OKA+ Schools Institute at UCO Awarded Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma Grant
April 9, 2025
Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute (OKA+) at the University of Central Oklahoma was awarded a $50,000 grant from the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma to support the implementation of the A+ model in two Oklahoma high schools.
The funds will allow a rural public high school and a metro alternative school to be trained in the A+ model, integrating the arts throughout their curriculum. The funds will also enable OKA+ to add four more trainers to meet the needs of these high schools.
The A+ Network of schools, administered by OKA+, is a model of transformation that allows all staff in a school to be trained together through the framework of the A+ Essentials. The model begins as a three-year implementation process and most schools continue to be a part of the network after the initial three years. The most notable aspect of the A+ Network is that schools or districts are not charged for the training and support they receive as members.
Responsible for raising about 85% of its budget, OKA+ relies primarily on grants and donors to operate each year.
“We are so grateful for this generous grant,” said Sandra Kent, OKA+ executive director.
“It is because of generosity such as that shown by the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma that we can continue the work of igniting creativity, imagination and innovation in schools. The work at the high school level is significant as teachers find connecting points across content areas.”
With a vision to create schools that work for everyone through arts integration, OKA+ has delivered quality, arts-infused professional development to public, charter and private PK-12 schools since 2002. The A+ Network schools can be found across the state of Oklahoma.
The Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma provides a network of programs supporting the charitable and educational needs of Oklahomans from every walk of life while remaining firmly committed to the Masonic tenets and continuing legacy of leadership and stewardship.
For more information on Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute at UCO, visit www.okaplus.org.
For more information on the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, visit mcfok.org.
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Cutline: Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute (OKA+) at the University of Central Oklahoma has been awarded a $50,000 grant from the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma to support the implementation of the A+ model in two Oklahoma high schools. Pictured, left to right, Sandra Kent, executive director of OKA+; Jack Painter, Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma board member; Kari Elledge, OKA+ program director; and, Miranda Moore, administrative specialist at OKA+.
