FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: May 8, 2019.
CONTACT: Wendy Pratt, Alpha Plus, (405) 842-8408.
Students, Teachers Honored for Progress with Oklahoma Standards.
The state’s only data-driven teacher and class awards have been decided, according to Alpha Plus CEO Jan Barrick.
The 2019 Success with OAS Awards recognize students and teachers for their achievements under the Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS) in mathematics and reading.
To choose the honorees, Barrick says her Oklahoma City-based team analyzed current school-year assessment data through April 15 at schools statewide that use Alpha Plus tools. Awards are being sent to 65 schools this week, with some being presented in school assemblies this month.
“Our data allows us to monitor – in real time – student progress under the new, more-rigorous Oklahoma Academic Standards,” Barrick said. “For these awards, we evaluated math and reading formative and summative data. This year’s honorees have made tremendous progress.”
While student scores on the 2019 state tests will not be available until later this month, Alpha Plus data has historically been an accurate predictor of student success.
“Teachers who use our data are able to identify the specific skills they need to address for each student,” Barrick said. “The granular level of our data helps teachers better prepare students to succeed.”
The awards being distributed this week include:
- Alpha Plus Model Teachers were selected from each school administering both formative and summative assessments in Grades 3-8 this school year according to the Alpha Plus Model of School Improvement. Only teachers meeting minimum criteria in terms of data and evidence of effectiveness were eligible for recognition. More than 400 teachers statewide were eligible as of April 15, yet only 57 teachers were chosen for awards.
- Greatest OAS Growth Math Class and Greatest OAS Growth Reading Class Awards recognize classes with the highest academic growth between the baseline and spring summative benchmarks. A mirror of the state tests, these assessments help teachers know each student level of mastery at key points in the year. Alpha Plus benchmarks provide a true growth model for ensuring progress of each student throughout the year. Fifty-six math classes and 46 reading classes were recognized for highest growth in their schools.
- Success with OAS Goals Met Awards honor each class that covered the subject matter required in state and federal law by completing all formative quizzes aligned to the OAS objectives. These awards recognize teachers and students who work at a steady pace from Labor Day to Spring Break each year. Statewide, 355 classes using common formative assessments achieved their OAS goals for the year.
“This year, we were honored to work with more than 500 educators serving 10,500 students to improve teaching and learning of the OAS,” Barrick said. “We thank all of the great teachers who live and work in communities across our state. We are pleased to recognize these educators for going above and beyond for Oklahoma kids.”
Alpha Plus provides training, assessments and resources for schools statewide. Founded in 1990 by an Oklahoma teacher, Alpha Plus curriculum and teaching tools are aligned solely to Oklahoma Academic Standards. More information, including a full list of this year’s honorees, is available at www.alphaplus.org.
BELOW ARE OUR AWARD LISTS. (Please click on the pdf links to view.)
2019 Alpha Plus Model Teacher Awards by District
2019 Alpha Plus Model Teacher Awards by Name