In late spring of 2024, Tulsa Public Schools’ families were asked to participate in a survey to share their feedback with the district and how they felt about their students' learning experiences.

As part of our commitment to listen and act upon input from our students, families, and stakeholders, we reviewed more than 2,000 survey responses. Administered and analyzed by a third party, all responses were verified to be from TPS families while remaining anonymous. Here are some of the things we heard:

• 74% of respondents indicated they are broadly satisfied with the district and feel good about the overall direction of TPS and its educational services.

• A majority of respondents agreed that Tulsa Public Schools offers a warm and supportive environment for students.

• Most people said they felt their child’s teachers and staff worked together as a team to benefit students and that they were aware of important things happening at school.

• When asked about how using data can support the growth of their students, many people felt less confident about what that means and how information is being used “to find where my child might need extra help.”

As we seek to continuously improve and offer exceptional service to families and experiences for young people, we know there are ways we can improve. Some of the survey results help us understand how we can do better.

We heard:

Sometimes my child doesn't feel supported and respected by their classmates.

Here’s what we're doing about it:

In every school, a team of educators has been assembled to ensure that we are fostering supportive and respectful environments across our district. We have a commitment to building a culture of learning that is grounded in structures supporting safety and belonging. Our educators encourage students to work together to develop a sense of shared ownership and accountability to one another in their learning. In elementary schools, students receive guidance lessons to support respect between their classmates. In middle and high schools, students have access to small groups where students are coached around positive interactions with peers.

We heard:

It doesn’t seem like the school looks for problems or challenges that may make it harder for students to learn.

Here’s what we're doing about it:

School leaders have been given the charge of being present in classrooms more frequently to support classroom management strategies and coach teachers with instructional practices. They are paying attention to distractions or disruptions to the environment and the student experience. One example of a shift is the new cell phone policy that seeks to increase the time and focus of students on academic content.  

If you have a specific concern about a challenge your student is facing, please reach out to your student’s principal to establish a plan.

We heard:

I don’t know how schools use information to see how well students are doing and decide what to teach them next.

Here’s what we're doing about it:

Every parent/guardian receives an email once a week showing current grades and attendance information. Additionally, this year, we have a goal of having 85% participation in all parent-teacher conferences. We strongly encourage families to take advantage of these opportunities. During conferences, teachers and families will:

• Review student progress including strength, areas of growth, behavior, and social skills 

• Set goals

• Share strategies for home support 

• Address concerns and design a collaborative approach to solve them

We heard:

Our family struggles with attendance and I want the school to help students who are missing school a lot.

Here’s what we’re doing about it:

Tulsa Public Schools launched a new campaign designed to help families understand why it’s important to be on time and at school every day, highlight available resources, and be sure every student is excited about learning each day. 

Our Family Attendance Support team is available to address concerns and problem-solve as parents reach out to the district for support.

Do you want someone from the Family Attendance Support team to contact you and help problem-solve? Please reach out to us using this link.

We appreciate all of the families who took the time to make their voices heard. We will continue to reach out for your feedback throughout the year with additional surveys, focus groups, and other opportunities to share your thoughts. We appreciate the feedback and want to work with you as partners in your student's academic success.

-The Family, Community, Youth Empowerment Team