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State Profiles
Oklahoma
Oklahoma has been a leader in the pre-kindergarten movement since 1980 when the Oklahoma legislature created pilot pre-k program grants for districts wanting to serve four year olds. By 2003, Oklahoma ranked first in the nation for the percentage of four year olds enrolled in publicly-funded pre-k. Through the hard work of long-time pre-k supporters in the State Department of Education and throughout the education, child care, and social services communities, Oklahoma created a high-quality program in which children are served in public schools, Head Start agencies, childcare programs, assisted living centers, Indian Nation centers, YMCAs, hospitals, and faith-based facilities. All pre-k teachers, regardless of the setting, are required to hold a bachelor's degree and early childhood certification, and they are paid on the same salary schedule as all other public school teachers.
Key Milestones
| 1980 |
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Legislation passes allowing public schools to receive grant money for model pre-k programs for four-year-old children. Even the initial pilot programs require high standards and are offered to all four-year-old children, regardless of income, in districts that received grants. The standards were written in collaboration with childcare and Head Start. |
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| 1990 |
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The Education Reform and Funding Act moves pre-k funding into the State Aid funding formula. All school districts may receive state aid funds for four-year-old students that meet Head Start eligibility guidelines. Districts may charge tuition on a sliding fee scale to other students. |
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| 1998 |
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Legislation in 1998 enables school districts to receive funding through the State Aid formula to serve all four-year-old children, regardless of income. The program, which is voluntary for both schools and parents, sees a substantial increase in participation.
Pre-k programs enroll 16,787 children in the 1998-99 school year.
Oklahoma continues to create successful collaborations between public schools, Head Start, and childcare providers. School districts continue to creatively partner with other agencies (faith-based providers, YMCAs, and adult assisted living centers) to provide the facilities and support for public school pre-k classes. Oklahoma's high pre-k quality standards are maintained no matter where the program is offered. For example, if the pre-k program is offered in a facility off school grounds, the early childhood certified teacher is funded by the public school and the teacher receives a public teacher salary and benefits. |
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| 2003 |
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The Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness is established by the Oklahoma State Legislature to promote school readiness by supporting community-based efforts to increase the number of children who are ready to succeed by the time they enter school. |
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| 2004 |
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Georgetown University’s Center for Research on Children in the U.S. releases a significant study of Tulsa’s pre-k program. The study,  “The Effects of Oklahoma’s Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program on School Readiness,” finds that Tulsa’s pre-k program produced substantial academic benefits for all children in the program, regardless of race or ethnicity. |
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| 2005 |
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A December 2005 National Institute for Early Education Research study of high-quality pre-k programs in five states reveals significant improvement in children's early language, literacy, and math development. The study finds that children attending state-funded pre-k programs with certified early childhood teachers in Oklahoma made significant gains regardless of ethnic background or economic circumstances. |
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| 2006 |
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Ninety-eight percent of school districts offer pre-k programs, an increase of more than 30% from 1998.
For the 2005-2006 school year, 33,296 Oklahoma children participate in pre-k. |
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| 2007 |
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Following the governor’s recommendation, a bill to create a pilot pre-k program for three year olds was considered but failed to pass. |
Pre-K Champions
Through more than two decades of development, the primary leaders have been the state superintendents - in particular, current State Superintendent of Public Instruction Sandy Garrett - state lawmakers, governors, and State Department of Education staff members. Key partners include: the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, Division of Childcare; Oklahoma Association of Community Action Agencies; Oklahoma Head Start; and, officials representing childcare, Head Start, and Oklahoma's Indian Nation tribes.
Dr. Ramona Paul was instrumental in setting quality standards from the beginning of the pre-k program in 1980 when she was the Early Childhood Coordinator for the Oklahoma State Department of Education. She is currently Assistant State Superintendent for Professional Services and oversees and champions the Early Childhood Programs for the State Department of Education.
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Meeting the Challenge of Rural Pre-K
Families everywhere struggle to find high-quality pre-k programs for their children, but the problem is even more acute in rural areas. Pre-K Now has come out with recommendations for federal policymakers to help states meet the unique challenges of rural pre-k.
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Video: Briefing on America's Pre-K Movement
Pre-K Now held a briefing for congressional staff, cosponsored by Sen. Hillary Clinton and Sen. Kit Bond, on October 1. Hear what a governor, three superintendents, two directors of early childhood programs, and a national teacher of the year think Congress should do to increase families' access to quality, state-funded pre-k.
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Find High-Quality Pre-K
With Our Checklist
Quality is key to unlocking pre-k's many benefits. Learn what to ask about and look for when choosing a pre-k program for your child.
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Tour a Pre-K Classroom
Through our virtual classroom tour and our short video following real children through their pre-k year, we will help you recognize high quality, understand why it makes a difference, and show you how children benefit.
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