| All schools across America strive for excellence, | | | | 200,000 computers are available for students' use, |
| which is reflected through various regional, state, | | | | at a rate of one computer for every three |
| or national awards. Being recognized as an | | | | students. Ninety-nine percent of Oklahoma |
| excellent place of learning can help schools in | | | | Schools classrooms have internet access. A |
| numerous ways. Some awards give the recipients | | | | majority of this progress in technology comes |
| a cash bonus, while others give an endorsement | | | | from the federal E-Rate program, local bond |
| of excellence. Oklahoma City Public Schools are no | | | | issues and grants, and upgrades for schools and |
| exception. Recognized for numerous, innovative | | | | libraries in high poverty areas. Oklahoma Schools |
| programs, and admirable improvement, Oklahoma | | | | not only added technology to the classrooms, but |
| Schools enjoy a high status within the 50 states. | | | | have also integrated standards defining basic skills |
| Improved in reading and math, advances in | | | | of technology into its core curriculum for Pre-K |
| technology, and being named a Blue Ribbon School | | | | through 12th grade, known as the Priority |
| are all examples of these recognitions. One of the | | | | Academic Student Skills (PASS). Students must |
| highest national honors an Oklahoma School (or | | | | learn the operation of a computer, application of |
| any other school in the nation, for that matter), | | | | software as a tool, problem-solving skills, |
| can receive is being named a Blue Ribbon School. | | | | telecommunications skills and ethical and legal |
| The Blue Ribbon honors schools that have closed | | | | issues in using technology. Oklahoma Schools have |
| achievement gaps and where students are | | | | shown improved performance in reading and |
| excelling at high levels. For the 2006 - 2007 school | | | | math at all levels between 2002 and 2006. |
| year, several Oklahoma Schools have been | | | | Achievement gaps between different ethnic |
| recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. | | | | groups have narrowed between 2002 and 2006 in |
| More than 50 schools in the state have been | | | | reading at all grade levels tested. The biggest |
| honored since this program began in 1982. Six | | | | improvements were seen in elementary math, |
| Oklahoma Schools were honored for the school | | | | but reading scores have also increased. In the |
| year. Four elementary schools and two middle | | | | Technology Counts 2007 report released March |
| schools received the honor. The number of K-12 | | | | 29, Oklahoma Schools earned an overall B- |
| schools, public or private, that each state can | | | | compared to the national average of a C+. The |
| nominate depends on that state's population. 60 | | | | state's schools scored an A- in the use of |
| percent of schools nominated each year for the | | | | technology for student standards, establishing a |
| Blue Ribbon status are recognized by the federal | | | | virtual school and offering computer-based testing. |
| government. All six of the nominated Oklahoma | | | | Oklahoma Schools, as well as the other schools |
| Schools won the recognition. These Oklahoma | | | | throughout the nation were surveyed to measure |
| Schools are recognized because they have met | | | | the status of K-12 educational technology; |
| criteria in two areas. These requirements are: | | | | developments over the past ten years are also |
| improvements made by low-income students, and | | | | considered. |
| schools that have scored in the top 10% on the | | | | Patricia Hawke is a staff writer for Schools K-12, |
| state's standardized tests. Advances in technology | | | | providing free, in-depth reports on all U.S. public |
| have been made in Oklahoma Schools. More than | | | | and private K-12 schools. |