Oklahoma
Association of Colleges
for
Teacher Education
Affiliate of American Association of
Colleges for Teacher Education
School of Education
7777 South Lewis Avenue
Tulsa, Oklahoma 74171
Phone 918-495-7096
Fax: 918-495-6959
May 17, 2005
Oklahoma Business and Education Coalition
123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73102
Dear OBEC member:
As a business leader who cares about education, you know the importance of accurate information to guide policy decisions made on behalf Oklahoma children. OBEC has funded and supported many key initiatives such as the Achieve study, the Just for Kids website, and a statewide student records system. Each of these initiatives has provided a strong base for future growth and progress in our educational system.
Unfortunately, a recent report released at the May 10, 2005 meeting of the Education Policy Board fails to meet the high expectations for clear and accurate information that OBEC has established in its previous work. Dr. Johnson’s presentation summarizing her written report, Oklahoma Teacher Education Programs Under the Microscope (April 2005), included several inaccurate statements. At the time, audience members were not allowed an opportunity to ask for clarification or to engage in discussion with the author. Therefore, OBEC members were not able to hear an open discussion regarding points in the report and potential fallacies.
As members of the Oklahoma Association of Colleges of Teacher Education (OACTE), we understand the complexities in preparing highly qualified teachers to meet the state’s achievement goals. In response to Dr. Johnson’s report, we offer the following documents that highlight our positions regarding the issues raised and inaccuracies in the current report:
These documents may assist you in more fully considering all aspects of the key issue of importance: how do we improve mathematics achievement for Oklahoma students.
OACTE shares OBEC’s goals of improving student learning and the belief that “Without data, you are just another person with an opinion.” We would welcome the opportunity to further discuss these issues and to work with you to identify potential policies that lead to increased student learning.
Respectfully,
Dr. Pam Robinson
President, OACTE