Oklahoma schools score again

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- Education Week magazine's annual report shows that Oklahoma's public schools remain among the national leaders in several categories.

"We are moving up the ladder," said Gov. Frank Keating. "We should take special pride in our continuing national leadership in teacher training, academic standards and school climate."

In the "Quality Counts 2001" report, Oklahoma's grade in school climate was raised from C- to C. The state's score in resources went up from C- to B+ and its score in funding equity climbed from C to B, largely because a $3,000 teacher pay raise.

The state's standard and accountability grade slipped from A- to B, but Floyd Coppedge, education secretary, said that was a temporary decline attributed to a change in how students are assessed.

"I expect us to be back to an A in that category next year,"

Coppedge said.