By Dr. John Cox, Peggs Public Schools Superintendent and Candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction
The data demands it: in 2024, on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), Oklahoma ranked 47th in 4th-grade reading, 48th in 8th-grade reading, 44th in 4th-grade math, and 45th in 8th-grade math. Only about one in five eighth graders reads at a proficient level; slightly fewer than one in three fourth graders do. (KGOU)
These statistics are more than numbers – they’re futures delayed, communities taxed, and kids who wonder if their hard work will ever pay off. What’s even harder is seeing districts where per-student funding is high but achievement remains low. (Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs)
We must shift from complacency to action. Achieving a Top 25 ranking in education isn’t just aspirational – it’s essential. Here’s how:
- Implement year-long benchmark assessments. Instead of waiting until May, teachers need real-time data throughout the school year. Reading or math intervention should begin when gaps first appear. Growth must be visible.
- Reinforce early reading through phonics and structured literacy approaches. When children learn to read in a systematic, evidence-based way by third grade, the foundation for everything else is laid.
- Math fundamentals matter – number sense, mental math, fluency, reasoning. Many students fall behind not in the hardest problems, but in the building blocks they missed earlier.
- Support for special education students, with less bureaucracy, more flexible IEPs, and growth-focused outcomes rather than checkboxes.
- Focus on instruction spending. Districts that spend a higher share of budget on classroom instruction consistently show better academic outcomes – even in districts with similar funding levels.
- As I often say, “We are not defined by a ‘50th place’ ranking; we are called to close that gap so our children can compete not just with their neighbors, but with the best in our country.”
- To do this, resources must follow strategy:
- Direct more dollars into classrooms – teacher pay, smaller classes, intervention programs.
- Invest in teacher training – especially in phonics, literacy, and math pedagogy.
- Hold districts accountable for both proficiency and growth.
- Encourage innovation in rural, underserved, and urban districts alike.
Oklahoma’s children can climb. We can build classrooms where 4th graders read confidently, where 8th graders tackle algebra without fear, where all students have the chance to graduate ready for whatever comes next. With strong leadership and responsible policy, we can leave 50th behind.