Public Meeting on Future of Education Is Wednesday

The public is invited to attend a meeting Wednesday to discuss the new law on education – the Every Student Succeeds Act – which returns education policy creation and decision making back to the state and local control.

The meeting, conducted by the Oklahoma State Department of Education, will be held from noon to 1:15 p.m. at Sallisaw Middle School. The meeting will be in Room 100, which is the Media Center.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) is seeking stakeholder opinions on what Oklahoma public schools should do and be at these town hall forums scheduled across the state. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the federal education law that replaces No Child Left Behind. The law requires states to gather meaningful stakeholder input to inform their own comprehensive education plan based on ESSA guidelines.

The public is invited to join State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister for a series of ESSA feedback sessions at Engage OK on the Road, OSDE’s annual summer education conference. The conference will be stopping in Broken Arrow, Sallisaw, Durant, Edmond, Woodward and Lawton July 18-28, and each site will include lunchtime meetings where members of the public will have an opportunity to discuss the new law. The town hall forums will focus on academic standards, assessments, accountability, school improvement and teacher quality. Lunch will not be provided. Attendees are encouraged to bring a brown-bag lunch and a friend or coworker.

“Through community engagement and meaningful collaboration on ESSA, we will ensure that we develop a strong, vigorous education plan that reflects the opinions and values of Oklahomans and lifts the outcomes of school children in this state,” said Hofmeister. “I urge all educators, administrators, parents and engaged citizens to provide feedback and join the conversation. Together we can shape the future of public education in Oklahoma.” 

Reservations are not required for the lunch meetings. Those unable to attend Engage OK’s lunch meetings may complete an online ESSA survey to ensure their voices are heard or email feedback on the new law to ESSAfeedback@sde.ok.gov.

Visit the ESSA page on the OSDE website to see a video message from Superintendent Hofmeister, ESSA resources and a timeline. In the months ahead, OSDE plans to solicit input from various advisory boards and work groups and will host additional stakeholder meetings.

Sally Maxwell, Senior News Director

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