• Opportunities for a well-rounded, supportive education
Primary and secondary students may want to transfer schools or districts for a variety of reasons, and researching the opportunities available to your child at your local public school is a great place to start. In OKCPS, full-time art, music and PE teachers, counselors and nurses at every school provide students with a well-rounded educational experience regardless of the area they live. Pathway to Greatness allowed OKCPS to provide each student with a learning device and to help with connectivity as needed. Family Connect helps entire families with everything from mental and physical health to senior citizen support and transportation. In addition to the 55 neighborhood schools, the district has three alternative education schools and five application middle and high schools — public schools with a competitive application process and criteria for selection — some of which have been ranked as top in the state of Oklahoma. For students interested in a particular area of study, OKCPS offers specific academies focused on areas of interest at each school. For example, if a student wants to pursue health sciences, there are three high schools that have health science academies: Classen School of Advanced Studies at Northeast, Northwest Classen and U.S. Grant. If a student’s assigned high school wasn’t one of these three schools, transferring would be a great option. • Commitment to diversity With more than 65 languages spoken throughout the school district, OKCPS is one of the most ethnically diverse districts in the state. The Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation helps the district ensure they are hiring teachers who look like the students they’re teaching with the Bilingual and Diversity Pipeline programs. The pipeline provides financial and academic support for paraprofessionals who are bilingual or of color who are already working in OKCPS to earn their teaching certifications. Upon successful completion, the paraprofessionals become full-time teachers in OKCPS.
OKCPS ONLINE EDUCATION OPPORTUNITIES INCLUDE SUPPORT FROM A TRADITIONAL SCHOOL WITHIN THE DISTRICT.
• Online education with support from a home school In addition to in-person learning, OKCPS also offers a full-time online educational experience through the e3 program. The e3 program differs from traditional online-only programs by keeping students connected to a neighborhood school and providing the option to take electives like arts and sports at the school. e3 students can also attend field trips with their home school if they choose and OKCPS provides a tablet or laptop and support with connectivity. Graduating seniors can walk with their class at graduation and transcripts will list a traditional school. Out-of- district transfers to OKCPS’s e3 program are welcome. Families interested in transferring into OKCPS should fill out a transfer request form on okcps.org/transfer. Transfers are considered in the order in which they are received and acceptance into the district will depend on school capacity, student’s behavior and attendance. Supporting Your Local Public School Whether or not your student attends an OKCPS school, there are still many ways families can help support the district or the public school near you, such as: • Volunteer: Donate time and volunteer at your local school. From assisting teachers to reading to students and giving a hand with school events, help is always appreciated for busy teachers and staff! To sign up as a volunteer, visit okcps.org/volunteers. • DonorsChoose: If time is a constraint, consider funding an OKCPS classroom project on DonorsChoose.org/OKCPS. From STEM to arts, PE and more, choose a project you’d like to support and help your neighborhood public school! • Coat-A-Kid: Winters in Oklahoma can be brutal. Unfortunately, many students do not have the warmth of a winter coat to bundle up when the temperatures drop. With the Coat-A-Kid program, the Oklahoma City Public Schools Foundation provides a brand new winter coat to students with only a $20 donation. Make a difference for the children in your community to stay warm during the cold months. Visit okckids.com/coat-a-kid to make a donation. • Vote: Showing up to the polls and making your voice heard through local elections is a great way to support public education. Board of Education members are voted in by their constituents, and new projects, programs and facilities are voted upon through bond elections. Visit your public school district’s website to learn about upcoming elections.
OKCPS PROVIDES RESOURCES AND CONNECTION THROUGH THE NATIVE AMERICAN STUDENT SERVICES DEPARTMENT.
METROFAMILYMAGAZINE.COM / MAY-JUNE 2022 11
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