Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute

What Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute does

Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute is a nonprofit educational organization, founded in 2001 and hosted at the University of Central Oklahoma in Edmond, that operates the OKA+ Schools Network, a statewide network of 60 K-12 schools and 2,500+ educators integrating arts with academics. The core offering centers on the A+ Essentials framework, an eight-component whole-school transformation model (Arts, Curriculum, Experiential Learning, Multiple Learning Pathways, Enriched Assessment, Infrastructure, Collaboration, and Climate) grounded in Multiple Intelligences theory and supported by a five-volume research report documenting higher student achievement, fewer disciplinary referrals, better attendance, and stronger parental involvement across network schools. Service delivery includes multi-year Summer Professional Development (Year One/New School Summit, Year Two, Year Three), on-site coaching with assigned liaison support, principal leadership retreats, the annual NYAC conference, the TLC Saturday workshop series, the Boeing-funded GreA+ STEAM Challenge for first and second graders, the Poetry Out Loud state contest, a digital A+ Lesson Plan Library, and the T.E.A. Time Chat video professional development series, along with the DaVinci A+ Teacher of the Year recognition program.

The business model is predominantly grant-funded: services are delivered free of charge to Oklahoma schools, with operating support from the Boeing Company, the National Endowment for the Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council, the Masonic Charity Foundation of Oklahoma, American Fidelity Foundation, the Genesis Inspiration Foundation, and other presenting and creativity partners. Earned revenue is secondary and consists of quote-based consulting, speaking engagements, workshops, and leadership training for non-network schools and organizations, plus a $10 per-session TLC workshop fee for non-member participants. Go-to-market is community-led and event-driven, relying on word-of-mouth from existing network schools, on-site visits, application and exploration meetings, the annual NYAC conference, and the summer summit cycle, supplemented by a website (okaplus.org), monthly newsletters, an active YouTube channel (OKA+ TV), Facebook, and Instagram presence.

Name

Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute

Legal name

Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute

Website

https://okaplus.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute is a nonprofit at the University of Central Oklahoma that runs a statewide network of 60 K-12 schools and 2,500+ educators, delivering arts-integrated education, professional development, and consulting services, primarily free in Oklahoma and grant-funded.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

K-12 Education Professional Development and Arts-Integrated School Reform

NAICS

Educational Support Services (611710), Educational Support Services (61171)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

K–12 Instructional Design & Curriculum Development Services (EDAGAKAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Curriculum, Lesson Planning & Instructional Content Platforms (EDAJAMAD)

Keywords

• Arts integrated education
• School reform programs
• Professional development training
• Whole school transformation
• STEAM education initiatives

Headquarters

HQ city

Edmond

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Others

Revenue model

1. Grants and Public Funding: OKA+ is a nonprofit initiative hosted by the University of Central Oklahoma. Services are provided free to Oklahoma schools, funded through grants from organizations such as Boeing (STEAM Challenge), Oklahoma Arts Council, National Endowment for the Arts, and other presenting/innovation partners.
2. Speaking Engagements and Consulting: Non-network schools and organizations can request speaking engagements, workshops, leadership training, and consulting services for a fee. These are personalized services based on the organization's needs.
3. TLC Workshop Fees: Teachers Learning Creatively (TLC) workshops are free to OKA+ Schools members and $10 per session for non-members.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute fundamentally operates a statewide arts-integration school reform network for K-12 schools in Oklahoma. Its core offering is the OKA+ Schools Network, through which it provides multi-year professional development (Summer Summits), on-site coaching and liaison support, principal leadership retreats, and access to the A+ Essentials framework and lesson plan library — all free to Oklahoma schools. It also sells fee-based consulting, speaking engagements, and TLC Workshops to non-network schools and organizations.

Product overview

Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute offers a comprehensive educational framework centered on the OKA+ Schools Network, which integrates arts with academics to drive student engagement and achievement. The portfolio includes multi-year Summer Professional Development programs with Year One, Two, and Three Summits; On-Site Professional Development with coaching and principal retreats; annual NYAC conference; Poetry Out Loud contest; Boeing STEAM Challenge; DaVinci A+ Teachers recognition program; TLC Workshops (Teachers Learning Creatively); T.E.A. Time video series; A+ Lesson Plan Library; and Consulting Services for non-network organizations. All services are provided at no cost to Oklahoma schools in the network.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• OKA+ Schools Network The premiere network of Oklahoma A+ Schools that integrates arts with academics to create engaging learning environments. Schools in the network receive ongoing support including professional development, networking opportunities, research-based resources, liaison support, and access to a 60-school, 2,500-educator peer community.
• Summer Professional Development Summits (New School, Year Two, Year Three) Multi-year professional development program including Year One (five-day New School Summit), Year Two (three-day summit), and Year Three (two-day summit) designed to implement the A+ Essentials and philosophy. Provided free to OKA+ Schools.
• On-Site Professional Development Customized workshops, meetings, and ongoing coaching provided to network schools throughout the school year, including liaison support, principal leadership retreats, and training for new teachers.
• NYAC (Not Your Average Conference) Annual one-day statewide conference for the OKA+ Network supporting the implementation of the A+ Essentials and philosophy, now postponed to summer 2027.
• Poetry Out Loud Free poetry recitation contest for high school students (grades 9-12) that helps students master public speaking skills, build self-confidence, and learn about poetry through memorization and recitation. Supported by the Oklahoma Arts Council and National Endowment for the Arts.
• GreA+ Boeing STEAM Challenge STEAM education initiative for young learners providing standards-based lessons for first and second grade classrooms, integrating arts with STEM content through hands-on challenge activities inspired by children's literature. Funded by Boeing.
• TLC Workshops (Teachers Learning Creatively) Saturday morning Zoom workshop sessions designed for immediate classroom applicability, offered free to OKA+ Schools members and for $10 per session to non-members. Covers elementary and secondary sessions.
• Consulting Services for Non-Network Schools Professional development consulting available to non-network schools and organizations, including personalized speaking engagements, workshops, leadership training, and consulting services priced on a quote basis based on the organization's needs.
• A+ Lesson Plan Library Digital library of lesson plans available to OKA+ Network member schools supporting arts-integrated instruction across curriculum areas.
• DaVinci A+ Teachers of the Year Program Annual recognition program honoring outstanding educators in OKA+ Schools Network who exemplify the A+ Essentials through classroom instruction, leadership, and education philosophy. Co-administered with the DaVinci Institute since 2010.
• T.E.A. Time Series (Professional Development Video Series) Video professional development series covering the eight A+ Essentials, including Arts, Curriculum, Experiential Learning, Multiple Learning Pathways, Enriched Assessment, Infrastructure, Collaboration, and Climate. Designed for teacher development and accessible via the OKA+ blog and YouTube channel.

Quantifiable outcome

• OKA+ Schools have higher student achievement, fewer disciplinary referrals, better attendance, and higher parental involvement compared with other schools in Oklahoma.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers42 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Masonic Charity Foundation of OklahomaflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Partner of the Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute. Supports the annual partnership program and is highlighted in printed and promotional materials at OKA+ events throughout the year.
• Oklahoma Arts CouncilcoreGTM or Marketing PartnerProvides funding for select programming including the Poetry Out Loud contest. The Oklahoma Arts Council receives support from the State of Oklahoma and the National Endowment for the Arts.
• American Fidelity FoundationflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Partner of the Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute. Highlighted in promotional materials at OKA+ events.
• WingdateminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Partner of the Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute. Highlighted in promotional materials at OKA+ events.
• University of Central OklahomaflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerOKA+ is hosted at and partnered with the University of Central Oklahoma. The UCO Provost/Vice President Academic Affairs serves on the Board of Advocacy. OKA+ is part of UCO's institutional ecosystem.
• Bryan, Little, Haley & Kent, CPAsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCreativity Partner of the Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute. Highlighted in promotional materials at OKA+ events.
• DaVinci InstitutecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe DaVinci Institute is Oklahoma's Creativity Think Tank. Its first project became what is now Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute. Through a long-standing relationship since 2010, DaVinci values the work of OKA+ and co-administers the annual DaVinci A+ Teacher of the Year award program.
• Mr. Terry McGheeminorGTM or Marketing PartnerPresenting Partner of the Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute. Highlighted in promotional materials at OKA+ events.
• National A+ Schools ConsortiumcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOKA+ is part of the National A+ Schools Consortium, which encompasses 4 statewide networks (North Carolina, Oklahoma, Arkansas, and Louisiana). The consortium uses arts as a catalyst for transforming schools and is nationally recognized as an effective, research-based strategy for sustainable school reform.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National A+ Schools Consortium: The umbrella consortium of which Oklahoma A+ Schools is a founding member; encompasses the four state A+ Schools networks (North Carolina, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma) using arts as a catalyst for whole-school transformation. Operationally and philosophically identical model.
• North Carolina A+ Schools Program: Sister state program in the National A+ Schools Consortium implementing the same arts-integrated eight-essentials framework with North Carolina public schools. Serves the same student population, uses analogous PD and network structures, and competes for the same pool of arts-integration research attention.
• Arkansas A+ Schools Program: Third member of the National A+ Schools Consortium, running the same framework in Arkansas schools with comparable teacher PD, network summits, and research validation. Functionally equivalent delivery model and customer base.
• Louisiana A+ Schools Program: Fourth member of the National A+ Schools Consortium, delivering the A+ Essentials framework to Louisiana schools with similar year-long PD cohorts, fellowships, and lesson plan libraries. Directly comparable in scope, mission, and funding mix (state arts council and private grants).

Broad incumbents

• Young Audiences Arts for Learning: National nonprofit affiliate network providing arts-integration programming and artist residencies in K-12 schools. Operates at much larger scale across many states and is a broader, less curriculum-focused incumbent that overlaps with OKA+ on the artist-residency and arts-PD dimensions.
• Kennedy Center Education: National performing-arts center with a large K-12 education arm including Any Given Child and teaching-artist programs. Approaches arts integration from an institution-based rather than whole-school-reform lens, with overlapping PD but broader scope.

Regional players

• AIMS (Arts Integration in Maryland Schools): Maryland-based arts-integration PD and lesson plan developer serving schools in a single state with a model closely paralleling OKA+'s. Comparable cohort-based teacher training and curriculum resources, but geographic scope is regional rather than statewide-network.

Emerging players

• Crayola Education: For-profit arm of Crayola producing standards-aligned arts-integration lesson plans, professional development, and classroom resources marketed to K-12 teachers nationally. Overlaps with OKA+'s lesson library and PD mission but is a vendor/product play rather than a nonprofit reform network.

Others

• Learning Forward: National professional association dedicated to K-12 educator professional learning. Adjacent to OKA+ as a PD standards setter and convening body, rather than a direct curriculum or framework competitor; relevant for benchmarking against PD delivery norms.
• ASCD: Major association for curriculum, instruction, and supervision professionals serving K-12 educators with publications, PD, and policy research. Overlaps thematically with OKA+ on PD and curriculum content but does not run a member-school network or arts-integration framework.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/okaplustv/videos
• Facebookfacebook.com/okaplus
• Instagraminstagram.com/okaplus
• Xx.com/okaplus
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/oklahoma-a-schools-institute-at-uco

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles7 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds3 records

Investors2 records

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M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Oklahoma A+ Schools Institute