Broken Arrow Public Schools
Instructional and Student Services Programming Definitions and Terms
Accelerated Reader (AR) and Reading Counts (RC) - Two programs designed to incentivize reading
both within and outside the classroom by providing feedback through assessment on individual books
that the child has read. Teachers use these assessment outcomes as a means reward student reading
progress. AR is used at the elementary level and RC is used at the middle school level.
Achieving Classroom Excellence Act (ACE) - A statewide effort to raise expectations for student
achievement in Oklahoma public schools. It provides a framework for all Oklahoma school systems to
implement standards, curriculum, and assessments with the rigor and relevance necessary for
Oklahoma students to be prepared for college and the world of work. Students entering 9th grade
shall demonstrate mastery of Algebra I and English II and two additional academic content standards
(English III, Algebra II, Geometry, Biology I and U.S. History) in order to graduate from a public high
school with a standard diploma. In order to graduate, seniors must meet this requirement in addition
to completion of required courses under the ACE College Preparatory/Work Ready Curriculum or the
Core Curriculum.
Advanced Placement (AP) - Programs created by the College Board, and offered to Broken Arrow
students, which offer college-level curricula and examinations to high school students. American
colleges and universities often grant placement and course credit to students who obtain high scores
on the examinations.
Pre-Advanced Placement - (Pre-AP) courses are on-grade level academically advanced courses
designed to challenge motivated students to understand rigorous content.
AIMsWeb - A web-based assessment and RTI solution for schools today. It offers universal screening,
progress monitoring, and data management for Grades K-9. Aimsweb provides guidance to BAPS
administrators and teachers based on accurate, continuous, and direct student assessment.
Athletics - Broken Arrow Athletics provides student-athletes with the opportunity to fully develop
their athletic abilities while safeguarding their physical welfare in an environment that promotes both
high academic standards and the development of leadership. Broken Arrow offers 14 athletic
programs including; Baseball, Basketball, Cheer, Cross Country, Football, Golf, Soccer, Softball,
Swimming, Tennis, Tigettes, Track & Field, Volleyball and Wrestling. A member of the Oklahoma
Secondary Schools Activities Association, Broken Arrow complies with all rules and policies set forth
by the OSSAA. Broken Arrow Athletics empowers young people to become better students, athletes,
leaders, and citizens.
BA Scholars - A camp designed specifically for students to prepare them for a national assessment
which is used to recognize exceptional scholarship.
Carl Perkins - This federally fund grant supports the development of academic and career and
technical skills among secondary education students and postsecondary education students who
enroll in career and technical education programs. The supplemental resources provide challenging
academic and technical standards, promotes the development of rigorous instructional services and
activities, provides flexibility of programming, promotes leadership, improves teacher professional
development and supports individual career and work force opportunities for students.
Career Exploration Program (CEP) - Broken Arrow High School offers a two semester course for seniors
allowing students to be exposed to the career of choice. In semester one, students are paired with
one of our Junior Achievement partners to learn the basics of business and receive mentorship from a
JA volunteer. Semester two is a placement that is earned through an interview with one of our CEP
partners. Students will complete the Junior Achievement Business Ethics curriculum while learning
hands on at the business placement of choice.
Career Tech Career and technical programs offer both academic and career-oriented courses, and
provide students with the opportunity to gain work experience through internships, job shadowing,
on-the-job training, and industry-certification opportunities. Students enrolled in Career Tech courses
are offered several different pathways to choose from. Pathways include everything from health
services, early childhood development, and family and consumer sciences to marketing, business
management and agricultural education. These career clusters offer students numerous choices and
post-secondary planning opportunities.
College and Career Counseling - Broken Arrow High School provides two College and Career
Counselors that specialize in making the transition from high school to college, technical school,
military or career. College and Career Counselors team with Academic Counselors to provide both
one on one and group career counseling helping each student design an individualized plan for after
high school. Specific services include college and career searches, guidance in completing college
applications, ACT and SAT advice and services, scholarship searches and course guidance to reach
student goals for college and career.
Concurrent Enrollment/Dual Enrollment - Juniors and seniors enrolled in concurrent courses can earn
both a high school diploma and college credits through the same classes, at the same time.
Concurrent students must have participated in the ACT and made the following composite scores:
juniors 21 (ACT) and senior 19 (ACT), and meet the following GPA requirements of: Juniors 3.5 GPA
and senior 3.0 GPA. Students must have strong study habits and research skills, possess the ability to
work independently and in groups and maintain high attendance. Students may apply online, but it is
advised that they visit with their school counselor before beginning the process.
Conscious Discipline - Broken Arrow Public Schools Early Childhood Centers use Conscious Discipline in
all four sites and we are expanding the program to some of our Kindergarten classrooms where
teachers have been trained. Conscious Discipline is a comprehensive social- emotional and classroom
management program that uses everyday life events to teach children self-control, conflict resolution,
character development and social skills.
Counseling Services - Broken Arrow Counseling Services are aligned with National Standards for
School Counseling. We take a preventative and purposeful student contact system that assists with
academics, career, personal and social development. BAPS contracts with outside providers for some
intensive counseling services.
Destiny Library Media - This easy-to-use media management system allows our school libraries to
streamline inventory, distribution, shipping, forecasting, transferring and reporting of library books
and materials. This is a cost-effective and efficient program that supports active student learning.
Today’s tech-savvy students were born into an interactive learning environment. This library
management system makes learning fun and enhances our school media centers by making it user
friendly and inviting.
Destiny Textbook Manager - Textbook Manager puts textbooks and instructional materials where
they’re needed most and prevents unnecessary expenditures on replacements. The system grows
with the district, provides easy access to digital instructional resources, and provides the
accountability needed to save money and know our entire physical library inventory.
Early Childhood Centers/Pre-K - Broken Arrow Public Schools embraces an Early Childhood Learning
Philosophy addresses the needs of the whole child by guiding their cognitive, social, emotional,
physical and creative development. This is accomplished through a variety of teaching strategies
including purposeful play, differentiated instruction and a stimulating curriculum that will actively
engage all students in a developmentally appropriate setting. Students who meet the age
requirement of the program may be enrolled at no cost to parents.
Eighth Floor - Tulsa Area Professional Development Consortium, The Eighth Floor, supports
collaboration which nurtures and sustains educational improvement with the community. The Eighth
Floor takes advantage of the diversity and expertise of instructors from a wide variety of disciplines,
grade-levels, and institutions to develop a community of self-directed, life –long learners. Broken
Arrow Public School contracts with the Eighth Floor to provide well-rounded, high quality, and easily
accessible professional development to teachers and staff. Employees take advantage of curriculum
from basic Word processing and Excel programs to more advanced Flipped Classrooms and
SmartBoards training and everything in between.
EXPLORE, PLAN, and the ACT - Broken Arrow students take the EXPLORE test during their 8th grade
year and the PLAN as 10th graders. EXPLORE helps students identify areas of academic strength and
weakness in four areas important for success in college and the workplace—English, math, reading,
and science. EXPLORE scores show the knowledge and skills that students are likely to have in each of
these areas and it also includes a career planning component design to help students consider
possible career options. PLAN serves as the midpoint check of academic progress in high school. It is
designed to improve students' preparation for education, training, and work after high school while
they still have time to adjust their high school courses. PLAN has content similar to the ACT. All three
tests (EXPLORE, PLAN, ACT) focus on English, math, reading, and science; however, the material tested
in each program gets more difficult.
Fine Arts - The Fine Arts Department of Broken Arrow Schools has a long tradition of excellence and
has been recognized for its high standards and accomplishments at a regional, state, and national
level. The fine arts offerings encourage students to explore their creativity and humanity through a
comprehensive artistic education in the fine arts. Our staff includes professional working artists who
are also extraordinarily gifted teachers, and offers a comprehensive array of classes including
sculpture, photography, painting, drawing, dance, theater arts, technical theater, men’s choir,
chamber choir, women’s choir, show choir, chamber and symphonic orchestra, several levels of
concert bands, the nationally recognized “Pride” marching band, instrumental and vocal jazz
ensembles, debate and speech.
Gifted and Talented (GTT) - GTT provides opportunities which promote the growth of skills,
knowledge and understanding necessary for students to reach their full potential. Through this
commitment, the best possible student outcomes are achieved. There are students in Broken Arrow
schools whose abilities require differentiated programs for the full development of their general
intellectual ability, specific academic ability, thinking skills, leadership ability and performance or
productive ability.
Intervention and Enrichment (I&E) - Purposefully allotting time during the school day to provide
support when students struggle (intervention) and greater challenge when students are successful
(enrichment).
Intramurals - The Broken Arrow Intramural sports program provides opportunities for students to
participate in a wide variety of physical and athletic competitions. Intramural sports are designed to
provide students with opportunities to learn new sports, maintain physical fitness, make friends, and
t o provide students the opportunity for engagement.
Johnson-O’Malley (JOM) - The JOM program addresses the unique cultural needs of American Indian
students attending Broken Arrow Public Schools. Through this supplemental program students are
provided with academic support, remediation, tutoring, summer school, cultural enrichment, field
trips, transportation and school supplies. To be eligible for services through Broken Arrow Public
Schools JOM program students must be enrolled in BA school and the parent must complete a 506
form at the Title VII/JOM office and provide the students tribal membership card.
Literacy First - A research based literacy initiative which diagnoses current performance level and then
helps teachers develop individualized instructional programming. It serves as a binding agent across
all core academic areas so that each teacher is focused on improving reading and writing skills.
Mathematics & Science Partnerships Program (MSP) - The MSP Program is a federal formula grant
program that funds collaborative partnerships between science, technology, engineering, and
mathematics (STEM) departments at institutions of higher education, and high-need school districts.
These partnerships provide intensive, content-rich professional development to teachers and other
educators, with the goal of improving classroom instruction and, ultimately, student achievement in
math and science. Currently, funds are distributed through a formula grant to states which then hold
their own competitions to award project funding. Broken Arrow Public Schools has partnered with
the University of Tulsa, Jenks Public Schools and Owasso Public Schools to provide high-quality,
hands-on professional development to 21 teachers.
Naviance - A comprehensive college and career readiness solution for middle and high schools that
helps connect academic achievement to post-secondary goals.
PBIS - is a framework or approach for assisting school personnel in adopting and organizing evidencebased behavioral interventions into an integrated continuum that enhances academic and social behavior
outcomes for all students. PBIS IS NOT a packaged curriculum, scripted intervention, or manual
strategy. PBIS IS a prevention-oriented way for school personnel to (a) organize evidence-based practices,
(b) improve their implementation of those practices, and (c) maximize academic and social behavior
outcomes for students. Although the PBIS language comes directly from the 1997 reauthorization of the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), PBIS supports the success of ALL students, not just those
with disabilities. PBIS is in direct and parallel support of any school using the Response to Intervention
approach to instruction.
PLTW/GTT Project Lead the Way (PLTW) is a high school project and problem based contextual
learning curriculum. PLTW seeks to create dynamic partnerships with schools and industry in order to
prepare an increasing and more diverse group of students for success in engineering and engineering
technology programs. Gateway to Technology (GTT) is a separate course offering from PLTW which is
offered to middle schools as an introduction to the later high school courses. GTT provides
engineering and biomedical science curriculum for middle school students that challenges, inspires,
and offers schools variety and flexibility. Students get rigorous and relevant experiences through
activity-, project-, and problem-based learning. They use industry-leading technology to solve
problems while gaining skills in communication, collaboration, critical-thinking, and creativity. All five
middle schools offer Tech Engineering classes that utilize this GTT curriculum.
Professional Development - Broken Arrow Public Schools uses a variety of methods to equip all staff
members in implementing research based, cutting edge practices to ensure high levels of student
engagement and success.
Response to Intervention (RtI) - a general education system designed to maximize the learning of
students by making instructional decisions based on data and monitoring of their progress. Effective
RtI begins with the universal screening of each child to determine current level of understanding and
is followed by individualized interventions to maximize growth.
Professional Learning Community (PLC) - A PLC is a collaborative practice in which members work
together to clarify exactly what each student must learn, monitor each student’s progress on a timely
basis, provide systematic interventions that ensure students receive additional time and support for
learning when they struggle, and extend and enrich learning when students have already mastered
the intended outcomes.
Proficiency Based Promotion (PBP) is a process which awards credit for students’ knowledge in the
core curriculum areas, i. e., social studies, reading/language arts, foreign languages, mathematics, and
science, through an assessment process. Proficiency Based Tests are available to all students’ grades
one through twelve. Students demonstrating proficiency will have the opportunity to advance to the
next level of study. Failure to demonstrate proficiency will not be noted on the student’s transcript.
PSAT - The PSAT is a nationwide, multiple-choice test given primarily to juniors. The PSAT is a great
primer for the SAT and even the ACT and includes math, critical reading and writing questions. The
PSAT does not count towards students’ college admissions; however, it is the qualifying test for
National Merit Scholarships.
Rachel’s Challenge - The Mission of Rachel’s Challenge is to inspire young people to start chain a
reaction of kindness. Rachel’s Challenge focuses on looking for the best in others, dreaming big,
choosing positive influences, speaking with kindness, and starting a chain reaction through a series of
activities, workshops, and assemblies. Broken Arrow elementary schools emphasize the five focus
areas to spread kindness and compassion throughout their schools while middle and high schools
experience Rachel’s Challenge through a 6th grade assembly, 9th grade Chain Reaction Day, 11th grade
assembly and 11th and 12th grade service projects. Rachel’s Challenge makes character education a
reality in Broken Arrow Public Schools.
Reading Recovery - Reading Recovery is an internationally renowned short term intervention for first
grade students who are having extreme difficulties with early reading and writing skills. Specially
trained teachers work individually with students in daily thirty minute lessons which last twelve to
twenty weeks.
Reading Sufficiency Act (RSA) - RSA is Oklahoma legislation that outlines the adults’ responsibilities in
a student’s literacy achievement, leading up to and including third grade. It also states that schools
and parents must work together to form defined interventions for third graders who score
unsatisfactory in reading on the Oklahoma Core Curriculum Tests (OCCT). These interventions may or
may not include grade level retention.
SchoolNet - This dynamic software is an Instructional Management System (IMS) that allows an
administrator and teacher to see a data “picture” of their students. Teachers can create, search for,
recommend, and share resources and lessons in addition to creating online formative, common
formative and interim assessments. Teachers, PLC teams, and/or administration can then make
informed decisions by analyzing student assessment and performance data with interactive
dashboards and reports; helping guide classroom instruction as well as student enrichment and/or
intervention time.
SPED - The Broken Arrow Public Schools Special Education Department offers a continuum of specialized
services to meet the unique and individualized needs of each student. Broken Arrow prides itself on the
commitment to locating, identifying and serving almost 2,800 children with special needs from ages 322. SPED services provides each student access to differentiated core instruction in the least restrictive
environment, while aligning each IEP (Individualized Education Program) to the Oklahoma State
Standards. Programming spans the spectrum from full integration in the general education environment
with accommodations, to separate special education programs addressing more significant needs. The
dedicated professionals working to support classroom teachers in achieving these goals include: school
psychologists, speech-language therapists, physical and occupational therapists, highly-qualified special
education teachers, behavior interventionists, visual impairment specialists, and paraprofessionals.
STEM - STEM education is an approach to teaching and learning that integrates the content and skills
of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. STEM Standards of Practice guide STEM
instruction by defining the combination of behaviors, integrated with STEM content, which are
expected of a proficient STEM student. These behaviors include engagement in inquiry, logical
reasoning, collaboration, and investigation. The goal of STEM education is to prepare students for
post-secondary study and the 21st century workforce. Broken Arrow Public Schools has several STEM
programs throughout its elementary schools, middle schools and high schools.
Student Activities - Broken Arrow Student Activities provides cultural, social, athletic, artistic, and
recreational activities that facilitate personal growth and strengthen the bond between students and
Broken Arrow Public Schools. Broken Arrow Student Activities drive site clubs and organizations,
Tiger Camp, leadership retreat, new student orientation, intramurals, leadership speaker series,
IMPACT Board, and student/staff recognition. Student activities facilitate personal growth by
providing opportunities to develop leadership, teamwork, goal-setting, problem solving and planning
skills.
Teacher and Leader Effectiveness (TLE) Evaluation - The evaluation system used by Broken Arrow
Public Schools to evaluate the performance of classroom teachers and certified staff members. The
rating component consists of a rubric that provides detailed descriptions of different proficiency levels
and identifies the knowledge, skills and practices correlated with growth in student
achievement. The rubrics are designed to measure performance in five key areas, or domains:
classroom management, instructional effectiveness, professional growth, interpersonal skills and
leadership. In addition to qualitative data, the TLE measures quantitative data related to student
achievement as it relates to performance of identified assessments and other academic measures
identified by the local school district and approved by the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
Think Through Math - A web based math study program that meets students at their current
academic level and then provides adapted math instruction for grades 3 - Algebra 1. This program is
use in addition to regular classroom instruction in an attempt to student interest and engagement.
Title I, Part A - The purpose of this program is to ensure that all children have a fair, equal, and
significant opportunity to obtain a high-quality education and reach, at a minimum, proficiency on
challenging state academic achievement standards and state academic assessments. Title I funds are
used to supplement the amount of funds or services that would, in the absence of Title I funds, be
made available to the school. These funds may not be used for programs or activities that are
mandated by the state, local or federal law. Broken Arrow Public Schools has eight elementary Title I
sites. As of the SY 2014-15 we are taking all of these sites Schoolwide. This program type ensures that
services are provided to all students, improves all structures that support student learning and aligns
all resources to achieve a common goal: improved student achievement for all students.
Title III, ELL - This federal program specifically targets Limited English Proficient (LEP) children and
immigrant youth. Funding should be used to supplement the education of LEP students and to
develop language instruction courses and program that help students meet academic standards.
Funding is used for a variety of purposes, including alternative bilingual education programs and
professional development for teachers.
Title VII, Indian Education - This federal program is designed to serve the academic and cultural needs
of our American Indian student population. Broken Arrow Public Schools serves over 2400 students in
the program. All five of the middle schools host Title VII, Academic Exploration Classes. This class
tracks student’s work in all subjects, absences and behavior with an emphasis on Whole Child
Development. Teachers help students with assignments, provide organizational, test taking and study
tips. Students participate in activities that connect then with their cultural heritage and introduce
them to future possibilities. The high school is home to a Title VII Youth Development specialist who
works one-on-one with Native American students to assist with class work, college and career, and
cultural activities and events.
Virtual Education - Broken Arrow Public Schools provides opportunities for on-line and blended
learning through a variety of innovative programs. !nspire 21, offered during the day, blends
traditional and on-line instruction to provide high school students the opportunity to obtain first-time
credit and credit advancement in identified courses. Broken Arrow Virtual Middle School (BAVMS),
housed at Centennial, provides similar on-line and blended opportunities for students in grades six
through eight. Broken Arrow Virtual School (BAVS), offered during the evening, provides middle and
high school students on-line credit recovery, first-time credit and credit advancement opportunities
under the guidance of an appropriately certified, and highly qualified, teacher. In addition, credit
recovery labs provide students at Broken Arrow Academy, Margaret Hudson Program, Freshman
Academy and High School the opportunity to re-coupe missing credits during the instructional day.
Credit recovery courses, taken during the day or evening, are provided at no cost to students of
Broken Arrow Public Schools.