Oklahoma releases draft of new education accountability plan

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) – The Oklahoma Department of Education is releasing its first draft of a new public schools accountability plan that features less of an emphasis on standardized tests, and aims to tackle chronic absenteeism.

The Oklahoman reports the department is developing the plan to comply with the Every Student Succeeds Act. The federal guidelines require states to use a variety of academic measures, English language proficiency and graduation rates to determine school success.

States are required to select a nonacademic indicator as part of their plan, and Oklahoma is looking at chronic absenteeism as its indicator.

ESSA defines chronic absenteeism as missing more than 10 percent of the school year.

The draft plan will be presented at a state Board of Education meeting in December. The state hopes to submit its final plan to the U.S. Department of Education in July.