Oklahoma has unveiled its annual A-F report cards, offering a snapshot of the state’s public school performance. However, questions surrounding test scoring changes raise concerns over the accuracy of the claimed progress.
Inflated Test Scores Raise Questions
On December 18, 2024, Oklahoma’s Education Department published the long-awaited A-F report cards, praising the state’s public schools for making strides toward “sustained academic excellence.” While state officials celebrated improvements in student performance, there is a catch: the reported gains appear to stem from changes in testing expectations rather than actual improvements in student achievement.
This year, Oklahoma lowered its proficiency standards for English and math exams, leading to a noticeable jump in the number of students deemed “proficient.” While 43% of students were reported as proficient in English and 32% in math for the 2023-24 school year, these figures reflect a significant increase compared to 26% in both subjects the previous year.
However, internal documents obtained by Oklahoma Voice suggest that if the testing standards had remained the same as the previous year, these numbers would not have seen such an improvement. Essentially, students could have performed worse yet still been classified as proficient due to the lowered expectations. Despite this, Oklahoma’s Education Department has not directly addressed the impact of these adjustments on the report card scores, and spokesperson Dan Isett declined to comment on the changes.
A Mixed Bag of Performance Indicators
While the test scores are a focal point of the report, other indicators offer a more mixed picture. Graduation rates saw modest improvements, with a 1% increase in both four- and five-year high school graduation rates, now standing at 81% and 83%, respectively. Despite the growth, the state still gave itself a D grade in this area.
The performance of English language learners remained largely unchanged from the previous year, with 33% meeting or exceeding growth targets, earning the state a B grade in this category.
Chronic absenteeism also showed a slight improvement. After receiving an F grade last year, the state now reports a D grade, reflecting a 1% improvement in the rate of students missing 10% or more of the school year. Although the improvement is minimal, it’s a sign that efforts to address absenteeism might be starting to bear fruit.
Additionally, Oklahoma made notable strides in postsecondary opportunities. The state’s grade in this area increased from a C to a B, reflecting schools’ efforts to expose students to early college and career opportunities.
What’s Next for Oklahoma Schools?
Despite the rosy portrayal of Oklahoma’s public schools, state leaders are under scrutiny for presenting potentially misleading results. Governor Ryan Walters touted the new report cards as the “most comprehensive and most transparent in the history of the state,” but the changes in testing standards have left many questioning whether this year’s gains are genuinely reflective of academic progress.
Walters also emphasized that his administration is providing “more resources than ever” to help students who may be struggling with reading and math. Whether these resources will lead to sustained improvements, and whether the state will address concerns about the testing adjustments, remains to be seen.
The 2023-24 report cards also showed that 15 additional schools achieved an overall A grade, while the proportion of F-rated schools decreased by 1%. While this might seem like positive progress, the inflated proficiency numbers could skew the real picture of Oklahoma’s educational landscape.
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