TPS in 'earliest stages' of considering school closures at state’s urging

The state’s largest school district is contending with State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ unrelenting demands for proof that local leaders can produce significant improvement in student achievement indicators in the current academic year.

As part of its compliance with stipulations the state board made in approving its annual accreditation, TPS administrators are being called upon to make monthly status updates.

Interim Superintendent Ebony Johnson revealed that school closures are under consideration because of the state’s urging to consolidate staff and other resources.

Asked for further details, a TPS spokesman told the Tulsa World that district leaders are in the “earliest stages of discussing the idea.”

“We’ve been asked to evaluate all options for improving results for our students, and we are going to make sure staff and resources are in their best fit for promoting student outcomes,” said Luke Chitwood. “There’s not a defined timeline. I think we’re just following through on what the state has asked us to consider.”

In a written statement issued Thursday afternoon, TPS officials said the district was asked by state Department of Education officials to address the possibility of closing or consolidating schools during its November presentation before the Oklahoma State Board of Education and that any decisions to that effect would be made by TPS’ board.

“Any closure or consolidation of schools is a local decision and requires careful consideration and intentional engagement with our families, community and board,” the statement says.

After Thursday’s presentation by TPS officials, Walters and other members of his team said they are not being “ambitious” enough in goal-setting.

The state Department of Education wanted to take it upon itself to establish new goals that will double as new minimum standards for Tulsa to be accredited by the state in future academic years, and Gov. Kevin Stitt’s appointed state Board of Education gave its unanimous approval.

“Tulsa is giving us updates and talking about processes and procedures. Those are not outcomes. This solidifies ‘here’s the number.’ It’s super clear,” said Walters. “Whether it is a school shutdown, whether it is combining school sites or changing leadership, we are still giving Tulsa the ability to hit these targets.”

Todd Loftin, chief academic officer at the state Department of Education, told the board he believes that TPS has not outlined ambitious goals for student learning, has not trained all its teachers to provide the best instruction, and has not identified which schools should be closed due to poor performance or developed any type of restructuring plan.

As far as consolidation, Loftin said he and other state officials have analyzed TPS staffing data showing how many teachers at individual sites have three or fewer years of experience, where the district has its most effective instructional leaders, and even school sizes, which vary widely.

“We need to get a plan in place as soon as possible,” Loftin said.

The state board-approved new minimum improvements for TPS to achieve before July are:

A minimum of 50% of students scoring at least in the “basic” range on the 2024 state test in English/language arts for public school students or increase the number of students who score basic or above by at least 5%.

At least 12 of TPS' 18 most rigorous intervention sites will not be redesignated as such. The label is applied to sites that consistently earn low grades on the state report card.

All teachers and school administrators will be trained in a state-approved “science of reading” model.

Protect TPS, a grassroots group of Tulsans led by parent Ashley Daly, released a written statement to the press saying the saying the state board agreed to adopt “unrealistic goals” and that the group believes that the school district is simply being set up for a state takeover.

“No evidence has been provided indicating that any other district of similar size or circumstance has ever made such gains,” says the Protect TPS statement. “Under the guise of high expectations, the Oklahoma State Board of Education has laid the groundwork for an eventual takeover that will serve as a model for further takeovers of more than 40 districts who will be subject to similar treatment and unrealistic expectations should the proposed accreditation plan move forward.

“Protect TPS urges intervention from legislators, the public, and educators to halt this chaotic approach and promote fair, locally-driven governance.”

During the meeting, Walters estimated that meeting the first goal for improved test outcomes would require TPS to get 1,300 students to improve from below basic to the basic range on reading tests.

“We are simply helping Tulsa hit half of basic, which is still insufficient for helping a student succeed in life,” said state board member Don Burdick, a businessman from Tulsa. “That is the focus, and people get mad at you? (referring to Walters) I’m flabbergasted.”

State tests are used to determine a student’s readiness along a continuum.

“Below basic” is the lowest outcome on that continuum, meaning “unsatisfactory,” according to the state.

Basic or limited knowledge means the student demonstrates “partial mastery of the essential knowledge and skills that are foundational.”

Proficient means the student “demonstrates mastery over challenging grade-level subject matter,” and students who score in the advanced range demonstrate “superior performance on challenging subject matter.”

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