Student success has been a hallmark of many of
the initiatives created and implemented by the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education during the last decade. Several of those initiatives
have drawn praise from groups and organizations nationwide.
One of those organizations – the National Governors Association
(NGA) – has recently recognized the State Regents’ efforts in promoting
student success by selecting Oklahoma as one of two sites for its
Center for Best Practices learning laboratories scheduled for April
16-17 at the Renaissance Hotel in downtown Oklahoma City. Indiana
will serve as the other host site.
The purpose of the daylong learning laboratories is to stimulate
momentum in states for early intervention strategies designed to
improve the college access and success of low-income students and
to build political influence to change public policy.
NGA officials chose Oklahoma as a lab site primarily because of
the success of its Educational Planning and Assessment System (EPAS).
Created in 1993, Oklahoma EPAS is a voluntary assessment system
that provides valuable feedback to students and parents, as well
as middle schools and high schools, about student performance for
college. Approximately 80 percent of Oklahoma’s public schools and
33 private schools participated in Oklahoma EPAS during the 2000-2001
school year.
“As part of the National Governors Association’s four-year initiative
on higher education, the NGA Center for Best Practices will be showcasing
Oklahoma's comprehensive efforts to identify, prepare and support
students for college success to six states interested in adapting
these innovations to their own state needs,” said Kristin Conklin,
senior policy analyst for the NGA Center for Best Practices.
Chancellor Hans Brisch, who will serve as a moderator during the
event, said the State Regents are more than willing to share their
success stories as well as listen to the promising ideas and initiatives
that other states have in place.
“It is extremely important to make sure that not only are Oklahoma’s
young people prepared for the rigors of college but also young people
in every state. We are deeply honored that the National Governors
Association thinks so much of our student preparation programs that
it chose our state as one of two learning lab sites in the U.S.,”
he said.
Besides Brisch, other speakers and panelists for the learning lab
include State Regent Cheryl Hunter, as well as Gov. Frank Keating,
Oklahoma Legislators and State Regents’ staff.
National speakers and facilitators include Janis Somerville of the
National Association of System Heads; Hector Garza, president of
the National Council for Community and Education Partnerships; Paul
Lingenfelter, executive director of the State Higher Education Executive
Officers; Cyndie Schmeiser, vice president for development at ACT,
Inc.; and Phyllis Hudecki, executive director of the Oklahoma Business
and Education Coalition.
Funded by a grant from the Lumina Foundation, the NGA will send
a team consisting of the governor or his designee, the higher education
executive officer and one legislator from six participating states
to Oklahoma to learn more about Oklahoma EPAS.
Each team will examine several components of Oklahoma EPAS, such
as the testing of eighth and 10th graders in English, math, reading
and science reasoning; the workshops and other training programs
that help teachers, counselors and administrators use EPAS data
to improve student achievement; and its link to the Oklahoma Higher
Learning Access Program (OHLAP), one of Oklahoma’s need-based scholarship
programs that awards free college tuition to students who enroll
in the program during their eighth-, ninth- or 10th grade years,
maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average, take 17 core courses
and stay out of trouble.
“It is gratifying to have our long-term student preparation efforts
recognized by the National Governors Association,” State Regents’
Chairman Joe Mayer said. “Oklahoma has made great progress in preparing
our young people for college, and if there is anything we can do
to help other students across the country succeed, we will certainly
do it.”
Governors from all 50 states, three territories and two commonwealths
comprise the National Governors Association. Through the NGA, the
nation’s governors collectively influence the development and implementation
of national policy and apply creative leadership to state issues.
The U.S. Department of Education awarded Oklahoma with a state GEAR UP grant totaling $20.5 million in August 1999. The grant has been matched by more than $25 million from state and partner resources. With funds totaling $45.5 million, GEAR UP receives 45 percent of total funding from the federal government and 55 percent from other organizations.
