What's Due in Oklahoma Schools?
January 2024: For Oklahoma School Administrators
The Winter Window for Planning
The Winter Window
Coaches say that great teams are built in the off-season. Unfortunately, you really do not get an off-season as administrators, but you do get a winter window!
During the winter window, effective administrators prepare for the next school year. The fall reporting season is (mostly) behind you, and most students and staff are in the groove of school, so you have a chance to prepare for August.
Of course, financial and staffing should be considered, but those processes – although challenging – are fairly routine. When possible, the real opportunities of the Winter Window are the improvements needed for the upcoming school year.
Change is ALWAYS hard for educators, so below are a few things to consider:
1. Limit the volume of change – you and your people can only do so much, so be very intentional with change.
2. Do no harm: We often only focus on the possible benefits, but the smallest changes can disrupt a school, so predict any disruption that may result.
3. Get Feedback and Input from those who will be impacted, no matter how small the change.
4. Establish a timeline now with checkpoints to ensure things are moving along.
5. When possible, purchase critical items before July.
6. Plan PD early enough to ensure people are ready.
7. Be ready to adjust or even delay plans.
8. Celebrate every small step along the way – always better than a boring update.
Everything is a blur after spring break, so effective administrators learn to use the Winter Window wisely. Anything you have planned, prepared, and provisioned during this Winter Window has a much better chance of smoothly succeeding when August starts.
By Grace,
Tom Deighan, Ph.D.
January 2024 Monthly Accountability Deadlines and Resources
What’s Due in Oklahoma Charter Schools
Monthly Accountability
January 2024
1. This list compiles deadlines and resources directly from multiple OKSDE newsletters and the Reporting Requirements Calendar as a resource for Oklahoma school officials, but sources may not be accurate, and this list is never comprehensive. Always ask, email, or call OKSDE officials if you have any questions or concerns. Your best resources are always the hard-working staff inside the OKSDE.
2. Subscribe to OKSDE updates and newsletters: https://sde.ok.gov/
3. OKSDE REPORTING REQUIREMENTS CALENDAR (Deadlines Posted by Start Date, Not Due Date)
4. Critical School Resources:
a. Required Professional Development for Schools
b. Required Safety Drills for Oklahoma Public Schools (Restart for Spring)
d. New Laws for 2023-24 Courtesy of CCOSA
e. 2022 School Law Book Courtesy of OSSBA
5. Currently Posted Deadlines for January 2024
a. December 22: Dropout DVR Window Closes accountability@sde.ok.gov or 405-522-5169.
b. December 30: District Bullying Prevention Policy
c. December 31: First Semester Bus Evacuation Drills Completed
d. January 11: OTSP Pre-Coding Due (“Snapshot” occurs on 12th)
e. January 15: District Transfer Capacity Report in SSO; (405) 521-3335 http://sde.ok.gov/sde/oklahoma-charter-schools-program
f. January 15: District Incoming Transfer Results in SSO; (405) 521-3335: https://sde.ok.gov/accreditation-standards-division
g. January 27: Title I part C Migrant Credit Report and Code for Fall: (405) 521-2846; https://sde.ok.gov/federal-programs
6. Spring Semester Radar:
a. Suggestion: Spring Testing is almost here, so consider a quick check-in with your testing coordinators, etc. to see what support they need.
b. Many Safety drills must be scheduled/repeated in Spring semester.
c. February 1: Spring Testing Non-standard Accommodation Requests in SSO (405) 521-3341 ; https://sde.ok.gov/office-assessments
d. February 1: Mid-Year Personnel Report; (405) 521-3369; https://sde.ok.gov/school-personnel-records
e. February 2: Graduation Part-Time Enrollment Report in the Wave https://sde.ok.gov/counseling
f. February 5: Flex Benefit Allowance (FBA) in SSO
g. January 15 – April 30: Oklahoma Academic Scholars Reporting; (405) 522-3219; https://sde.ok.gov/instruction-index
h. Now - April 30: Oklahoma Seal of Biliteracy Report (405) 522-3525; https://sde.ok.gov/gifted-and-talented-education
i. January 31 to June 30: Contract for Audit of Public Schools by Independent Audtior; email to: Katherine.Black@sde.ok.gov: (405) 521-2517; https://sde.ok.gov/financial-accounting
7. Training Opportunities
a. December 31 Deadline: CLICK HERE to Enroll in Bullying, Substance Abuse, and Suicide Trainings Near You in January and February 2024
b. Click Here for 2023-24 Writing Contests
c. Counselor Training from OSU thru May: Project ECHO Monthly Virtual
d. Coffee with Counselors
e. Diabetes Management Training (DMT):
a. Tuesday, March 5, 2024, 9 AM-12 PM
f. 2023-24 PARAPROFESSIONAL Conferences, August - March: Register for one of FOUR Locations
g. Holocaust Bill 1671 Summer Conference Registration
h. January 30: OCSS (Social Studies Conference) Register here.
i. SPRING Alt Ed Regional Meetings
8. Other Resources, Ongoing PD, and Opportunities
- NAEP Science Assessment Framework
- WIDA Recertification Training – Opens September 1 Assessment Training | WIDA Secure Portal Please reach out to Hanna.Hensley@sde.ok.gov with any questions.
- Early Childhood Consortium Information: Click for Google form.
- Fine Arts Regional Meetings: https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/OKSDE/bulletins/37112df
- Application for Purple Star Designation for your District: click here.
- Handle With Care First Responder Partnership: Download Handle with Care Info Sheet
- EXTENSIVE LIST OF SPED TRAININGS FROM OKSDE – Project 613
- Alternate Diploma Codes, subject codes, titles, and course descriptions (HB 1041 Compliance)
- October 12-13: Oklahoma Autism Conference https://okautism.org/Training/Conference
- 2023 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Health
- 2023 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Physical Education
l. Behavioral Science for Teachers (BeST)
m. EdPlan June Update Document.
n. OAAP Criteria Checklist for Assessing Students with Disabilities on Alternate Assessments.
o. Imagine Math: Free for 22-23
p. CHATGPT and AI Resources for Teachers
q. SPED Boot Camp Opportunities
a. ECU – East Central University
b. OSU - Oklahoma State University
c. SNU - Southern Nazarene University
d. NSU - Northeastern State University
e. SWOSU - Southwestern Oklahoma State University
f. CU - Cameron University
r. SPED MTSS Support Training: Application for SPDG MTSS Implementation Support.
s. SPED Training: Alternative Pathways for General Education and Alternative Pathways for Special Education.
t. OSU SERC CENTER for SPED Training: SERC CENTER INFORMATION
u. Monthly SERC Dispute Resolution Seminars: https://okserc.org/
v. ALTERNATIVE EDUCATION PROGRAM SITE VISIT EVIDENCE CHECKLIST FOR FY24
w. Crisis Prevention Intervention (CPI) Training 2023-24 Dates save the date
x. WIDA/ELL/Title III Webinars: Reporting, Data, Consortiums
y. WIDA assessments What to Know in 2023-24 school year | WIDA (wisc.edu)
z. Academic Advisement and Policy Guidebook – Very Helpful Guidebook
aa. Concurrent Enrollment Guidance Document (HS College Enrollment)
bb. Writing Resources:
a. OSTP ELA Test/Item Specifications:
1. 3rd Grade
2. 4th Grade
3. 5th Grade
b. Reading Universe - Handwriting and Keyboarding
c. Reading Universe - Text Composition
d. Reading Rockets - Looking at Writing
e. Keys to Literacy - Free Resources and Templates
f. Literacy Ideas - The Writing Process
g. The Kastner Collection - Effective Writing Practices
- Free Bootstrap STEM Training Application and Information; Contact jeremy.maker@sde.ok.gov for more information
Mostly Educational Newspaper Column
Unfortunately, we must remind Oklahomans of the precious value of public schools and that they can always trust the common-sense Oklahomans who fill their local schools. I send an article to Oklahoma newspapers about twice a month. Below are recent articles:
- NEW: Removing Gaslighting in Schools for 2024 (December 28, 2023)
- NEW: Christmas: Secretly Banned in Oklahoma Schools (December 14, 2023)
- Bad Pies and Good Intentions for Schools (November 30, 2023)
- · Cancelling Real Thanksgiving and Virtual Instruction (November 16, 2023)
- · Teaching and Learning in Quicksand (November 2, 2023)
- · Real Classroom Politics (October 19, 2023)
If these resonate with you, ask your local editor to share. Please repost and share with your community, too, if you think appropriate.
Local newspapers are often our schools' biggest supporters. so let them know how much you appreciate them,.