OSDE unveils new, stronger school report card system required by federal, state laws

OKLAHOMA CITY (Dec. 7, 2016) – Responding to new federal and state laws that set requirements for school accountability, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is proposing adoption of a new, stronger and more reliable A-F School Report Card system. The agency’s recommended calculation will be voted on by the State Board of Education at its Dec. 15 meeting before being submitted to the state Legislature and governor for final approval.

The report card calculation  is the result of months of collaboration between OSDE staff and a 95-member task force representing educators, parents, students, higher education, Career Tech, business and community leaders, tribal nations, lawmakers and organizations advocating for students with disabilities and English learners (ELs).

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said the proposal fulfills mandates established by the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced No Child Left Behind, and by House Bill 3218, which Gov. Fallin signed into state law earlier this year.

“This accountability system is the culmination of an intensive and collaborative process that benefited from a diverse array of Oklahoma education stakeholders across the state,” Hofmeister said. “The new report card calculation is valid, reliable and meaningful, and it corrects glaring shortcomings of the previous A-F system. I am grateful for the Assessment and Accountability Task Force members who have dedicated their time, expertise and perspective in helping shape what we believe will help guide school improvement and provide families and communities with important information about their schools.”

A group of assessment and accountability experts worked with the task force to draft the final report of recommendations. The team leader was Marianne Perie, Ph.D., of the University of Kansas’ Achievement & Assessment Institute. Notes and full audio of task force meetings are posted on the OSDE website at sde.ok.gov. 

The new calculation gives equal weight to student performance in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics as well as student growth in these subjects. Other indicators include English language proficiency assessment (ELPA) progress, graduation rate, postsecondary opportunities and chronic absenteeism, which is defined as missing at least 10 percent of the school year.

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The revised report card system is a significant improvement over the state’s prior incarnation.

Copious research has highlighted the link between chronic absenteeism and low academic achievement.

“The relationship between absenteeism and worse outcomes persists among students of all ages,” noted a Brookings Institution report, “Lessons for Broadening School Accountability under the Every Student Succeeds Act,” which was published in October. “As early as kindergarten, school absences lower subsequent achievement levels. Missing school lowers achievement in elementary school and middle school. Chronic absenteeism is also a valuable indicator of whether a student is on track to complete high school.” 

More than 16 percent of Oklahoma high school students were absent at least 15 school days in the 2013-2014 school year. That figure was 9.5 percent for elementary school students and nearly 12 percent for middle school students.

Elementary and middle school report card scores will be factored with a 90-point rubric as follows: 

• ELA performance – 15 pts.
• Math performance – 15 pts.
• Science performance – 5 pts.
• ELA growth – 15 pts.
• Math growth – 15 pts.
• English language proficiency assessment (ELPA) progress – 15 pts.
• Chronic absenteeism – 10 pts.

Scores will be converted to A-F letter grades:

A > 70
B 57-70.00
C 43-56.99
D 30-42.99
F < 30

While high school grading is similar to that of elementary and middle schools, greater emphasis is placed on college and career readiness. Measuring growth is problematic in the short term given that OSDE is recommending an off-the-shelf college-readiness exam for 11th grade, but the OSDE’s final report details how a growth indicator could be added within several years.

The point structure for high schools is:

• ELA performance – 15 pts.
• Math performance – 15 pts.
• Science performance – 15 pts.
• ELPA progress – 15 pts.
• Graduation rate – 10 pts.
• Chronic absenteeism – 10 pts.
• Postsecondary opportunity – 10 pts.

In addition, a high school can receive an additional point for high participation and proficiency in U.S. History.

Task force members praised the collaborative spirit that informed the accountability process.

“Under Superintendent Hofmeister's leadership, OSDE met the extraordinary challenge of redesigning our state testing and accountability system. They did this while maintaining an open-door policy for educators and community members,” said Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Deborah Gist. “The first step is complete, and we already see significant improvements. We will make many more important decisions in the coming months and look forward to continuing our close partnership with Superintendent Hofmeister and her team to ensure that the final product works well for students, educators, and schools.”

Others echoed Gist’s sentiments.

“The accountability system is all about kids, and that’s the only thing I care about. This report card system is vital for parents, communities and schools,” said Tracy McDaniel, principal and founder of KIPP Reach College Preparatory in Oklahoma City. “The data it will provide can better inform people about how their schools are doing as well as giving educators tools to improve.”

“I believe our diverse task force developed an accountability system of indicators and calculations that capture the complexity of public education and remove bias against high-poverty schools,” said Dr. Shirley Simmons, assistant superintendent of educational services for Norman Public Schools. “Focusing on the indicators in the accountability system, rather than the summative grade, will provide educators and parents with reliable and useful information about their schools.”

“This was a terrific collaborative process that brought many voices to the table,” said Brent Bushey, executive director of the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center. “It was a truly impressive effort.”

Under the new report cards, the grade scale is designed to reserve A and F designations for the best and worst schools. Subsequently, the bulk of schools will fall into the B, C and D ranges. This change ensures that resources are focused on the lowest-performing 5 percent of schools, designated as comprehensive support schools. Schools with the lowest achievement for one or more student groups, but not in the lowest 5 percent, will be identified for targeted support.

Federal law requires schools to test at least 95 percent of their student population. Under the new report card system, a school that fails to do so with any student group will receive a “minus” beside its letter grade.

The report cards will also contain other information as required by ESSA, such as per-pupil expenditures, that will not factor into the calculation. The report cards will enable people to dive deeper into data.

Hofmeister to hold education town hall Tuesday in Tulsa

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TULSA (Nov. 10, 2016) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister will host a town hall meeting at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 15, at Metropolitan Baptist Church in Tulsa to hear Oklahomans’ thoughts on how to strengthen public education and refocus on meeting the needs of individual students.

The meeting will be the fourth in a series of one-hour town halls enabling the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) to gather input as the agency creates a comprehensive state plan to bolster academic performance for all students and reduce barriers that hold many kids back. OSDE began the town hall series in Duncan and Ada, where more than 400 people attended. Future town hall stops include Enid, Yukon and Muskogee.

Deborah Gist, superintendent of Tulsa Public Schools, will introduce Hofmeister on Tuesday.

OSDE has received support from the community for the event, including promotional efforts by Tulsa Public Schools, Tulsa Regional Chamber of Commerce, surrounding school districts and local parent-teacher organizations.

What: Education Town Hall
When: 6:30 p.m., Tuesday, Nov. 15
Where:  Metropolitan Baptist Church. 1228 W. Apache St., Tulsa

For more information about the education town halls happening this fall, click here.

Libertarian Party grows by leaps and bounds in 2016 election, sets sights optimistically on 2018

By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

Libertarianism is on the rise.

The 2016 election has been arguably the most successful election in the history of the Libertarian Party (LP), and not just on the Presidential level. While the unpopularity of both major party candidates sent Gary Johnson to 3% with more than 4 million ballots, general disaffection for establishment politics helped the 45 year old party to record performances in the House, State, and Gubernatorial elections as well.

In Oklahoma specifically, the LP made its way onto the ballot for the first time since 2000 and will retain ballot access into 2018 after Johnson achieved 6% of the Oklahoma vote. 

Sixteen Oklahoma libertarians ran for office in this week's election, and though none won, they polled at an average of 10%. Oklahoma County Clerk candidate Chris Powell had the best performance with 36% of the vote, followed by State Senate District 35 candidate Frank Grove with 35%. House District 39 candidate Clark Duffe carried 23%. At the national level, U.S. Representative District 4 candidate Sevier White carried 4% and District 5 candidate Zachary Knight won 6%. U.S. Senator candidate Robert Murphy won 3% in a five-way race challenging popular incumbent Republican James Lankford.

With incumbent Republican Governor Mary Fallin term-limited, the Libertarians will need to secure at least 2.5% of the vote in 2018 to remain on the ballot for the next Presidential election.

“Looking forward, we don’t really see that 2.5% mark as a barrier to future success. In 2018 and beyond, we’ll be running to win. The Libertarian message has resonated with voters in Oklahoma, and we will work tirelessly to ensure citizens have the opportunity to support principled libertarian candidates seeking office at every level of state government," said Party Chair Tina Kelly in a press release this week.

The LP was officially formed on December 11, 1971 in Colorado Springs, Colorado. By 2016 the LP was the third largest political party in the United States with 411,250 registered voters. The party currently claims to hold 147 local elected offices across the country.

Presidential Campaign History

John Hospers was the first presidential nominee of the LP and Theodora Nathan was selected as VP. Though the 1972 ticket only gained 3,674 votes for tenth place in the general election, they received one electoral vote from a faithless elector, marking the first time in U.S. History a female has received an electoral vote.

In 1976 the party nominated Roger MacBride, the faithless elector from 1972, with running mate David Bergland. The ticket brought home 172,553 votes and finished fourth.

The 1980 ticket set the LP record for the next three decades as Ed Clark and billionaire David Koch brought in 921,128 votes and finished in fourth place. They broke 1% of the popular vote for the first time, a feat that would not be repeated until 2012.

The LP saw massive decline in 1984 with only 228,111 votes for David Bergland and James Lewis, but unsurprisingly due to the funding cut of not having a billionaire on the ticket. It was still an improvement over 1976 and should be considered a victory for the LP.

1988 saw the arrival of Ron Paul on the ticket, arguably the most famous Libertarian (among non-Libertarians) to date. Paul and running mate Andre Marrou took in 431,750 votes. Marrou took over the ticket in 1992 and saw the first legitimate decrease in LP support with 290,087 votes. The rise of the party stagnated from there as Harry Browne headed the ticket in both 1996 and 2000, with Michael Badnarik taking over in 2004.

The LP’s presidential campaign has only grown since 2000 as Badnarik finished with 397,265 and 2008 candidate Bob Barr brought in 523,713.

In 2012 former Republican New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson and Justice Jim Gray waged the most successful campaign to that point, finishing with 1,275,821 votes and 1%, a feat that Johnson shattered in 2016. In a year with declining voter turnout that saw the eventual victor Donald Trump attain less votes than the second place finisher of the last two elections; by the time polls had closed, Johnson and former Republican Governor of Massachusetts William Weld had broken 3% with 4,058,500 votes and third place for the second-straight election. They fell short of their 5% goal, but successfully waged the most successful LP campaign to-date by a wide margin.

U.S. House Campaign History

The party also made their first attempt at the House of Representatives in 1972 and finished 18th with 2,028 votes. That number ticked up to 71,791 in 1976 for seventh place, 64,310 in 1978 for sixth place, and by 1980 was officially the third party with 568,131 votes. Since then, the LP has only slipped to fourth place three times, always behind independent candidates, and has maintained third place in every election since 1996. They broke the 1% mark in 1998 and have done so numerous times since.

To-date, the LP has still not won a house seat, but beat their 2000 record in House campaign votes with 1,713,220 this year. Most successful among the LP were three Arkansas candidates. Kerry Hicks took 25% of the vote in Congressional district 4. Mark West and Steve Isaacson took 23% each in districts 1 and 3, respectively. Of the 75 candidates to run, 42 grossed 5% or more of the vote, twelve took 10% or more, and seven took 15% or more. The all-time best performance for an LP House candidate was Joel Balam who took 31.5% of the vote in Kansas in 2012.

U.S. Senate Campaign History

The first Libertarian attempt at the Senate was waged in 1976 with candidates in nine of the 33 contested seats. In 1994 Scott Grainger attained 6.8% of the vote in Arizona, smashing the previous record of 3.9% set by Montana candidate Larry Dodge. His record was undone in 2000 by Massachusetts candidate Carla Howell with 11.9%. Massachusetts was favorable for Libertarians again in 2002 when Michael E. Cloud brought in 16.6% which stood as the most successful LP Senate campaign till 2016. That year, the LP brought in 1.739% of the vote.

2016 was a record breaking year for the LP with 20 candidates running for Senate attaining 1,700,969 votes. Alaska candidate Joe Miller brought in 30% of the vote, trailing Republican victor Lisa Murkowski by 14%. Miller beat the Democratic candidate by 19%. Two other Libertarians broke 5% in senate elections.

U.S. Gubernatorial Campaign History

The first ever Libertarian attempt at a governorship was in 1976 as Arlan Andrews drew 0.29% of the vote in North Carolina. In 1978 seven candidates competed in gubernatorial elections and Mabel Everett took home 4.6% in New Hampshire. Dick Randolph led seventeen libertarian candidates in 1982 and won 14.9% of Alaska. Randolph owns the most successful LP gubernatorial campaign to-date. Since then, only one other LP candidate has broken 10%; Wisconsin’s Ed Thompson in 2002. This year the LP had candidates in ten out of twelve races and averaged 2.6% of the vote. New Hampshire candidate Max Abramson led the most successful campaign of the season with 4.3%.

It remains to be seen if the Libertarian Party will continue its growth in the next midterm election, but with more Americans identifying as politically independent than at any point in the country’s history, both major parties will likely have their eyes on the Libertarian Party in the years to come.

Incumbents Dan Newberry and Jadine Nollan win third terms, Oklahomans reject SQ 779

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

State and local voters turned out in record-breaking numbers Tuesday afternoon in the conclusion to one of the most bitterly contested Presidential elections in recent memory. Sand Springs precincts saw especially high turnout as this election was close to home for many Sandite voters. Several candidates for State and local government have Sand Springs ties.

Longtime Sand Springs resident Jadine Nollan was reelected to House District 66 for a third term by a large margin. In 2012 she won with 66.8% of the vote and ran unopposed in 2014 to retain her position. Democratic challenger Dianna Phillips, also of Sand Springs, brought in only 32.10% of the vote. 

Incumbent Republican Dan Newberry staved off his Democratic challenger in a battle for the Senate District 37 seat. Former Sand Springs Superintendent Lloyd Snow waged a heated campaign to unseat Newberry, but drew only 40% of the vote. Independent candidate Shawn Ketcher bought in 4%. Newberry was first elected in 2008 with 63% of the vote and was reelected in 2012 by winning the Republican primary with 67% and running unopposed in the general election.

"We thought it'd be much closer, but it isn't," said Snow, in his concession speech. "If you can't run a competitive race with 200 grand working eight hours a day knocking doors, I don't know what will do it..You get what you get. We need more advocates. I've never taken losses to be personal. I'll always be a noisy citizen, but I'll never do this again."

Incumbent Republican Vic Regalado won reelection to the office of Tulsa County Sheriff, handily defeating Democratic challenger Rex Berry with 66% of the vote. Regalado won a special election earlier this year for Stanley Glanz's unexpired term. Regalado holds a Tulsa address, but lives in the Sand Springs Public School district and his kids attend Sand Springs schools.

Democratic incumbent Karen Keith easily fended off Republican challenger Joshua Turley to retain the position of County Commissioner. Keith, a former KJRH television reporter, first won election in 2008. Turley is a lifelong Sand Springs resident and a 24-year veteran of the Tulsa County Sheriff's Office. Keith drew 57% of the vote. 

All seven justices up for retention during this election were retained by an average margin of 36%. Not surprising, as no justice has ever been ousted on the ballot in the history of Oklahoma.

State Question No. 776 passed with moderate support amounting to 60% of the vote. The question amends the State Constitution to affirm the State's right to carry out the death penalty. Its passage will allow the Legislature to designate any method of execution not prohibited by the U.S. Constitution. 

State Question No. 777, the "Right to Farm" amendment was overwhelming defeated with only 28% support. 

State Question No. 779, a constitutional amendment that would have created a 1% sales tax increase to fund raises for teachers, was defeated by a 17% margin. 

State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister issued a statement in response to 779's defeat. "Until we are prepared to take bold action on behalf of public education, we will continue to suffer the consequences, as a greater and greater number of teachers leave the state or exit the profession altogether. I believe Oklahomans support teachers, but they did not want to relieve the Legislature of its responsibility. I will be back before state lawmakers this next legislative session, fighting for kids and a regionally competitive wage for teachers - one that reflects their work as highly trained professionals who change the lives of nearly 70,000 students every day."

State Question No. 780, a criminal justice reform initiative, passed with overwhelming support, as did State Question No. 781, who's passage was conditional on the passage of 780. 780 will reclassify several drug possession and property crimes from felony status to misdemeanor, while 781 will create funding for criminal rehabilitation. 780 passed by 65% and 781 passed by 62%. 

State Question No. 790 was solidly defeated with only 40% support. The bill would have abolished an existing clause in the State Constitution prohibiting the use of public funds for religious purposes. 

State Question No. 792, a law to modernize Oklahoma's liquor laws passed with overwhelming support at 72%. 

Unsurprisingly, Republican nominee Donald Trump easily secured the State's seven electoral votes, though it was by the lowest margin of victory since Bob Dole defeated Bill Clinton in 1996. Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson took 6% of the popular vote as the first third-party candidate on the Oklahoma ballot since 2000. Trump's 23% victory margin was a tad bit behind the 30% cushion enjoyed by the past three Republican nominees, but was still more than enough to defeat Hillary Clinton.

Johnson's 6% was the highest third-party showing since Independent candidate Ross Perot took 10.84% in 1996, and the highest showing for a Libertarian in State history. The Libertarian Party was on the Oklahoma ballot from 1984 through 2000 and never broke the 1% mark.

Hillary Clinton's 35% was the highest mark for a Democrat in Oklahoma since Al Gore took 38% in 2000. She slightly edged out President Obama's percentage, but was significantly behind her husband's 40% in 1996. A Democrat has not won Oklahoma's electors since Lyndon B. Johnson defeated Barry Goldwater in 1964. 

Chickasaw Nation to develop resort hotel and tourist destination at Lake Texoma

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OKLAHOMA CITY - The state of Oklahoma and the Chickasaw Nation recently announced plans to develop a resort hotel and other amenities at Lake Texoma in southeastern Oklahoma.

The initial plans call for the Chickasaw Nation to construct a three-story hotel, a restaurant and gift shop, a casino featuring up to 300 electronic games and as many as 10 lakefront fishing/boating cottages, Chickasaw Governor Bill Anoatubby said. The project covers 50 acres of lakefront property, overlooking Lake Texoma and the historic Roosevelt Bridge. It also involves about 11.5 acres of land acquired by the Commissioners of the Land Office (CLO) from the Oklahoma Department of Tourism and Recreation.

The hotel will include a lounge and meeting rooms, an outdoor pool and recreation area, a fitness center, gift shop, restaurant and a business center, he said.

The project is the result of a settlement negotiated by the CLO, which worked to bring a resolution to the property that was once home to the popular Lake Texoma Lodge and Resort. A private developer bought the property in 2006 and the lodge was demolished in 2009, but plans did not come to fruition. Developers blamed the economic downturn of 2008.

“We believe this project will help launch a transformation of this area into a major tourism and recreation attraction,” said Anoatubby. “We look forward to working with the state on a project we expect to have a positive impact on jobs and our economy for decades to come.” 

Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said she has been a long-time believer in the potential of the Lake Texoma area to be an economic driver in Oklahoma.

“This project will create jobs and revenue for southern Oklahoma while at the same time maintaining the beauty of the site,” said Fallin. “The Lake Texoma lodge and golf course for many years were a top tourist attraction in the region. This hotel and commercial development will be the catalyst to stimulate significantly greater economic development in the future. I appreciate Governor Anoatubby’s vision and willingness to partner with the state of Oklahoma to continue our joint efforts focusing on tourism in this beautiful and strategically located part of our state.”

The development will be off U.S. 70, across from the Chickasaw Pointe Golf Course near the site of the old Lake Texoma State Lodge.  Preliminary plans allow for future expansion of the hotel and the construction of additional waterfront cottages.

The Chickasaw Nation must first apply to place the land just north of the Texas border into trust status – a process that potentially could take several months or more.

“If the land can be placed into trust, our intent and plan is to develop this premier lakefront property into destination lodging and a casino,” said Bill Lance, secretary of commerce for the Chickasaw Nation.

Senators hear testimony on how to reduce eyewitness misidentification and wrongful convictions

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Judiciary Committee hears testimony on eyewitness misidentification. (SUBMITTED).

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Nationwide, more than 70 percent of wrongful convictions in criminal cases were tied to misidentification by eyewitnesses. In Oklahoma, that’s the case in about 30 percent of such cases. On Monday, members of the Senate Judiciary Committee heard testimony on the need for law enforcement to adopt proven methods aimed at improving the reliability of eyewitness identification. State Senator David Holt requested the interim study.

“One of the worst things government can do is to unjustly take away a person’s liberty,” said Holt, R-Oklahoma City. “We heard from two men who were wrongfully convicted and sent to prison because of the way investigators worked with the victims to identify a suspect. Those identifications were later proven wrong through DNA evidence, though the damage done to those innocent men cannot be undone. But going forward, there are methods that can reduce eyewitness misidentification.”

Vicki Behenna, Executive Director of the Oklahoma Innocence Project, said the four key best practices included blind administration of lineups, so that the officer conducting the lineup wouldn’t know who the suspect was.  She also discussed the need to instruct the eyewitness that the perpetrator may or may not be in the lineup. Other key best practices include the proper use of fillers, or other individuals in a lineup, that match the eyewitness’s description of the perpetrator, as well as eyewitness confidence statements taken when an identification is made.

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Tim Durham testifies on eyewitness misidentification. (SUBMITTED).

Tim Durham of Tulsa was sentenced to more than 3,000 years for the rape of an 11 year-old girl after she identified him as her attacker. He was eventually exonerated when DNA proved he could not have committed the crime. He said he may have looked similar to the perpetrator, but there were clear differences.

“The victim in this case said her attacker had a pock-marked face…and a pot belly.  My arrest record shows that at the time, and my photographs show that I had no pock-marked face. I actually had a full beard and mustache 14 days after the crime which I could not have grown in that time,” Durham said. “If these best practices had been in place, I believe that it would have been difficult for the victim in this case to even make that identification.”

Behenna said wrongful convictions also put the public’s safety at risk, because when an innocent person is imprisoned, the actual perpetrator may be out on the street committing more crimes. She told the committee that wrongful convictions come with a high price for those wrongly accused and for taxpayers.

“You can’t put in dollar amount the loss of life that an exoneree feels in being convicted for a crime which they did not commit. By way of dollar amounts, the state of Oklahoma has already paid out $1.36 million to six exonerees,” Behenna said, noting that didn’t even include the subsequent civil lawsuits, with one exoneree being awarded $4 million, and another receiving $8 million,” Behenna said, noting subsequent civil suits have cost millions more. “The cost to taxpayers is astronomical.”

While some police departments in some communities, like Oklahoma City, have already adopted these best practices for eyewitness identifications, others have not. The Oklahoma Innocence Project has offered free materials to help other departments adopt these procedures. Holt said while legislation could be one way of ensuring the identification best practices become more widely used, he’d like to see law enforcement move in that direction on their own.

“We’d like to see CLEET (Council on Law Enforcement and Training) help get this into their training with a goal of having all law enforcement agencies voluntarily adopt these best practices, but we’ll of course be monitoring this to see how it progresses.”

Senate Higher Education Committee touts success of concurrent enrollment

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Members of the Senate Education Committee listen to Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson discuss concurrent enrollment program successes.

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Oklahoma’s concurrent enrollment tuition waiver program allows qualifying high school juniors and seniors to enroll in college classes before they actually graduate.  Eligible seniors can actually get tuition waivers for up to six credit hours a semester.  The idea is to encourage high school students to jump start their college education while saving their families money.

It’s been more than a decade since the program was created back in 2005, so State Sen. Gary Stanislawski wanted to know how it’s been doing and whether Oklahoma could do more to encourage greater participation.

At his request, the Senate Education Committee met Thursday to take a look at the state’s concurrent enrollment program.  Stanislawski said he was very pleased with the data presented to the committee.

“I wanted to know if it was fulfilling its original mission and what the outcomes have been.  We’ve seen data presented today that tell us it has been a resounding success” said Stanislawski, R-Tulsa.  “I’m very pleased with how well the program has been accepted throughout higher education and in our high schools, and in the growth rate of students participating, saving thousands of dollars while earning college credit.”

Higher Education Chancellor Glen Johnson called the program a game-changer that’s helping more students earn college degrees.  That’s increasingly important because 67 percent of all jobs created in Oklahoma by 2020 will require some college, a long-term certificate or a college degree—37 percent of all jobs created in the state by 2020 will require an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree or higher.

“We believe concurrent enrollment is absolutely a critical initiative in terms of driving our major goal, our major agenda item in higher education which is college degree completion,” Johnson said, noting the program offers multiple benefits, including cost savings, reduced time to earn a degree, and higher retention and graduation rates for students who take advantage of concurrent enrollment while still in high school.

Johnson presented data from the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education that showed the number of students participating has more than doubled since the program began, from 5,526 to 11,722 ten years later.

The number of credit hours earned increased during that time by 158 percent, and 97 percent of the students that take concurrent enrollment successfully complete the course.

The committee also looked at what could be done to encourage more students to participate in concurrent enrollment, including doing more to help students on free and reduced lunches, as well as addressing out of pocket expenses, such as fees that are not covered by the tuition waiver. 

“I think that’s a barrier for some students,” Stanislawski said.  “While the current budget situation may limit what we can do right now, it needs to be on the radar.  We need to have a plan over the next several years to increase funding in this area to help more students receive a college degree.”

Governor Mary Fallin Announces Initiative to Improve State’s Criminal Justice System

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OKLAHOMA CITY — Governor Mary Fallin today launched a comprehensive review of Oklahoma’s criminal justice system aimed at developing data-driven reforms to better protect public safety, hold offenders accountable and control corrections costs.

Fallin charged the Oklahoma Justice Reform Task Force with submitting reform recommendations that can be considered during the 2017 legislative session.

“Criminal justice reform is a priority for my administration and I am confident that we can find ways to make our communities safer and cut the growing cost of our state’s corrections system,” said Fallin. “With the task force, we have the right people and the right process to generate reforms that will improve public safety by keeping violent and career criminals behind bars and directing resources to programs that reduce rates of re-offending.”

The task force continues the work of the governor’s earlier criminal justice efforts, which included sentencing modifications for low-level drug and property crimes.

Oklahoma’s prison population has increased 10 percent in just five years, driven in part by a 20 percent growth in admissions. State prisons also have seen a 21 percent increase in the female population since 2011.

The rising prison numbers mean the state spends half a billion dollars annually on corrections.

Without reform, the state could be required to spend even more money on prisons, which could include building new facilities or contracting out for additional beds.

The governor’s task force is made up of representatives from all branches of state government and an array of Oklahoma criminal justice stakeholders. It will spend the next six months analyzing the state’s prison, parole and probation populations and examining evidence-based alternatives to prison and risk-reduction strategies.

In developing proposals for reform, the group’s priorities will be to promote public safety and hold offenders accountable, control corrections spending and taxpayer costs and develop cost effective strategies to increase public safety and reduce recidivism.

The task force, which is chaired by Fallin, includes 17 additional members:

• First Assistant Attorney General Mike Hunter
• Department of Corrections Director Joe Allbaugh
• Department of Mental Health Commissioner Terri White
• Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control (OBN) Director John Scully
• Sen. Greg Treat
• Rep. Terry O’Donnell
• Jari Askins, administrative director of the courts
• Former House Speaker Kris Steele, director of The Education and Employment Ministry
• Tulsa County District Court Judge Doug Drummond
• District Attorney Mike Fields, president of the Oklahoma District Attorneys Association
• District Attorney David Prater
• Oklahoma County Public Defender Robert Ravitz
• Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce President Roy Williams
• Tulsa Chamber of Commerce President Michael S. Neal
• YWCA of Oklahoma City CEO Jan Peery
• Layne Subera, chairman of OBN Commission
• Adam Luck, member, Board of Corrections

The Crime and Justice Institute and the Pew Charitable Trusts will provide technical assistance to the task force. The groups have helped other states, including Georgia, Mississippi, South Dakota and Utah, with justice reform strategies over the past several years. 

Oklahoma Teens 2015 Health Behaviors Survey Released

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A recent survey conducted among Oklahoma youth has shown a significant decrease in underage smoking and driving distracted, but has also revealed a rise in obesity and video game use.

The Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS), developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), is conducted every other year in public high schools throughout Oklahoma. It allows the Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH), other related agencies and the general public to monitor priority health risk behaviors that can contribute to the leading causes of death, disability and social problems. The survey also assesses whether those behaviors have changed over time.

When comparing the data from 2003 through 2015, trends can be seen in Oklahoma youth’s health. The percentage of students who were obese has increased significantly from 11 percent in 2003 to 17 percent in 2015. There has been a continual increase in the percentage of students who spent three or more hours per school day playing video games or on the computer, from 19 percent in 2003 to a staggering 46 percent in 2015.

The percentage of students who were bullied on school property was at 20 percent and electronically bullying was 14 percent in 2015. This may also be reflective of the student’s resiliency in regards to mental health. The percentage of students who felt so sad or hopeless almost every day for two weeks or more in a row has remained unchanged since 2003 at 29 percent. The percentage of students who had been forced into sexual acts has been consistent since 2013 at 9 percent.

Although Oklahoma continues to face some health challenges for teens that need continued focus, the state has also seen great health improvements in other areas:

• The percentage of students who text or e-mail while driving has decreased from 51 percent in 2013 to 44 percent in 2015.
• There has been a continual decrease in the percentage of students who reported riding in a car driven by someone who had been drinking alcohol from 31 percent in 2003 to 1 percent in 2015.
• The percentage of students who smoked cigarettes during the 30 days before the survey decreased significantly from 26 percent in 2003 to 13 percent in 2015. In 2015 the YRBS collected additional data on electronic vapor product use and found 24 percent of students had used electronic vapor products during the 30 days before the survey.
• There was a significant decline in the percentage of students who had ever tried cigarette smoking from 2013 to 2015, as well as a decline in students who smoked cigarettes on one or more of the past 30 days prior to the survey.
•  There has been a decline since 2003 in students who reported having had sexual  intercourse before and a decline in reports of having had sex with one or more people in the three months prior to the survey.

Oklahoma has and will continue to promote healthy behavior changes by using the YRBS to help keep track of the issues that need additional focus. The survey will also help acknowledge improvements and recognize efforts to better the health of local communities.

To view the YRBS results and for additional information go to: yrbs.health.ok.gov or contact Thad Burk at 405-271-6761, or at thadb@health.ok.gov. To learn more about what programs and resources OSDH can offer, please contact Ashley Hoobler at 405-271-4471, or at ashleyho@health.ok.gov.

State of Oklahoma, Choctaw Nation Agree on Hunting, Fishing Compact

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OKLAHOMA CITY – Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin and Choctaw Nation Chief Gary Batton have signed a hunting and fishing compact, which will allow the tribe to buy hunting and fishing licenses at a bulk rate.

The agreement grants the Choctaw Nation the ability to purchase at least 50,000 annual hunting and fishing licenses at $2 apiece for its resident citizens. In addition, the Choctaw Nation will pay a lump sum of $200,000 and an administrative cost payment of $75,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) each year that the three-year compact is in effect.

The compact takes effect January 1, 2017, and runs through December 31, 2019.

Under the compact, the Choctaw Nation will annually purchase at least 50,000 hunting and fishing licenses from the ODWC for all Oklahoma-based Choctaw citizens between the ages of 16 and 64. The hunting and fishing licenses issued through the compact will generate additional federal matching funds for Oklahoma's wildlife conservation efforts.

The Choctaw Nation compact licenses issued to the Choctaw Nation citizens will include the same annual hunting and fishing privileges that the sportsmen and -women of Oklahoma can currently purchase. All ODWC rules and regulations apply.

“This is another example of the state of Oklahoma and tribal nations working together,” said Fallin. “This compact is mutually beneficial for the state of Oklahoma and the Choctaw Nation. The large sale of these hunting and fishing licenses will generate revenue for conservation efforts as well as ensure that more Oklahomans are following the standard rules and regulations associated with these licenses. In return, the Choctaw Nation receives a discount for the licenses it purchases.”

“This compact provides the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation with additional funds for wildlife conservation through federal grants and ensures the Choctaw Nation will adopt the state season lengths and bag limits on their trust lands,” said ODWC Director Richard Hatcher

Batton said, "This agreement was very important to me because it helps sustain our traditional ways of life and hopefully encourages our children to be hunters and providers for their family in the future."

Hatcher and Batton also signed a Memorandum of Understanding agreeing that the Choctaw Nation will maintain the Wildlife Department-owned Lake Nanih Waiya, which is a place of historical significance to the Choctaw Nation. The ODWC may provide training and guidance as well as communicate with the nation regarding any major improvements. The ODWC also continues to have sole responsibility of managing wildlife conservation efforts around the lake.

“We look forward to additional, mutually beneficial, cooperative agreements with the Choctaw Nation,” Hatcher said.

The agreement covers the same time period as the compact, from January 1, 2017, until Dec. 31, 2019.

International Overdose Awareness Day Observed Aug. 31

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Oklahoma State Department of Health (OSDH) is asking Oklahomans to wear silver to show support of International Overdose Awareness Day, Wednesday Aug. 31. Prescription drug abuse is Oklahoma’s largest drug problem, and this day aims to raise awareness of overdoses and reduce the stigma of drug-related deaths affecting Oklahomans and their families.

Of the more than 5,300 unintentional poisoning deaths in Oklahoma from 2007 to 2014, about 80 percent involved at least one prescription drug and almost 90 percent of those deaths involved prescription painkillers (opioids). In recent years, the numbers of unintentional poisoning deaths have surpassed deaths from motor vehicle crashes. More unintentional poisoning deaths involve hydrocodone or oxycodone, both prescription painkillers, than alcohol and all illicit drugs combined. Adults ages 35-54 have the highest death rate of any age group for prescription overdoses.

International Overdose Awareness Day spreads the message that the tragedy of overdose death is preventable.

OSDH offers the following suggestions for preventing prescription drug overdoses:

• Tell your healthcare provider about ALL medications and supplements you are taking; opioids in combination with other depressants such as sleep aids, anti-anxiety medications, muscle relaxants or cold medicine can be dangerous.
• Only take medications as prescribed and never more than the recommended dosage; use special caution with opioid painkillers.
• Never share or sell prescription drugs.
• Dispose of unused, unneeded or expired prescription drugs at approved drug disposal sites.
• Call 211 for help finding treatment referrals.
• Keep all pain medications in a secure place to avoid theft and access to children.
• Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers.
• Never drink alcohol while taking medication.
• Put the Poison Control number, 1-800-222-1222, on or near every home telephone and cell phone for 24/7 access.

If you suspect someone is experiencing an overdose, react to this true emergency by calling 911 immediately. 

For more information on prescription drug overdose prevention, contact the OSDH Injury Prevention Service at (405) 271-3430 or visit http://poison.health.ok.gov. For help finding treatment referrals, call 211. To report illegal distribution or diversion of prescription drugs, call the Oklahoma Bureau of Narcotics and Dangerous Drugs Control at 1-800-522-8031. More information on International Overdose Awareness Day can be found at www.overdoseday.com.

Attorney General Pruitt Submits Ballot Title for State Question on Medical Marijuana

OKLAHOMA CITY – Attorney General Scott Pruitt on Thursday submitted the ballot title for State Question 788, a measure that would legalize the use of medical marijuana in Oklahoma.

“I commend the attorneys in my office for their diligent work to complete this ballot title in an efficient manner. While my office has done its part by preparing the ballot title well before the September 1 deadline, there are still steps remaining in order for the question to be placed on a ballot,” Attorney General Pruitt said.

“We are dealing with processes established in both federal and state election law for initiatives proposed by the people that require specific procedures to be followed. Even with expedited efforts of both the Secretary of State’s office to count the signatures and my office to write the ballot title, the state is running up against deadlines imposed by this process. It’s important for the people of Oklahoma to know, regardless of the substance of the state question, the signatures were not submitted with enough time to allow this process to be played out completely.”

After the Attorney General's Office submits the substitute ballot title to the Secretary of State, it must be published and opponents must have ten business days to object to the ballot title based on the validity or number of signatures or a challenge to the ballot title.  Pursuant to 34 O.S. § 12, the governor cannot issue the proclamation placing the initiative petition on the ballot until the timeline for objections and protests has passed.

To view a copy of the submitted ballot title, CLICK HERE.

Oklahoma shows increase in ACT participation, ranks 29th in national scoring

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OKLAHOMA CITY (Aug. 24, 2016) – More of Oklahoma’s graduating seniors took the ACT college entrance exam than in the previous five years, according to information released today by ACT.

According to ACT, 2,010 more Oklahoma graduating seniors took the test, a 6.5-percent increase over the prior year’s cohort. State participation has been climbing, with 12 percent more students taking the exam since 2012.

Nationally, 64 percent of graduating seniors take the ACT, compared to 82 percent in Oklahoma.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister said when more Oklahoma students are taking the ACT, colleges are receiving more information about those students, opening the door to recruitment and scholarship opportunities for Oklahomans.

“Clearly, more of our students are exploring the possibility of extending their education beyond high school,” Hofmeister said. ”More students having access to college-entrance exams means new on-ramps to post-secondary education. This is an important and positive trend, since an estimated 62 percent of Oklahoma jobs will require a post-secondary education by 2020.”

Meanwhile, the number of Oklahoma juniors taking the ACT in 2016 skyrocketed by at least 58 percent over 2015. Last spring, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) offered an ACT pilot program that enabled all public high school juniors in the state to take the exam at no cost to districts or students. Nearly every eligible high school participated, with 457 of 459 taking advantage of the voluntary program. In all, 35,477 juniors took the ACT as part of the initiative, compared to 22,500 the year before. The performance of Oklahoma’s juniors will be reflected in next year’s ACT score report of graduating seniors.

“Higher participation gives us a better picture of how we are doing at preparing our young people for college and career,” Hofmeister said. “The ACT, like any test, is a tool to show us areas of strength and weakness. We then act on that valuable information.”

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The state’s average composite score went from 20.7 to 20.4, while the national average composite score dropped from 21.0 to 20.8. Data shows that state composite scores are in line with changes in scores across the nation, dropping 0.3 points and 0.2 points, respectively. Oklahoma ranks 29th overall in average composite scores nationally.

The fastest growing racial/ethnic group testing with the ACT over the last five years in Oklahoma is Hispanic/Latino. This group has increased by 45.2 percent. The percentage of Native Americans in Oklahoma taking the test has declined in the same time period by 9.2 percent. However, Native Americans in Oklahoma are performing better than those in the nation. Oklahoma’s Native Americans averaged a score of 19.1, while the national average for the group was 17.1.

Oklahoma’s performance in reading matches that of the nation, both with an average score of 21.3. Meanwhile, the state still lags in math with a score of 19.5 versus a national score of 20.6.

Levi Patrick, OSDE director of secondary mathematics, said the recent instability of academic standards is one reason Oklahoma’s math scores are below average.

“With the flurry of academic standards within the past five years, our seniors have experienced a constant fluctuation in what they’ve been expected to learn. Mix in a culture of over-testing, and it has been hard to maintain a focus on content,” Patrick said. “We feel good about the future because with our new Oklahoma Academic Standards, we have identified and corrected weaknesses from previous standards. In addition to being more rigorous, the new standards have closed instructional gaps and incorporated meaningful progression across grades. We will begin to see a real difference in deep and conceptual understanding over the next few years as the transition between middle school and high school mathematics becomes much more seamless.”

Free movies and concerts this week in the Tulsa area

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Coming to theaters this week:

Lights Out (PG-13)
Star Trek Beyond (PG-13)
Ice Age: Collision Course (PG)
Absolutely Fabulous: The Movie (R)

Guthrie Green will be showing Disney's Cars Thursday at 8:30 p.m.

Harper’s Hut Shaved Ice & Java will not be doing their weekly Movie and a Sno Cone due to extreme heat. 

Sapulpa’s Kelly Lane Park will be screening The Parent Trap (PG) Saturday night at dark.

Wednesday 7/27. My Rock Duo at Los Cabos in Jenks. This concert is outdoor, all ages, and free of charge. It starts at 6:00 p.m.

Thursday 7/28. Sand Springs's own Jacob Dement will perform at Los Cabos in Jenks. This concert is outdoor, all ages, and free of charge. It starts at 6:00 p.m.

Thursday 7/28. Swunky Face Big Band at Utica Square. This event is all ages, outdoor, and free of charge. It is from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

Friday 7/29. Aviators at Los Cabos in Jenks. This concert is outdoor, all ages, and free of charge. It starts at 7:00 p.m.

Friday 7/29 and Saturday 7/30. Halo Jordan at 5 West Outpost in Sand Springs. This event is free for all ages. Doors open at 6:30 p.m., show begins at 7:30 p.m.

Saturday 7/30. The Detonators at Los Cabos in Jenks. This concert is outdoors, all ages, and free of charge. It starts at 7:00 p.m.

Saturday 7/30. Starr Fisher at the Riverwalk in Jenks. This concert is outdoor, all ages, and free of charge. It is from 7:00-9:00 p.m.

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Have an upcoming event you'd like us to advertise? Free public events are free to list! Low-price advertising options are available for for-profit events. Contact Sanditepridenews@gmail.com for more information.

Monsters have invaded Sand Springs and Millennials are loving it

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By: Scott Emigh, Editor-in-Chief

The streets of Oklahoma have been invaded twice this week. First by monsters, then by Millennials.

Many parents may have thought their pokemon days were behind them once their child grew up and moved out, but now you might very well have a Vulpix living in your bathroom. 

Nintendo and Niantic Labs released the newest evolution of the Pokemon franchise last Wednesday in the United States, Australia, and New Zealand in the form of a smart phone app for Apple and Android users. Pokemon Go utilizes GPS imaging and the users' cameras to render an "augmented reality" that directly mirrors the real world.

What does that mean? It means that nerds actually have to leave the house and get some exercise now. For Pokemon trainers to "Catch 'Em All," they have to travel and seek out the desired "Pocket Monster" using a low-tech radar that only informs you if you're getting closer or further away, but doesn't actually point you in any specific direction.

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To load up on Pokeballs and other necessary inventory, trainers must visit Pokestops at various local landmarks such as the Sand Springs Triangle Clock Tower, the Sand Springs Lake, or the Herbal Affair Mural. Pokemon can be caught anywhere, including the middle of the street, causing some potentially dangerous habits among die-hard collectors. 

In addition to the Pokestops, there are also Pokemon Gyms at Earth and Soul, the statue of Charles Page on the Triangle, Crossfit 1055, Saint Matthews Episcopal Church, and more. Gyms can be taken over by players on any of the three teams: Valor, Mystic, and Instinct. Players can combat enemy trainers at hostile gyms, and can train their own pokemon and level up friendly gyms that belong to their team. 

What's great about Pokemon Go is that it's not just a kids' game. While the app is sure to reach an entire new generation of children, its biggest target audience is the nostalgic young adults who grew up on the original Gameboy games in the 1990's and 2000's. The augmented reality aspect of the game is not only encouraging young people to be more active, but the uniqueness of it has enticed numerous adults well into their thirties and forties to take up the activity as well. 

The "Tulsa Pokemon GO: Team Valor" facebook group already has 231 members, "Pokemon GO-Team Instinct Tulsa" has 368 members, and "Tulsa Team Mystic" facebook page has 261 "likes." "Sand Springs Team Valor" appears to be the only team with a Facebook group in Sand Springs and it is currently sitting at 35 members.

This is far from a small niche market. The app quickly surged to the number one position on the Apple marketplace Top Charts, ahead of Snapchat, Messenger, Google Maps, and Spotify. The company hasn't released official numbers yet, but App analytics company SensorTower estimates more than 7.5 million downloads in the U.S. alone. The popularity of the app has caused numerous server issues that have frustrated many users, but the laps in coverage seem to be getting less frequent and game play is rapidly becoming less problematic. Unfortunately for most of the world, Niantec has already indefinitely delayed the rollout to the rest of the world until the server issues are resolved.

Don't expect users to get bored and quit playing any time soon. The app's debut only features the 150 original first generation pokemon, and future releases are expected to make an additional 570 pokemon available as well as allow players to trade their catches.

Sandite Pride News activated a "Lure Module" at the City Garden Park on Broadway Sunday, which draws rare pokemon to the area for a period of thirty minutes. Within ten minutes, players who saw the lure on their map were flocking to join us in the garden. Five vehicles with close to two-dozen trainers answered our call over the brief window, and there was another lure module going off at the Triangle which attracted dozens more at the same time. 

Needless to say, you can expect to see a lot more people walking around town with their face in their phone in the foreseeable future, so be vigilant not to hit any pedestrians who aren't paying attention to their surroundings. 

Sandite Pride is currently divided with two of our staff members choosing Team Valor while a third is on Team Mystic. Whether the rest of the staff joins the fun remains to be seen, but Executive Director Morgan Miller and I invite you to join us on the Sand Springs Team Valor facebook group and get active! The game isn't just for us nerds, but anyone who wants to be active and see more of the city will be sure to enjoy the app.

Cinco de Mayo celebrations in the Tulsa area

By: Morgan Miller, Executive Director

Thursday is Cinco de Mayo and Sandite Pride News took the liberty of putting together a list of celebrations in the Sand Springs area, along with a little history.

In 1862 the Mexican army claimed victory over France in the Battle of Puebla. Cinco de Mayo (or the fifth of May) is a holiday that celebrates this victory. While it is a relatively small holiday in Mexico, this holiday has become a large celebration of Mexican culture in the United States.

This year, there are plenty of great events going on in the Tulsa area. 

• Elote Café and Catering is holding their annual Chihuahua races and Cinco de Mayo Street Festival this year. This event will start at 7:00pm on Thursday at their restaurant located at 514 S. Boston Ave Tulsa OK 74103.

• El Guapo’s will be having a Cinco de Mayo celebration from 12:00pm-1:00am. It is located at 100 S. Elgin Ave and is expected to draw 1,000 people. There will be live music from Dirty Monkey’s and Flux Capacitor and a game called “Plinko de Mayo” that can be played for a chance to win prizes. 

• The Greater Tulsa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce has organized a Cinco de Mayo Festival that will be held in East Tulsa at 14009 East 21st Street Tulsa, OK. This event will be taking place on May 6th-8th from 5:00-10:30pm on Friday, 2:00-10:30pm on Saturday, and 12:00-6:30pm on Sunday. It is expected to draw more than 5,000 participants and will have music, food, and entertainment.

• There will be a Cinco de Mayo Carnival from May 5th-8th at 14007 E. 21st St. On Thursday it will be from 5:00-10:00pm, Friday from 5:00-10:30pm, Saturday from 12:00-11:00pm, and Sunday from 12:00-8:00pm.

From all of us at Sandite Pride News, have a fun and safe Cinco de Mayo!