Tulsa Public Schools got a gold star Friday from the U.S. Secretary of Education for work to reduce its number of student assessments.
Education Secretary John King praised a TPS study group that halved the number of district tests students must take. King said he's seen districts with as many as four nearly identical reading tests.
"Four reading assessments giving the same information is a distraction from instruction," King said. "Now, it's important to bring principals and teachers together to decide which one is right — and that's what Tulsa's doing — and then to use that information to inform instruction."
Superintendent Deborah Gist said the challenge now is developing curricula not teaching to tests, but teaching subject matter closely enough to standards that extras like practice tests aren’t necessary.
"That's the very best way that students can ever be prepared," Gist said.
TPS estimated the study group’s work frees up 39 hours of teaching time.
When asked, King also had advice for state leaders dealing with a budget crisis.
"Investing in our K–12 system, making sure that all students, regardless of ZIP code, have access to advanced coursework, to art, to music, to school counselors — those are critical investments for the long-term health of any state," King said. "So, I would urge the leaders in Oklahoma and across the country to seriously consider their investment choices."
Education groups have asked lawmakers to finalize Oklahoma’s education budget before the end of April.
