On August 24, 2009, Jenks Public Schools learned that it had received a second significant federal grant for its Chinese language programming—this time for its “Sino-Trojan Project.”  The $1 million Foreign Language Assistance Program (FLAP) grant covering three years is in addition to the $1.5 million FLAP grant awarded last week [August 19, 2009] for a five-year term. 

To secure both grants, the District used Rosenstein, Fist and Ringold’s grant development and writing services through a contract with  Heartland Consulting, Inc., a Tulsa-based lobbying group.

The three-year grant focuses on expanding Chinese language programming in grades 5-12 and will fund the District’s new ‘Sino-Trojan Academy’—the first specialized Chinese language academy of its kind in the country.  The Sino-Trojan Academy will be housed at East Intermediate and will employ several new permanent, native Chinese teachers, allowing participating fifth and sixth grade students to receive daily Chinese language classes.  At the Academy, Chinese language and culture will be reinforced throughout the school day by embedding them into the rest of the core curriculum.  Students will also have frequent opportunities to participate in joint problem-solving sessions with Chinese peers attending a sister school in Sichuan, China through state-of-the-art video conferencing.  A sizable number of Academy students will travel to China each summer to attend classes and experience Chinese culture, and the Academy students not traveling will attend an exciting new Chinese language immersion camp. 

In addition to creating new programming for grades 5-6, the Sino Trojan Project will increase enrollment in Chinese courses in grades 7-12 and hire additional Chinese language teachers for West Intermediate and Jenks Middle School.  Jenks Middle School and Jenks High School currently offer Chinese language courses and exchange programs.  The 3-year grant will allow for an annual increase in Chinese language enrollment of 30% in grades 5-12, as well as expanded opportunities to interact with native speakers through student exchanges and web-based technology.  The grant also funds extensive new and expanded professional development for teachers and school leaders through nationally recognized foreign language learning experts.

For more information, please contact Doug Mann or Jana Burk at RFR.

On August 19, 2009, Jenks Public Schools received word that it will receive up to $1.5 million to fund the first Chinese language immersion program in the state of Oklahoma.  The five-year Foreign Language Assistance Program grant, funded through the U.S. Department of Education, supports projects that develop or expand intensive programs of study in foreign languages critical to United States national security. The Jenks project, called “The Chinese Initiative,” will create a partial Chinese language immersion program for students at Southeast Elementary School, as well as an articulated K-16 Chinese language curriculum developed with the University of Oklahoma in Tulsa allowing participating students to acquire unusually advanced levels of Chinese language proficiency.  

The immersion program will be rolled out over the next five years at Southeast Elementary.  Students will receive half of their daily instruction in Chinese from permanent, native Chinese teachers and half in English from existing English-speaking elementary teachers.  The program will also provide teachers and administrators substantial professional development and training in the development and implementation of immersion language learning.  The Chinese Initiative was submitted by Jenks with the assistance of Heartland Consulting and RFR.  For more information, please contact Doug Mann or Jana Burk.

Oklahoma House Speaker Chris Benge announced the five year appointment of RFR attorney, Karen L. Long to the Oklahoma Ethics Commission on Friday, August 14, 2009. Benge says Long has a diverse legal background and familiarity with the legislative process that makes her an ideal selection.

Long is a partner with the Tulsa law firm of Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold. She is a member of the Tulsa County Bar Association, Oklahoma Bar Association, American Bar Association, National School Boards Association and current President of the Council Oaks/Johnson-Sontag Chapter of the American Inns of Court. In addition, she serves as an Adjunct Settlement Judge for the Northern District of Oklahoma. 

Long's practice emphasizes labor and employment, education law and federal and state court litigation. Long has been honored as an Oklahoma Best Lawyer for the past eleven years and has been recognized as an Oklahoma Superlawyer and one of the top 25 Oklahoma women lawyers since 2006.

On June 17, 2009, Tulsa Public Schools received notice that it is the recipient of an Advanced Placement Incentive grant from the U.S. Department of Education—a three-year grant with federal funding of almost $1 million a year.  The TPS “Reach, Rise and Achieve” Project funded through the grant will create a comprehensive initiative to increase Advanced Placement (AP) program participation in 23 high-poverty schools, including eight high schools and all 15 feeder middle schools.  The goals established for the program include increasing student readiness for AP coursework in English, mathematics, and science, increasing enrollment in AP coursework, and improving performance on AP exams.  The Project will improve students’ skills in reading comprehension, writing, critical thinking, organizational and study skills and teachers’ instructional skills relating to these key areas.   TPS developed the grant proposal with the assistance of Heartland Consulting and RFR.  For more information, please contact Doug Mann or Jana Burk.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act: Saving and Creating Jobs and Reforming Education
U.S. Department of Education - April 3, 2009 ►

Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold takes pleasure in announcing that Eric D. Wade has been made a member of the firm effective January 1, 2009.  Eric D. Wade was born in Terre Haute, Indiana on March 19, 1976, and admitted to the Oklahoma bar in 2001.  His undergraduate degree is from Oklahoma State University (B.S., 1998) and law degree is from the University of Tulsa (J.D., with honors, 2001).  While in law school, Mr. Wade was articles editor of the Tulsa Law Review (2000-2001) and a member of the Order of the Curule Chair.  Mr. Wade has been employed by Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold since 2001.

"Windfall lands on TPS sites" read the headline from the Tulsa World's September 23rd issue in regard to the 11.7 million federal grant awarded to the Tulsa Public School District for its Magnet Schools Assistance Program.  The District's award - the largest of any such competitive grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Education - was the result of a partnership between Tulsa Public Schools and Heartland Consulting, Inc., who hired Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold to write the 300 page grant application.

Nine Rosenstein, Fist & Ringold Lawyers named to the 2009 Best Lawyers in America listing ►