Schools will receive letter grades Oct. 8

A through F letter grades for all the schools in the state will be announced Oct. 8, a state official said Thursday.

School officials are still making last-minute changes to the data used to come up with the letter grades, said Maridyth McBee, assistant superintendent for accountability and assessment for the Education Department. The deadline is Friday.

“We’re close to the finish line but not quite there,” McBee said during a meeting of the state Board of Education.

There are 1,761 schools sites in the state, and all will receive letter grades according to a state law that took effect this year.

“The grade card is something that is really straightforward and will really empower parents,” State Superintendent Janet Barresi said.

Letter grades will be administered based on a formula that accounts for everything from test scores to attendance.

Schools will also receive letter grades in five subject areas: reading, math, science, social studies and writing. Letter grades will also be given to each district and the state overall, McBee said.

As of Tuesday, 639 data corrections had been requested statewide, McBee said.

The corrections were reported by 315 schools.

Most of the corrections have to do with advance coursework, one of the grading criteria that isn’t automated, McBee said.

District officials had to send in reports, and McBee said state workers are looking at ways to make the process more streamlined next year.

In other business

The board recognized the 2013 Teacher of the Year, Elaine Hutchison. Hutchison teaches math at Fairview High School, Chamberlain Middle School and the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics Regional Center in Fairview. She is also the assistant high school girls basketball coach. Hutchison is a fourth-generation teacher.

The board set meeting dates for 2013: Jan. 31, Feb. 28, March 28, April 25, May 23, June 27, July 25, Aug. 22, Sept. 26, Oct. 24, Nov. 21 and Dec. 19.