Ryan Walters said his agency is explaining the new data to schools. District leaders deny there has been any explanation from the state.OKLAHOMA CITY — Despite calling media reports on the topic “fan fiction,” Oklahoma’s top education official acknowledged the state’s student assessment process changed significantly without any announcement informing the public.State Superintendent Ryan Walters said Thursday that Oklahoma’s scoring data and annual tests are now “very different.” He said there has been no public announcement because his administration is busy explaining the new results to school districts.However, several school leaders told Oklahoma Voice they received their test scores from the state Department of Education with no notice that there were material changes to scoring.State test results were released to schools, families and the public this month with the appearance of dramatic improvements in student proficiency.However, public records Oklahoma Voice obtained show the cause of spiking scores was not better school performance, but rather a result of the state lowering the bar for students to receive a proficient score on English and math tests.Had the state not changed its scoring methods, test results would have been similar or slightly lower than student performance in 2023, according to internal data analysis from the state Education Department, which Oklahoma Voice obtained from a source involved in the assessment process.Walters said his administration intends to give clarity to educators and parents.“We are actively working with districts through that process,” Walters said. “You guys haven’t seen this big announcement from the (state Board of Education). You guys haven’t seen us walk through it yet because, again, what we’re trying to do is make sure the districts understand how do you use these (results) with your teachers and training for next year? How do you make sure that the context is there?”Leaders of a legislative committee on education funding said the state “dropped the ball” by failing to announce the scoring change sooner.“This left districts shocked and surprised when they saw this year’s scores, and it puts a false narrative out there,” said Rep. Mark McBride, R-Moore, and Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, in a joint statement Thursday.Schools and families received their students’ test scores this month, and the Education Department posted statewide results on its website for public view.Regardless, Walters denied the state ever released this year’s test scores.“It is an incredible position of the media gaslighting the public on what’s happening here,” he said.
