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OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Oklahoma City school officials said the state's loss of a No Child Left Behind waiver could affect almost $4 million in federal funding the district now spends on programs and services for low-performing schools.
Officials with Oklahoma City Public Schools told The Oklahoman (http://bit.ly/1roxE0D ) that 37 schools use the money for summer school and after-school math and reading programs, professional development or supplemental curriculum for remediation purposes.
"They could be affected if we lose the flexibility," said Terry Fraley, the district's executive director of federal programs. "Right now, we do not know."
The district said it is waiting for guidance from the state to determine how the waiver loss will affect the funding.
Tricia Pemberton, a spokeswoman for the Oklahoma Education Department, said state officials are determining a yearly progress status for every school district in Oklahoma.
"Once that status has been determined, we will be able to give districts specific information for the district and each school site," Pemberton said.
The U.S. Department of Education last week denied Oklahoma's request to extend a waiver that provides flexibility under the federal law in how it spends up to $29 million. Federal officials said it was because Oklahoma could no longer prove students were leaving high school ready for college or a career after the state repealed Common Core standards for English and math.
Oklahoma public schools changed back to old academic measures that have not been certified yet as meeting college- and career-ready standards by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. The state is in the process of developing new academic criteria.
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Information from: The Oklahoman, http://www.newsok.com
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