teacher vaccinations
Catch up on the week's Oklahoma education news in our 'coveducation' recap. (NonDoc)

The state saw some big news in the education world this week with an announcement from the State Department of Education that Oklahoma public school enrollment has dropped. The timeline for getting all Oklahoma teachers vaccinated was also found to be unclear.

In the coming week, the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education will meet Monday, Jan. 11, and Epic Charter Schools’ board, Community Strategies, is set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Stay up-to-date on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state in our coveducation recap.

Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

Some of Oklahoma’s teachers at the highest risk for contracting COVID-19 received vaccine doses this week. However, it’s unclear when all K-12 teachers in the state will receive vaccinations.

The Oklahoman’s Nuria Martinez-Keel reported this week that officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health said, at this point, federal vaccine allocations have only provided enough for the state’s most at-risk teachers and school employees.

Oklahoma public school enrollment drops significantly

NonDoc reported this week that total Oklahoma public school enrollment fell by about 1.5 percent for the current school year, marking the first time statewide enrollment has dropped in more than a decade.

However, a deeper look at the statistics released this afternoon by the Oklahoma State Department of Education shows that traditional public school districts saw an even bigger enrollment contraction as students flocked to virtual learning programs such as Epic Charter Schools.

The Tulsa World’s Andrea Eger reported that some of the biggest enrollment drops were seen in pre-K and kindergarten. These enrollment declines make up about three-fourths of the state’s public education student decrease.

OKCPS adjusts return to campus plan

Oklahoma City Public Schools Superintendent Sean McDaniel released an update on the district’s spring semester Friday afternoon, including some adjustment to the return-to-campus plan.

Students in pre-K through fourth grade will return to in-person learning with an A/B schedule on Tuesday, Jan. 19. Since Rogers Elementary also serves fourth through sixth graders, OKCPS will bring all Rogers Elementary students back for in-person learning during on Jan. 19 as well.

Special education students who learn in a self-contained classroom setting as well as alternative education students will also be welcomed back in-person on Jan. 19.

The district will continue to consider bringing fifth through 12th grades back to in-person learning with an A/B schedule on Feb. 1.

Sen. Standridge files school choice legislation

Sen. Rob Standridge (R-Norman) filed legislation this week centered around school choice.

Branded the Wellness Scholarship Program Act, SB 221 would create a voucher program to provide private school scholarships for students of parents who have health-related concerns. Similarly, Standridge’s SB 222 — termed the Hope Scholarship Program Act — would provide scholarships for students to attend a private school of choice if they have experienced bullying.

At-risk Lawton Public School employees get vaccinations

The Lawton Constitution’s Chris Wilson reported that Lawton Public Schools held a walk-in clinic this week to provide COVID-19 vaccinations to school nurses and special education teachers working with severe and profound special needs students.

Wilson spoke with a special education teacher from Lawton Public Schools about the importance of getting special education educators vaccinated, as they’re also considered health care workers.

Tulsa-area school districts return to in-person and virtual learning

Five school districts in the Tulsa area returned to learning for the spring semester this week, both in-person and virtually.

The Tulsa World’s Kelsy Schlotthauer reported that Jenks, Owasso and Union schools returned in-person and virtually on Monday. Broken Arrow returned to in-person learning Tuesday after a day of distance learning Monday.

Tulsa Public Schools is continuing distance learning until Jan. 25, when they plan to return to in-person learning.

Some Cherokee County schools reopen for spring semester

Most of the schools within Cherokee County transitioned to  virtual learning shortly before the winter break, with many returning to classes in-person and virtually this week.

Sheri Gourd with the Tahlequah Daily News reported on how schools in the county are continuing to adjust to COVID-19 and beginning their spring semesters.

Oklahoma education tweets of the week

  • Megan Prather Headshot

    Megan Prather serves as NonDoc's distribution and development specialist, helping with fundraising and leading efforts to connect readers with content. Megan worked as NonDoc's education reporter from September 2020 to August 2022. After a 16-month hiatus, she returned to the organization in January 2024 in her new role. You can reach her at megan@nondoc.com.

  • Megan Prather Headshot

    Megan Prather serves as NonDoc's distribution and development specialist, helping with fundraising and leading efforts to connect readers with content. Megan worked as NonDoc's education reporter from September 2020 to August 2022. After a 16-month hiatus, she returned to the organization in January 2024 in her new role. You can reach her at megan@nondoc.com.