| Oklahoma City Schools have ridden a roller coaster of | | | | created in 2001 that has earmarked $512 million for |
| ups and downs for the past decade. The district was | | | | new or renovated school buildings for all Oklahoma |
| labeled as "in need of improvement" under the No Child | | | | City Schools. Other funds in the initiative include $52 |
| Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB). That federal mandate | | | | million for computer and technological resources for |
| led to major overhauls which included a district | | | | Oklahoma City Schools. The plan draws on sales tax |
| improvement plan, a comprehensive local education | | | | increases over the coming years, as well as bond |
| plan (CLEP) and numerous initiatives by then | | | | funds to feed the aggressive changes. Board |
| superintendent Bob Moore. The changes have seen | | | | members and administrators in the Oklahoma City |
| marked improvements. | | | | Schools believe that Porter, coming from a district that |
| Following Moore's resignation, interim superintendent | | | | manages an operating budget of $1.85 billion fairly |
| Linda S. Brown and the Oklahoma City Schools' Board | | | | successfully, will be able to use district funding to |
| instituted four major tools to help meet Adequate | | | | institute the needed AYP improvements. |
| Yearly Progress (AYP) as required by the NCLB act. | | | | The nearly year long search for the new Oklahoma |
| These tools are: district restructuring, the Instructional | | | | City Schools Superintendent seems to have board |
| Facilitator Program, the Organizational Health Inventory, | | | | members breathing a sigh of relief. Oklahoma City |
| and the High Performance Model. The major concern | | | | Schools have gone over 10 months without a |
| of Oklahoma City Schools during the previous | | | | permanent leader in the superintendent's position. |
| academic year was finding someone capable of | | | | Chairman of the Oklahoma City Schools Board, Cliff |
| continuing the upward progress of these initiatives. | | | | Hudson said, "While it has taken us some time to find a |
| That search came to an end in April when Oklahoma | | | | new leader, I can say it was worth the wait because |
| City Schools announced the selection of John Q. | | | | we have found an exceptional person to lead the |
| Porter as the next Superintendent of Schools. Porter is | | | | Oklahoma City Public Schools District." |
| currently Deputy Superintendent of the highly ranked | | | | While politics dictate that this sunny outlook will face |
| Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) in | | | | challenges during the actual interactions over the next |
| Rockville, Maryland. Porter is nationally recognized for | | | | school year, the fact that Porter is positively embraced |
| his work in improving both accountability and | | | | by most of the Oklahoma City Schools administrators |
| academics in the MCPS. He also has had success in | | | | is encouraging. Hudson implied that the community |
| integrating technology with student learning. This is one | | | | investment made by MAPS for kids was partly |
| of the reasons that Oklahoma City Schools think he | | | | responsible for the high quality of applicants who |
| might be the right man for the job. | | | | applied for the superintendent's position. Porter will |
| Oklahoma City Schools have received acclaim for its | | | | officially assume the title of Oklahoma City Schools |
| MAPS (Metropolitan Area Public Schools) for kids | | | | newest superintendent on July 1st. |
| program. MAPS for kids is an "historic bond initiative" | | | | |