FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: October 3, 2017 CONTACT: Jan Barrick or Wendy Pratt, (405) 842-8408
Alpha Plus first in publishing textbooks aligned
to new Oklahoma standards 
OKLAHOMA CITY - Alpha Plus Educational Systems, Oklahoma’s premier school improvement firm, is publishing its Success with OAS: Mathematics series. Books are now being printed and shipped from offices in Oklahoma City to schools around the state.
Over a year ago, Alpha Plus CEO Jan Barrick began working with Dr. Edna Manning, founder of the Oklahoma School of Science and Mathematics (OSSM), and Dr. Frank Wang, renowned math textbook publisher and current president of OSSM to develop this unique teaching and learning resource.
More than a dozen Oklahoma teachers drafted the first math curriculum book aligned specifically to the new Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS).
“After 20 years of developing tools that help Oklahoma schools improve student performance,” Barrick said, “teachers started asking for a Prepare to PASS series of student workbooks aligned to the new standards. We started with mathematics because it was clear the OAS was significantly different from the PASS standards required of public schools for 20 years.”
Written by Oklahoma classroom teachers for Oklahoma classroom teachers, the Success with OAS: Mathematics books were field tested in many schools last year. In late July, the team presented its elementary level books for consideration by the State Textbook Committee.
“The Alpha Plus team edited and supplemented the content to ensure alignment with the Oklahoma Academic Standards as well as the state’s Test Blueprint and Item Specifications,” Dr. Manning told the Committee. “We believe educators who use these lesson plans will have increased success helping their students attain proficiency with the OAS.”
Barrick says her team is understandably proud of Success with OAS and its Oklahoma connections. Because the series is being published to help educators teach the new standards to mastery, they are meant only for Oklahoma students.
“We found successful Oklahoma teachers to write the books, relied on our own assessment experts to edit them, and the cover artwork was provided by Oklahoma artist Joy Richardson,” Barrick explained. “Success with OAS is being printed and bound in Oklahoma City and books are being shipped from the Alpha Plus offices as well.”
Founded in 1986, Alpha Plus Educational Systems has been on a mission to improve student achievement. Since 1992, Alpha Plus has always used materials and data aligned to the current Oklahoma standards. Jan Barrick and the Alpha Plus team continue leading the way with cutting-edge curriculum and teacher training that is turning around schools across the state. For more information on Alpha Plus or how your school can beat the odds in state/federal accountability rankings, visit their website at alphaplus.org or call the main office at 405-842-8408.
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