Six TPS schools receive millions in federal grant monies

The state of Oklahoma received $39 million in federal grant money to be used for school improvement.

In order for a school to receive the funds it had to be deemed as "persistently low-achieving."

If a school meets that criteria, it then had to come up with a specific plan on how to improve students' test scores and grades.

The districts, along with school staff and administrators, had to write an improvement proposal and send it to state officials, who ultimately decided which schools would get the money.

Six Tulsa Public Schools will receive the three-year grant that includes: Gilcrease and Clinton Middle Schools, along with Central, Nathan Hale, Rogers and East Central High Schools.

East Central has some major plans to overhaul its system.

In the first year, teachers will receive a lot more professional development and the school year will be extended by what's equivalent to six days. School leaders are still deciding if that will mean longer school days or just six additional calendar days. The goal is to extend classroom time.

In the second year, the school plans to take a more year-round approach, like some of the T-P-S elementary schools.

"If we have smaller gaps of time, the students will stay on track a little bit better. They won't have this three months to kind of forget everything," said East Central High School teacher Hannah Diamond.

"We'll have a three week period where if a student is failing or not doing well we can remediate in that three week period instead of continuing on and leaving the kid behind," said East Central High School principal Suzette Huggins.

The three-year grant will pay to cover the additional days teachers and staff will work, along with technology upgrades.

Meanwhile, Central High School's principal says they aren't planning on going year-round, but are focusing on ways to improve students learning. He says teachers and staff are excited to receive the funds and eager to put the improvement programs in place.

To read the grant, click here .