OKCPS board accepts Goal 3 monitoring report; district reports 47% of juniors and seniors completed at least one postsecondary option

The Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education voted Jan. 12 to accept the district's Future Driven 2030 Goal 3 monitoring report after Superintendent Jamie Polk presented data and a strategy update.

Polk told the board she is "proud to report" that 47 percent of 11th and 12th graders completed at least one post-secondary option in the 2024'25 school year, exceeding the district's annual target of 42 percent and representing a 10-percentage-point increase over the previous year. Goal 3 sets a target of 69 percent by August 2030 as measured on Oklahoma State Department of Education indicators.

Polk and Team 136 credited the gains to changes in adult behavior and system supports: adding an executive director and director of workforce development, deploying data dashboards to identify students who need support, expanding partnerships with OU Health, Metro Tech and Construct My Future, and individualized advising tied to the state-mandated ICAP (Individual Career Academic Plan).

Polk acknowledged persistent barriers: credit recovery limits that constrain students' schedules, uneven awareness across campuses, capacity limits in popular programs, and transportation challenges for off-campus internships. To address those issues the district will deepen individualized advising, strengthen data-informed collaboration, expand targeted professional development for teachers, and grow industry partnerships. Polk said new college-and-career centers will begin operating in August 2026 as part of the rollout.

Vice Chair Laurie Bowman moved to accept the Goal 3 monitoring report and Jessica Cifuentes seconded. The board recorded 8 aye and 0 nay votes and the motion carried. The board also approved the consent agenda by roll-call with 8 aye, 0 nay.

Following the votes, the board entered executive session to discuss the sale or lease of district-owned real property; the session began at 7:10 p.m. and the board returned to open session at 8:17 p.m., stating no action was taken in executive session.

Polk said staff will continue implementing the monitoring recommendations, track ICAP usage and parental communications, and report back through the district's monitoring calendar.