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Focus Area: Early Childhood Development & Education

Overview

GKFF invests in ensuring that every child has access to high-quality early learning, strong schools, and supportive environments from birth through higher education. By intervening early and sustaining support, this focus area works to break cycles of poverty and set children up for lifelong success.

Data Sources

The KPIs in this focus area draw from national datasets such as the U.S. Census Bureau and the National Center for Education Statistics, state and local education agencies including the Oklahoma State Department of Education and Tulsa Public Schools, and GKFF program data. Most education-related indicators are updated annually, while student outcomes and local program data may be refreshed more frequently as new information becomes available.

Early Learning & Development

The majority of a child’s brain formation occurs by age three. GKFF programs intervene early in the cycle of poverty by working with families to increase learning opportunities during these crucial developmental stages.

Key Performance Indicators

  • Full-Term Births: The percentage of all births occurring at 39 weeks gestation or later.
    • Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Natality on CDC WONDER Online Database.
    • Refresh Date: August 2025
  • Healthy Birth Weight: The percentage of all infants born weighing more than 2,500 grams.
    • Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), National Center for Health Statistics. National Vital Statistics System, Natality on CDC WONDER Online Database.
    • Refresh Date: August 2025
  • Screened for Healthy Steps: The percentage of children screened for participation in the Healthy Steps program by age three.
    • Source: George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF).
    • Refresh Date: August 2025
    • Note: Data were provided by the GKFF for Tulsa County only.
  • Healthy Steps Participants: The percentage of children enrolled in the Healthy Steps program who are on track developmentally by age three.
    • Source: George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF).
    • Refresh Date: August 2025
    • Note: Data were provided by the GKFF for Tulsa County only.
  • Early Childhood Program Participation: Children ages 0–5 who are enrolled in early childhood programs offered by Tulsa Educare or CAP Tulsa.
    • Source: George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF) and U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 1-Year Estimates.
    • Refresh Date: August 2025
    • Note: This KPI relies on GKFF-provided enrollment data for the numerator and ACS poverty estimates for the denominator. The denominator reflects the number of children ages 0–5 living below the federal poverty level in Tulsa County. Estimates are subject to sampling variability and should be interpreted as approximations rather than exact counts. ACS 1-year estimates were not available for 2020.
  • Kindergarten Readiness: Kindergarten students in Tulsa Public Schools who previously participated in a pre-kindergarten program.
    • Source: George Kaiser Family Foundation (GKFF).
    • Refresh Date: August 2025
    • Note: Data were provided by the GKFF for Tulsa County only.
  • College Matriculation: The percentage of 18-24 year olds who have completed high school and are enrolled in college but have not yet earned a college degree.
    • Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 1-Year Estimates.
    • Refresh Date: September 2025
    • Note: This metric reflects the share of 18–24 year-olds with a high school diploma or some college but no degree who are currently enrolled in college. ACS 1-year estimates were not available for 2020.

Education

Quality public education and supporting programs are critical to fueling every person’s potential, providing the foundation for lifelong success. GKFF partners with schools and community organizations to close achievement gaps and expand opportunities.

Key Performance Indicators

  • 3rd Grade Math Achievement: The percentage of 3rd grade students performing at or above the proficient level on standardized math assessments.
    • Source: Oklahoma State Department of Education
    • Refresh Date: October 2025
    • Note: Data for Third Grade Math achievement are unavailable for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 due to COVID-related disruptions and insufficient data.
  • 3rd Grade Reading Achievement: The percentage of 3rd grade students performing at or above the proficient level on standardized reading assessments.
    • Source: Oklahoma State Department of Education
    • Refresh Date: October 2025
    • Note: Data for Third Grade Reading Achievement are unavailable for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 due to COVID-related disruptions and insufficient data. National comparisons are also not possible because National Assessment of Educational Progress (The Nation’s Report Card) only reports math achievement for fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades, and only for select years (2019, 2022, and 2024).
  • 5th Grade Math Achievement: The percentage o 5th grade students performing at or above the proficient level on standardized math assessments.
    • Source: Oklahoma State Department of Education
    • Refresh Date: October 2025
    • Note: Data for Fifth Grade Math Achievement are unavailable for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 due to COVID-related disruptions and insufficient data. National comparisons are also not possible because National Assessment of Educational Progress (The Nation’s Report Card) only reports math achievement for fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades, and only for select years (2019, 2022, and 2024).
  • 5th Grade Reading Achievement: The percentage of 5th grade students performing at or above the proficient level on standardized reading assessments.
    • Source: Oklahoma State Department of Education
    • Refresh Date: October 2025
    • Note: Data for Fifth Grade Reading Achievement are unavailable for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 due to COVID-related disruptions and insufficient data. National comparisons are also not possible because National Assessment of Educational Progress (The Nation’s Report Card) only reports math achievement for fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades, and only for select years (2019, 2022, and 2024).
  • 8th Grade Math Achievement: The percentage of 8th grade students performing at or above the proficient level on standardized math assessments.
    • Source: Oklahoma State Department of Education
    • Refresh Date: October 2025
    • Note: Data for Eighth Grade Math Achievement are unavailable for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 due to COVID-related disruptions and insufficient data. National comparisons are also not possible because National Assessment of Educational Progress (The Nation’s Report Card) only reports math achievement for fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades, and only for select years (2019, 2022, and 2024).
  • 8th Grade Reading Achievement: The percentage of 8th grade students performing at or above the proficient level on standardized reading assessments.
    • Source: Oklahoma State Department of Education
    • Refresh Date: October 2025
    • Note: Data for Eighth Grade Reading Achievement are unavailable for 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 due to COVID-related disruptions and insufficient data. National comparisons are also not possible because National Assessment of Educational Progress (The Nation’s Report Card) only reports math achievement for fourth, eighth, and twelfth grades, and only for select years (2019, 2022, and 2024).
  • Chronic Absenteeism: Students who miss 10% or more of enrolled school days within a school year, regardless of reason.