HispanicBusiness

accurately identify schools that most need the state's assistance and intervention.

"This is not about nibbling around the edges. This is about really implementing these reforms ... and giving (teachers) the support they need," Barresi said.

She is looking forward to getting word in January about Oklahoma's request for a federal No Child Left Behind Law waiver. If approved, the state's school districts would see relief from the mandate that all schools show that 100 percent of their students are at grade level in reading and math by 2014.

Most educators agree that the law unfairly depicts a school as failing when it is not, mostly because test scores from special education students, English language learners and others are included in the mix.

"That's going to be a big part of the vehicle that's going to allow classroom teachers, principals and superintendents to focus on each individual child," she said.

To read an overview of Oklahoma's waiver request, go to

- KIM ARCHER, World Staff Writer

Oklahoma will vote in the March 6 presidential primary.

Republican Presidential Primary: State part of Super Tuesday

The great American elephant hunt comes to Oklahoma on March 6.

The state is part of the Super Tuesday primary that pits Republican presidential candidates against each other in 10 states.

State Republican Party Chairman Matt Pinnell said he expects the field of candidates to winnow a bit by primary day, but two or three top-tier candidates should still be in the running when Oklahomans get their chance.

Early polling suggests a competitive race.

A Nov. 17 to Dec. 16 survey of 400 Oklahoma Republicans showed Newt Gingrich leading with 33 percent of the vote. Mitt Romney had 14 percent. No other candidate was above single digits, and almost a quarter of the surveyed voters said they didn't know whom they favored or didn't want to say.

Pinnell said he suspects that most Oklahomans -- and most Americans -- haven't made up their minds yet.

Presidential primary campaigning in Oklahoma is likely to be low-key: not much advertising, no stadium-filling election day rallies. Bigger states are likely to hog the spotlight and the candidates' time.

But candidates are coming through the state -- primarily to raise money, Pinnell said.

While here, they are listening to state leaders and paying attention to Oklahoma's take on key issues, he said.

Republicans registered for the Oklahoma ballot are: Ron Paul, Rick Perry, Mitt Romney, Newt Gingrich, Rick Santorum, Michele Bachmann and Jon Huntsman.

Although President Barack Obama's renomination isn't in doubt, four other Democrats filed for that party's primary, which is set for the same day.

- WAYNE GREENE, World Senior Writer

Becky Frank: She plans to build on success

The last few years have been good ones for the Tulsa Metro Chamber of Commerce, and new Board of Directors Chairwoman Becky J. Frank said she wants to build on that success in 2012.

Frank pointed out some of the past year's achievements, including starting the Mosaic program, which aims to promote diversity and inclusion in the business community, as well as the compact formed between the Tulsa