Friday, February 12, 2016
SAPULPA — Governor Mary Fallin today recognized the teachers, staff, students and parents at Sapulpa’s Holmes Park Elementary School for their efforts to improve the school’s grade in Oklahoma’s A-F School Report Card.
Holmes Park, which has improved its grade from a D+ to a B, is the first school to receive Fallin’s Spotlight for Academic Achievement award.
“Holmes Park is a perfect example of how this grading system should work,” said Fallin. “The dedicated professionals here have worked with students, parents and other patrons to significantly improve the school’s grade.”
During today’s school visist, Fallin, Oklahoma Secretary of Education and Workforce Development Natalie Shirley, Senate President Pro-Tempore Brian Bingman and Rep. Mark McCullough participated in a roundtable discussion with administrators, teachers and students about how Holmes Park had boosted its grade.
The governor presented the 2016 Spotlight for Academic Achievement award at an all-school assembly.
Fallin intends to recognize other “Spotlight Schools” in Oklahoma that have significantly improved their grades or maintained high marks by focusing on academics.
The Oklahoma Legislature adopted the A-F School Grading System in 2011 to provide incentives to schools that challenge their students to reach high levels of college and career readiness.
“Oklahoma’s A-F grading system is an important measure for administrators, teachers, parents and other school patrons,” said Fallin. “It offers a clear frame of reference for how well schools are doing their job of educating our children.
“These grades allow teachers and administrators a way to compare their schools with others, while providing insight on how they can improve. The grades also let parents know how the schools are performing, while showing other school patrons what is needed to help their schools prosper.”