Oklahoma Watch sought a record of who entered the Department of Education building and when. The agency refused, citing a security exemption from the Open Records Act meant to thwart terrorists. The comings and goings of public servants isn't exactly the alarm system diagram or the combination to the vault. Anyone sitting in the parking lot can observe who enters the building. Attorney General Gentner Drummond agreed, issuing an opinion that those records are indeed public records. With that settled, it is clearly illegal for the Department of Education to withhold them.

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Books including the Holy Bible are stacked on the table in front of Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters at the Oklahoma Board of Education meeting on June 27, 2024. (Jake Ramsey/Oklahoma Watch) This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox. School [...]

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The attorney general rejected a proposal to extend or renew a contract with the state Board of Education's attorney, laying out three alternatives.

The post First Watch: Stuff You Should Know appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

The rules the House wants extra time to consider include tying school accreditation to test performance, establishing new teacher behavior policies, prohibiting diversity, equity and inclusion programs, mandating a minute of silence every day to allow for voluntary prayer, and changing its relationship with longtime training providers.

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Education message boards attracted scores of comments from educators who signed up for the Praxis test or already took it and were told by someone at the department the Praxis exam may not count for their teacher certification. Those fears were ultimately unfounded.

The post Prospective Teachers Get Clarity After Questions Swirl About Certification Exam appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

November 9, 2023 Proposal Would Eliminate Online-Only Alternative Education A student completes a virtual assignment at home. (Whitney Bryen/Oklahoma Watch) This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox. Jennifer Wilkinson is frantically trying to save Insight School of Oklahoma, the state's only [...]

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A calculation error created a months-long delay in the 2022 school report cards, which still have not been released to the public. 

The post Pandemic Disruption and A Data Error: Why School Report Cards Are So Late appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Here is the fall 2021 enrollment for each Oklahoma school district and charter school as reported to the state Department of Education.

The post Oklahoma Public School Enrollment for 2021-22 appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.

Public school enrollment increased statewide by more than 4,500 students, but has not yet returned to pre pandemic numbers.

The post Oklahoma Public School Enrollment: New Data Shows Where Students Returned appeared first on Oklahoma Watch.