Additional Athletics Information

Oklahoma City Public Schools continues to build a program of excellence through our Middle School and High School District Athletics and want all students to take advantage of our programs. All students new to Oklahoma City Public Schools should complete a OSSAA (Oklahoma Secondary Schools Activities Association) New Student Form. The form is available through any athletic coach or the school front office.

We currently offer the following sports for student athletes each school year:

MIDDLE SCHOOL

Fall

• Football

• Cheer 

• Cross Country

• eSports

• Softball

• Volleyball

Winter

• Basketball

• Wrestling

Spring

• Baseball

• Soccer

• Track
  
  

HIGH SCHOOL

Fall

• Football

• Cheer 

• Cross Country

• eSports

• Softball

• Volleyball

Winter

• Basketball

• Wrestling

Spring

• Baseball

• Esports

• Golf

• Soccer

• Tennis

• Track

For a student to be eligible to represent their school and participate in a competitive or non-competitive activity, the student will: 

• Be enrolled in or have been enrolled in a course related to the activity when such activity will cause the student to miss classwork during the regular school day, and 

• Maintain a “C” average in the previous semester and passing grades in all classes in the current semester. 

Students who attend summer school may apply one course grade or credit to the preceding semester's grade point average and course credits to increase eligibility for the Fall semester. Extracurricular activities are a privilege and may be revoked for on-campus and off-campus misconduct. A principal may determine any student who is the subject of disciplinary action, or whose conduct or character is such as to reflect discredit upon the school, is not eligible to participate in events. Students who are suspended are not eligible to participate in extracurricular or co-curricular activities until their suspension is complete. 

Mission

Every day, Oklahoma City Public Schools will ignite a passion for learning in every child, invite families to engage, and inspire respectful and trusting relationships with our diverse community.

Vision 

Oklahoma City Public Schools will use alternative education programs to assist students who demonstrate a need for additional supports to meet their individual needs. These programs will reduce dropouts and enhance graduation rates through development of individualized graduation plans so that all students will be ready to fulfill their unique purpose.

• A home school administrator or counselor must complete an Alternative Education Referral, including all parent signatures, and current credit check. 

• Referrals are submitted to the Alternative Education Office to be considered for acceptance the following week.

• Final placements will be shared with home school administrators by 4 pm on Tuesdays.

All three alternative schools will offer academic programming, which is as follows:

• Putnam Heights and both Emerson North and South offer 7 periods per day for initial credit (2 semesters)

• Emerson North and South also offer two credit recovery options, either online through Edgenuity or taught by a classroom teacher.  

Alternative schools programming allows students who are on track to graduate but need the benefit of a more supportive environment to access the program.  Additionally, students who are in need of credit recovery can also work at their own pace to recover credits.   

Additional programming includes support for parenting teens and support for students whose behavior is inhibiting their ability to be successful in a traditional school setting.

Emerson North

• Grades: 9-12

• School Hours: 8:00am - 1:45pm

• Address: 715 N Walker Ave. Oklahoma City, OK 73102

Emerson South

• Grades: 7-12 

• School Hours: 8:00am - 1:45pm

• Address: 1401 Johnson Drive. Oklahoma City, OK 73119

Putnam Heights

• Grades: 5-12 (Only for behavior concerns)

• School Hours: 7:30am - 1:30pm

• Address: 1601 NW 36th Street. Oklahoma City, OK 73118

Emerson North High School (Grades 9-12) and South Mid-High School (Grades 7-12) offer students access to alternative education. The schools’ schedule allows high school students the opportunity for both credit recovery and/or a traditional school schedule. Students can also receive work-study credits, which are applied toward graduation units.

Putnam Heights Academy is the OKCPS alternative school designed to meet the educational needs of at-risk students by providing specialized academic programs in a non-traditional school setting

The S.T.E.P.S Teen Parent Program is a voluntary, confidential program designed to support pregnant or parenting OKCPS students, and provides reproductive health education to all students. The S.T.E.P.S  Teen Parent Program strives to improve and maintain the health of students and their children, prevent subsequent pregnancies, improve parent and family engagement, increase child enrollment in high-quality early learning centers, and to improve attendance and graduation rates to prepare students for higher education or the workforce.

The S.T.E.P.S  Teen Parent Program consists of three Teen Parent Coordinators who meet with the students to assess their needs, and to provide resources and support throughout their academic journey to graduation.

Students may also request information on contraception, sexually transmitted infections, practices for safer sex, healthy relationships, intimate partner violence, and other related topics. In partnership with Variety Care, the program also offers help with referrals and access to health care, parenting programs, and other community resources. 

S.T.E.P.S Coordinators

Contact your S.T.E.P.S Coordinator for assistance or information.  

Middle and High Schools in the Northeast  Area

Akesha Nash

Office (405) 587-0091, Cell (405) 658-2783

adnash@okcps.org  

Middle and High Schools in the Northwest  Area

Akia Douglas

Office 405-587-0083, 405-492-7545 (cell)

acdouglass@okcps.org 

Middle and High Schools in the South Area

Rebekah Thomas

Office (405) 587-0420, Cell (405) 205-1399

rthoma@okcps.org

Policy and Procedure

Title IX Coordinators ensure your rights are protected. Title IX Coordinator Contact Information:

Breeana Lyons

Title IX & HR investigator

(405) 587-0812

titleix@okcps.org 

Maternity Leave 

Students who are pregnant and deliver during the school year are provided six weeks of maternity leave and placed on Provisions of Section 504 Plan. During the six-week period, the students are assigned to Homebound Maternity status and will receive assignments from their core classes. Elective classes will freeze students’ grades while they are on maternity leave. 

Students or their families should contact their assigned  S.T.EP.S Coordinator at the time of birth. The coordinator will complete the accommodations and provide students with their return to school dates, along with support or other resources needed during that time. 

Paternity Leave

Paternity leave is provided for OKCPS students becoming fathers who wish to attend the births of their children. Prospective fathers contact their OKCPS  S.T.E.P.S Coordinator for paternity leave approval. Paternity leave begins the day of the child’s birth and extends up to four subsequent school days. The coordinators will advise students of their return dates and responsibilities regarding missed school work. Paternity leave will only be granted to biological fathers. No two students will be granted paternity leave for the same child. 

Lactation Procedure 

Lactating students will be provided a reasonable accommodation on the school campus to express breast milk and related needs. Students will be allowed to bring a breast pump or other needed equipment to school. A lactating student will be provided with up to 30 minutes, twice daily to express breast milk. Additional time may be granted on a case-by-case basis. Lactating students should contact their assigned S.T.E.P.S. Coordinator on or before returning to school to discuss their lactation plans. 

Childcare

Child development centers at four locations in the district offer parenting students the unique opportunity to attend school with child care services either on the same campus or another district site. The centers operate in collaboration with Early Head Start grant funding provided by Sunbeam Family Services. For more information, contact:

Emerson Little Wonders

(405) 587-7927

715 N. Walker Ave, OKC

US Grant’s Little Generals

(405) 587-2290

5016 S Penn Ave, OKC

Star Spencer’s Little Bobcats

(405) 587-8800

3001 Spencer Rd, Spencer

Gatewood Little Gators

(405) 587-2401

1821 NW 21st St, OKC

Students in grades 9-12 may earn credits/units toward graduation in the accredited evening program. Before enrolling in evening classes, students will visit with their high school counselors to be approved for enrollment. Call the PK-12 Office at (405) 587-0010 for more information. 

The Title I program is a part of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) passed in 1965. The program is administered by the United States Department of Education (USDE). Funding is distributed to school districts and schools with a high percentage of students from economically disadvantaged families. Title I funds are focused primarily on increasing student achievement and closing achievement gaps by providing additional resources and materials, services, staff members, and funds to address parental involvement. Currently, all OKCPS schools operate Title I programs. More information is available by contacting the Title 1 office at 587-0110 or by email at title1@okcps.org.  

The District has hotlines to support students and families with support and connection to resources.

In support of strengthening student academic achievement, Oklahoma City Public Schools receives Title I, Part A funds and therefore must jointly develop with, agree with, and distribute to parents and family members of participating children a written parent and family engagement policy that contains information required by Section 1116(a)(2) of the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The policy establishes the LEA’s expectations and objectives for meaningful parent and family engagement activities.

Oklahoma City Public Schools (OKCPS) is committed to creating and promoting a “Great Culture” by partnering with families, communities, and the schools to support the academic success of all children by strengthening the engagement of families. Programs and practices will be established to meet the diverse needs, languages, and cultures of children and families. OKCPS recognizes the word “parent” also includes guardians and other family members that engage in the child’s educational process.

OKCPS will put into operation programs, activities, and procedures for the engagement of parents and family members in all of its schools with Title I, Part A programs. These programs, activities, and procedures will be planned and operated with meaningful consultation with parents and family members of participating children. Consistent with Section 1116, the district will work with its schools to ensure that the required school-level parent and family engagement policies meet the requirements of Section 1116(b) of the ESSA, and each include as a component a school-parent compact consistent with Section 1116(d) of the ESEA.

In carrying out the Title I, Part A parent and family engagement requirements to the extent practicable, OKCPS and its schools will provide full opportunities for the participation of parents with limited English proficiency, limited literacy, disabilities, who are economically disadvantaged, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background, including providing information and school reports required under Section 1111 of the ESSA in an understandable and uniform format including alternative formats upon request and, to the extent practicable, in a language parents understand.

Oklahoma City Public Schools will be governed by the following definition of parental involvement and expects that its Title I schools will carry out programs, activities, and procedures in accordance with this definition in Section 101 of the ESSA:

Parental involvement means the participation of parents in regular, two-way, and meaningful communication involving student academic learning and other school activities, including ensuring:

1. Parents play an integral role in assisting their child’s learning 

2. Parents are encouraged to be actively involved in their child’s education at school

3. Parents are full partners in their child’s education and are included, as appropriate, in decision-making and on advisory committees to assist in the education of their child

4. Other activities are carried out, such as those described in Section 116 of the ESEA, to coordinate and integrate parent and family engagement strategies to the extent feasible and appropriate, with other relevant Federal, State, and local laws and programs. 

Conduct with the meaningful involvement of parents and family members, an annual evaluation of the content and effectiveness of the parent and family engagement policy in improving the academic quality of all schools served under the part, including identifying;

• Barriers to greater participation by parents/families in activities authorized by this (with particular attention to parents who are economically disadvantaged, are disabled, have limited English proficiency, have limited literacy, or are of any racial or ethnic minority background);

• The needs of parents and family members to assist with the learning of their children, including engaging with school personnel and teachers; and

• Strategies to support successful school and family interactions

Use the findings of such evaluation to design evidence-based strategies for more effective parental and family engagement, and to revise, if necessary, the parent and family engagement policies Section 1116(a)(2).

Oklahoma City Public Schools promotes and supports developing lasting partnerships with families, communities, and businesses to build capacity for practices and activities that nurture student success. Which strengthens the families access to resources; businesses/community organizations partner with schools to create programs that connect to the workplace; intergenerational programs support young and old working together; and students serve and learn beyond their school environment.

Oklahoma City Public Schools recognizes the importance of administrative leadership in setting expectations and creating a climate conducive to parent involvement. They are committed to providing professional development opportunities and training for parents and staff throughout the year to enhance understanding of effective parent involvement strategies.