.
If you have questions, contact reap@ed.gov.
The Oklahoma Academic Scholars program recognizes the outstanding academic achievement of graduating seniors. Oklahoma Academic Scholars will be presented a certificate of recognition from the State Board of Education and their local high schools. A gold seal will be affixed to their diplomas and the honor recorded on their official transcripts.
View the complete list of requirements for graduating seniors here.
High school principals and counselors should report the names of qualifying seniors via the Oklahoma Academic Scholars Report on Single Sign-On. Private schools may submit eligible seniors via email to robbyn.glinsmann@sde.ok.gov.
Submissions are due April 30.
Deadline: May 15
School districts may now begin uploading FY19 trial revenue and expenditures to the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS), located in Single Sign-On. Schools can upload trial data until June 30. This is a great opportunity to correct any coding errors.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Financial Accounting at (405) 521-2517.
If you need to request an emergency certification, visit OSDE’s Emergency Certification web page for step-by-step instructions on how to complete the request online.
Please remember that to be considered completed, the district must first make the request, then the applicant must apply for emergency certification. All completed requests must be submitted at least 14 days prior to the upcoming State Board of Education meeting to be considered for the agenda.
If a background check is required, the applicant must have a cleared certification background check on file at the OSDE at least 7 days prior to that month’s State Board of Education meeting to be considered that month.
If these requirements are not met, the application will be treated as a pending request for the next month.
If you have questions, contact the Office of Teacher Certification at (405) 521-3337.
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