State needs tougher tests in English, math, group says

Friday, August 30th 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) _ Oklahoma high schools need tougher standards in mathematics and English, according to a nonprofit academic review group that has Gov. Frank Keating on its board of directors.

Achieve Inc. also recommended sanctioning schools whose students perform poorly on state mandated tests and reporting test results more clearly so that more Oklahomans can understand how students are doing.

The group also suggested keeping similar standards for students at the state's Career Tech system so that Oklahoma does not develop a ``two-tiered system of education.''

Achieve Executive Vice President Matthew Gandal said the study found reluctance from some Oklahomans including rural legislators over the need for higher academic standards.

Stan Lybarger, Oklahoma Business Education Coalition chairman and president and chief executive of Bank of Oklahoma, said business leaders know the state's future depends on having a well-educated work force.

``Oklahoma needs to improve at the same or better pace than other states,'' he said.

The news was not all bad. Achieve credited Oklahoma for education reform efforts in the 1990s. Oklahoma was also praised as being one of the few states that require writing tests.

State schools Superintendent Sandy Garrett said many of the concerns identified in the study were already addressed in the spring when the state revised standards. She said the state's new Academic Performance Index will also help the state reward schools for achieving growth targets.

Higher education Chancellor Hans Brisch said the Achieve report provides educators with some direction and said the state, to provide incentive, could tie college admission to some test scores.

The $191,000 study was paid for by the Oklahoma Business Education Coalition, the state Education Department and the state Regents for Higher Education.