Articles
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Education
OSDE officials dispute Epic audit findings
Officials with the Oklahoma State Department of Education, criticized for lackluster and ineffective financial oversight in a state audit of Epic Charter Schools, disputed portions of the audit in an appearance before lawmakers.Ray Carter | October 22, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Deer Creek revenues, enrollment growing
Officials in many school districts continue to insist that funding is inadequate. So let's take a look at the available revenues in selected Oklahoma districts.Curtis Shelton | October 20, 2020
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Education
Hofmeister, board routinely waive school finance penalties
The State Board of Education, chaired by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, recently voted to impose more than $11 million in “clawback” penalties on Epic Charter Schools for alleged improper coding of administrative costs on state finances reports.Ray Carter | October 15, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
Department of Education budget request unrealistic
The Oklahoma State Board of Education recently released its fiscal year 2022 budget request and is asking for an increase of $191 million over the current level.Curtis Shelton | October 15, 2020
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Education
Review process launched into Epic’s charter
Members of the Oklahoma Statewide Virtual Charter School Board voted Tuesday to begin a months-long administrative process that could potentially result in termination of the board’s contract with Community Strategies, Inc., the governing board for Epic One-on-One Charter School.Ray Carter | October 13, 2020
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Education
Medical officials favor school reopening
Roughly one-quarter of the way through the school year, the debate over in-person instruction continues with some districts continuing to severely curtail classroom lessons while other districts remain fully online due to alleged concerns about COVID-19.Ray Carter | October 13, 2020
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Education
Epic ordered to repay $11 million
Members of the Oklahoma State Board of Education have ordered Epic Charter Schools, a virtual K-12 provider, to repay $11.2 million to the state.Ray Carter | October 12, 2020
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Budget & Tax, Education
For-profit companies receive public school money
Earlier this week, state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister heaped praise on a private-sector product that is helping to keep Oklahoma students safe.Curtis Shelton | October 9, 2020
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Education
Epic parents vote with their feet, shrug off controversy
As Epic Charter Schools continues to battle perceptions created by a critical financial audit, it seems that parents are equally eager to vote with their feet by enrolling their children in Epic.Mike Brake | October 9, 2020
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Education
Why did audit ignore state law, exclude response?
Jonathan Small, president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs, issued the following statement today regarding serious problems that have been identified with a state audit of EPIC Charter Schools.Staff | October 7, 2020