How to be an “A” School: CELEBRATE success with OAS!
By Jan Barrick, Alpha Plus CEO
At spring assemblies in most schools, awards will be handed out and photos taken of many students and educators. Even in friendly competition not every deserving person "wins," yet one finds success where one looks for it. Any growth from one school year to the next deserves celebration!
In 2016-17, we learned that schools were giving awards based on Alpha Plus data. So, in 2017-18 we started what we now call "Success with OAS Awards" to celebrate those going above and beyond using the Alpha Plus Model of School Improvement to improve student success. THANK YOU for all you do!
This last "How to be an 'A' School Newsletter" of the school year celebrates:
- 207 classes with "Greatest Growth" from Fall 2022 to Spring 2023 in each Alpha Plus Partner School completing fall and spring benchmarks by mid-April;
- 264 classes qualifying for "OAS Goals Met!" awards by taking all OAS Objective quizzes with a 70% or higher proficiency rate (formative data);
- 338 classes achieving at least 50% of students proficient on "OAS Benchmarks" (summative data); and
- 74 Model Educators who qualified for both the formative- and summative-proficiency awards by March 31, 2023. Forty-eight Model Educators achieved these goals by April 2022.
“We celebrate Alpha Plus Partner Schools’ success every chance we get, but this is not a popularity contest," explains Alpha Plus CEO Jan Barrick. "These awards are based on student performance this school year and nothing else.”
Educators and students at 83 schools qualified for this year’s awards from among 116 schools in 99 districts statewide. More than 21,075 students completed Alpha Plus Online interim assessments this school year. While Alpha Plus’s primary focus is on state-tested grades (3-8), the Oklahoma City school-improvement firm is also honoring top first- and second-grade and science classes this year. SEE LISTS OF AWARDS HERE!
CONGRATULATIONS TO SCHOOLS MAKING THE
ALPHA PLUS HONOR ROLL FOR 2022!
The Alpha Plus Honor Roll is finally available following release of the 2022 Oklahoma School Report Card overall scores and letter grades last week on a platform hosted by the State Department of Education.
Thirty-three schools that use the Alpha Plus Model received A or B grades compared to 26 on the honor roll in 2019 (the most recent state report cards available).
All Alpha Plus Partner Schools receiving “A” grades from the state either improved or maintained the grade over the last three school years.
Some schools such as Balko, Bennington, Flower Mound and Geronimo have used Alpha Plus tools for more than five years; others such as Fargo-Gage, Morrison, and Roff have been trained in the model over the last couple of years.
“This is the only empirical data that reflects performance by most students in Oklahoma schools in a comparable way,” explains Alpha Plus CEO Jan Barrick. “No matter opinions of state tests, they are required by state and federal law so we continue doing all we can to help schools beat the odds and help move Oklahoma into the Top Ten nationally.”
Thank you, again, for all you do! We will be sharing the good news on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter soon. Hope to "see" you there!
If you need help as you start planning for 2023-24, call your Facilitator or (405) 842-8408, or email
Copyright © 2023 Alpha Plus Systems, Inc. All rights reserved.
ALPHA PLUS EDUCATIONAL SYSTEMS
3315 N.W. 63rd St., Oklahoma City, OK 73116
Call (405) 842-8408 or email
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