The Paper

Jul
22

2019

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022
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Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized
23 002 75%

McCurtain Daily Gazette

e
Oklahoma governor requests
audit of Epic Charter Schools
a

-
f OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)
d — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt
- and State Superintendent Joy
n Hofmeister are calling for an
investigative audit of Epic
- Charter Schools.
e That’s after state investiga-
g tors revealed an embezzle-
ment probe involving the
school’s co-founders.
The two Republicans issued
the joint statement Friday, and
Stitt formally requested an
audit by State Auditor and
Inspector Cindy Byrd. Stitt
asked that the audit include
the school and ‘all related
entities,’ along with a three-
year look back on previous
audits.
The Oklahoma State Bureau
of Investigation alleged in a
court affidavit this week that
Oklahoma deputies
cleared in death
of motorist after stop
Epic co-founders David
Chaney and Ben Harris
embezzled millions in state
funds by inflating student
enrollment numbers.
The investigation is ongo-
ing, and no formal charges
have been filed. The two men
have denied wrongdoing.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 our troops. Our for the programs and services to ensure that its informa- come level, the cost of hous- advocating for our citizens to
our nation de-
. Julthat2019
are essential to our peo-
Clip
Page resized tion is reliable and accurate. ing and housing conditions participate.
ple.
24 A002 69% Funding for Indian schools, all count toward how much A better count is one posi-
must honor our In the coming months, Cher- education programs, health money a tribal government tive step we can make to sup-
y to provide the Nowata
okeeStarNation will be working programs, housing programs, receives for housing pro- port our tribal government
men in uniform to educate our citizens, our infrastructure development grams. and all of northeast Oklaho-
s they need to employees and our commu- and economic development The formula is complex, ma.
l and the bene- nities about the importance of efforts is distributed based on and we have so much rid- Vital funding happens when
erve for securing participating in the Census. data collected by the Census. ing on a complete and accu- our citizens are counted. I
s and safeguard- Native people have been This federal money supports rate response to the Census. challenge all Cherokees to
-being. historically underrepresented our most vulnerable citizens, Census data also determines participate in the 2020 Cen-
y represents our in the Census. The Census including those who are funding for Indian health sus and make a positive dif-
ngth across the Bureau estimates that in the low-income, veterans and se- care, creating a huge impact ference.
e cannot let pol-
he way of that.
asingly danger-
we must be ready
y challenge and
Stitt, Hofmeister call for investigative audit of Epic
dversary. Governor Kevin Stitt and dits of Epic, to include any Stitt. “As we progress to- ties.”
e than ever, we State Superintendent Joy federal audits. wards becoming a Top Ten “As every public educa-
nvesting in our Hofmeister last week called “Oklahoma is investing state, we must be equally tion dollar is precious, it
men in uniform for an investigative audit of in public education at the committed to accountability is critical that there be full
to achieve peace Epic Charter School and all highest levels in our state’s and transparency across the transparency and account-
ngth. related entities in a letter history, while also modern- public education spectrum. ability for how those dollars
submitted by Gov. Stitt to izing and developing new This is why we are request- are spent. I commend Gov.
State Auditor Cindy Byrd. solutions for the delivery of ing for the State Auditor to Stitt In calling for this au-
ters to the The audit request will in- education that ensures the engage with an investiga- dit to help shed light on the
our readers. volve a three-year look back best outcomes for Oklaho- tive audit of Epic Charter matter,” said State Superin-
dress and on all previously issued au- ma’s children,” said Gov. School and its related enti- tendent Joy Hofmeister.
purposes.
will not be
er to:
USDA awards Agriculture Trade Promotion funding
obal.net U.S. Secretary of Agri- grams that will assist agricul- we can to sell the bounty of exporters have had signif-
culture Sonny Perdue an- tural producers while Presi- the American harvest.” icant success, including a
Nowata, OK 74048 nounced last week that the dent Trump works to address The 48 recipients are trade mission to Pakistan
ax: 918-273-0537 U.S. Department of Agricul- long-standing market access among the cooperator organi- that generated $10 million in
ture (USDA) has awarded barriers. zations that applied for $200 projected 2019 sales of pulse
9-200) $100 million to 48 organiza- “China and other nations million in ATP funds in 2018 crops, a new marketing pro-
Wednesday at 126 E. tions through the Agricultur- haven’t played by the rules that were awarded earlier this gram for Alaska seafood that
wata, Nowata County, al Trade Promotion Program for a long time and President year. led to more than $4 million in
Nowata Newspapers Inc. (ATP) to help U.S. farmers Trump is standing up to them, As part of a new round of sales of salmon to Vietnam
age paid at Nowata,
and ranchers identify and ac- sending
Property of a clear
OPS Newsmessage
Tracker andthat support
members for farmers
of the Oklahoma impact-
Press Association. and Thailand, and a compre-
 McCurtain Daily Gazette
Jul
25
2019
Memorial for treatment.
Page
001
Clip Swink School patrons in a
resized
battle to prevent annexation
52%
OKLAHOMA CITY – The
State Board of Education is
hearing today two views of
what Swink Elementary
School’s future will look like
– whether it should continue
to exist or be mandatorily
annexed to an adjoining
school district.
Brad Clark, the state
board’s legal counsel, will
present information about the
school site’s accreditation sta-
tus and proposed mandatory
annexation of the district.
After presentations by
patrons of the Swink district,
including Lewis Collins, the
only current member of the
school board, and State Rep.
J.J. Humphrey, R-Lane, an
action vote is scheduled on
“school district and school site
recommendations for the
2019-2010 school year.”
Clark has previously
brought to the state board of
education’s attention evidence
of a “depleting general fund
balance” over the past five
years at Swink School, along
with embezzlement of school
funds by its treasurer over a
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Sheriff’s deputies investi- was notified.
T
see
tion
int
four-year period and the ing the preceding year, was and
inability of the school to meet told in a letter from city
accreditation requirements. Hofmeister that the State for
Collins and Humphrey are Department of Education be
due to speak on behalf of (SDE) was recommending and
Swink School’s continued Swink be mandatorily De
existence. annexed.
Since Swink board’s presi- Hofmeister contended the C
dent and secretary Christy district is “without the basic Pat
Piercy and Chas Tillman tenets of a functional, main- rea
resigned their seats during the tained and operational public eas
June meeting, the board has school.” She said five of the all
not had a quorum and no 11 teachers at Swink had alte
action can legally be taken, resigned and two of the six 259
such as hiring staff and filling remaining teachers were part- wr
vacancies or even concluding time. tion
the last meeting. As of June 30, the superin- T
The board on Feb. 14 tendent, principal, treasurer nor
(Collins’ first meeting on the and clerk positions had
board) had voted 3-0 to ask for resigned.
an annexation election to be
called for Valliant to annex the
Swink school district.
A month ago at the state
board of education June meet-
ing, the board’s legal counsel
P
Later Collins changed his
vote, and the former sheriff
led the opposition to the
(Clark) presented causes for
mandatory annexation but
didn’t specify to whom Swink
y
annexation proposal, which should be annexed. B
was defeated in a May vote. Some observers feel Fort at
On June 28, two days Towson is a more likely acc
before resigning as superin- choice as such a school district Ro
tendent, Valliant superinten- as Swink voters were so up
dent Craig Wall, who served strongly opposed to Valliant as aft
as Swink superintendent dur- (See SWINK, page two) hon
gen
 McCurtain Daily Gazette
Jul
25
2019
Page
002 Swink
Clip (Cont. from page one)
resized
60% the annexing school.
A county commissioner
From
001
denounced the sending of any
property tax collections from
Choctaw County to a
McCurtain County school dis-
trict.
However, if the state does
name either Valliant or Fort
Towson as the receiver district
in a mandatory annexation
action, those school officials
will have little time to make
plans for absorbing a district
that last year had 140 enrolled.
Humphrey and Collins are
expected to argue that the state
should help enable Swink to
improve its financial and
accreditation status and to hire
staff needed for the school
year and receive state aid.
They will contend that part
of the reason for the current
problems has been the gover-
nor’s refusal to appoint mem-
bers to the board vacancies
that now exist. Humphrey ear-
lier told a Hugo newspaper
that the governor had not
acted on the appointment
because Hofmeister recom-
mended he defer action on the
matter.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The discussion of the future
Swink is in open session, as
will be a vote on the school’s
site accreditation and its status
for 2019-2020.
Lori Rae Baskin, former
treasurer of Swink Elementary
School, was sentenced in early
July to four years’ probation
for “theft from an organization
receiving federal program
funds.” Baskin was ordered to
pay $27,738.80 in restitution
due to funds allegedly
obtained by fraud from 2012
through 2015.
Wall was named superinten-
dent a year ago after Mark
Bush, the longtime superin-
tendent at Swink, resigned.
Bush, who resides in
Arkansas, cited health con-
cerns when he resigned his
position at the end of the
2017-2018 school year.
Since June, all activities at
Swink’s school site have
ceased, including discontinu-
ance of the summer program
by Boy and Girls Club and
VISTA volunteers.
Swink is one of the most
historic communities in the
Choctaw Nation. Northeast of
the town is the restored
“chief’s house” built through a
federal contract in the 1830s.
The school which began in the
early 1900s is one of the older
K-8 (dependent schools) in
this far corner of southeast
Oklahoma.
Immediately after the vote
scheduled on Swink’s accredi-
tation status for the 2019-2010
year, the state school board is
expected to go into an execu-
tive session to “discuss confi-
dential communications with
legal counsel” Brad Clark
about a “pending investiga-
tion, claim or action” against
Epic Charter Schools.”
The co-founders of Epic
Charter Schools, largest of
four virtual charter schools
that have enrolled 25,000
Oklahoma students, are under
investigation for alleged
embezzlement of state funds
and obtaining money by
recruiting “ghost students,”
according to a probe by the
Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation.
The board was advised by
Clark that “disclosure of any
additional information could
seriously impair the ability to
process or conduct the pend-
ing investigation and/or claim
in the public interest.”
 The Purcell Register

Has oversight of Epic Schools been lax?

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 The Purcell Register
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Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 The Edmond Sun
Jul
27 |
2019 Has oversight of Epic Schools been lax?
BY JENNIFER PALMER
Page OKLAHOMA WATCH
B008 In his request for a search
warrant, a law enforcement
Clip agent described Epic
resized Charter Schools as being set
up a decade ago as a profit-
32% generating “scheme.”
And he described the
school’s co-founders as
deeply involved in alleged
embezzlement of state
funds and obtaining money
under false pretenses —
such as personally recruit-
ing “ghost students” to
boost the school’s funding
and allowing students who
completed no work or
moved out of state on the
school’s rolls.
All of which begs the
question: Who is responsi-
ble for oversight of Epic?
And have they done enough
to be a check on the state’s
largest virtual school?
Co-founders David
Chaney and Ben Harris, in a
joint statement, say the alle-
gations are false.
“We will continue to
cooperate with investiga-
tors, as we have throughout
the history of our school. We
are confident the facts will
once again vindicate our
team,” their joint statement
reads.
The allegations outlined
in the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation’s
search warrant have drawn
the attention of the highest-
ranking state officials. Gov.
Kevin Stitt has asked to be
briefed on the investigation,
and Superintendent of
Public Instruction Joy
Hofmeister called the alle-
gations “extremely serious,
disturbing.”
On Friday afternoon, Stitt
and Hofmeister announced
they have requested an
investigative audit on Epic
and its related companies
by the state Auditor &
Inspector, looking at the
past three years.
What will ultimately result
from the audit and OSBI
investigation is unclear. The
accounts of alleged wrong-
doing in the affidavit and
the intense news coverage
have put pressure on public
officials to do something. Yet
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
as a charter school, Epic is
more loosely regulated than
traditional district schools
and is an icon of school
choice to supporters. So
increased efforts to curb its
practices could meet resist-
ance.
Epic, the brand name for
Community Strategies Inc.,
is a nonprofit 501(c)(3)
organization and has a
board of directors, which is
the first line of accountabili-
ty. They serve as both a non-
profit board and the school’s
board.
Above that, there’s the
Statewide Virtual Charter
School Board, which is a
small state agency with a
governor-appointed board
charged with overseeing
and authorizing each
statewide virtual school.
Then there’s the state
Department of Education,
which accredits Epic as a
charter school, and Rose
State College, which spon-
sors Epic’s separate charter
school composed of blend-
ed learning centers in
Oklahoma City and Tulsa.
The school is audited by an
independent auditor each
year, and until Friday, an
investigative audit had
never been sought from the
State Auditor.
As a nonprofit, Epic is also
subject to IRS rules for tax-
exempt charities requiring
transparency and banning
campaign activities and
profits for shareholders.
Charter school authoriz-
ers — in Epic’s case, the
Statewide Virtual Charter
School Board — have two
main responsibilities, said
Greg Richmond, chief exec-
utive officer of the National
Association of Charter
School Authorizers. Those
renewed.
Wilkinson also began
more closely tracking virtual
schools’ attendance by
requiring them to submit
student counts monthly —
an effort to determine
whether there are big jumps
or drops in enrollment at
certain points in the year.
This check likely would not
catch “ghost students,”
defined by the OSBI as stu-
dents enrolled at Epic who
received little or no instruc-
tion but were recruited and
kept on the rolls to inflate
WHITNEY BRYEN | OKLAHOMA WATCH enrollment and state fund-
Epic Charter School advocates gathered at the State Capitol for an educational day ing.
on March 11.
EPIC’S SCHOOL BOARD
are making sure taxpayers Executive Director Rebecca demic scores and student Epic’s board meets quar-
are getting what they paid Wilkinson. turnover. She has spear- terly and is comprised of
for and children are getting While Oklahoma had just headed a new accountabili- five members.
a good education. four statewide virtual ty system for virtual schools Mike Cantrell is head of
Richmond said part of the schools in 2018-19, those to measure their perform- an oil and gas investment
problem with virtual school schools reported a total of ance. If the schools fail to company in Ada, Betsy
accountability is most more than 25,000 students. meet the board’s criteria, Brown is a lawyer in
school laws were not writ- Wilkinson said the board they can lose their charter Norman, and Adam
ten with virtual schools in “has and continues to coop- and be shut down. The new Reynolds is co-owner and
mind. erate with the Oklahoma accountability system founder of Centennial
“That creates uncertainty State Bureau of begins this year with Epic Home Mortgage in
around how things are sup- Investigation.” She declined and Oklahoma Virtual Edmond.
posed to be administered to comment further. Charter Academy, and the Another attorney Doug
and creates openings which She has previously raised other schools will be added
a disingenuous person can concerns about Epic’s aca- as their contracts are SEE EPIC | B9
take advantage of,” he said.
Several states have uncov-
ered fraud at virtual schools
at taxpayers’ expense. A
large virtual charter in Ohio
closed abruptly last year
and the state ordered it to
repay $80 million. In
Indiana, state investigators
say two virtual charter
schools received public
funding based on inflated
enrollments and have
ordered the school to return
$40 million.
STATEWIDE VIRTUAL
CHARTER SCHOOL BOARD
Richmond says one weak-
ness in accountability that
he commonly sees in states
is that virtual schools are
overseen by a separate
agency, and that agency is
often understaffed and
underfunded.
Oklahoma’s virtual charter
school board has just three
staff members, two of
whom oversee the state’s
virtual charter schools. It
also has a six-member
board, which includes
 Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized From
27 B009 45% B008
The Edmond Sun
SATURDAY, JULY 27, 2019
EPIC: Lawmakers voice concerns about virtual schools
FROM PAGE B8
Scott of Tulsa, holds the
chairman position. Also on
the board is Liberty
Mitchell, an Epic graduate
and daughter of Oklahoma
City broadcast and podcast
producer Scott Mitchell.
The board appears to be
fairly hands-off in its role in
the school. For instance, at
the September meeting,
there was only one vote, on
a consent docket, and it
was approved unanimous-
ly. The entire meeting last-
ed 25 minutes, according to
the meeting minutes.
Epic typically holds two
school board meetings, one
after the other: One is for its
fully virtual school, the
other is for its blended
school. Both boards have
the same members.
THE LEGISLATURE
Epic makes aggressive
efforts to influence state
officials.
Epic’s two founders have
contributed more than
$157,000 in campaign con-
tributions since 2016 to
lawmakers and other elect-
ed officials. With their
spouses’ donations, the
total climbs to nearly
$193,500. The recipients
include dozens of legisla-
tors as well as Hofmeister
and Attorney General Mike
Hunter.
The OSBI began an
investigation into Epic in
2013 at the request of Gov.
An Epic Charter Schools administrative office building is
seen on 122nd Street in northwest Oklahoma City.
Mary Fallin. Those findings
were referred to the
Attorney General’s Office
but charges were not filed.
Though many assumed the
investigation was closed,
the latest search warrant
reveals the OSBI never
closed the case and contin-
ued investigating behind
the scenes. The same agent
working the case then filed
the latest search warrant.
Epic’s two co-founders
supported Hofmeister in
her successful 2014 bid to
replace her predecessor,
Janet Barresi, donating a
combined $9,000 to her
campaign. Barresi had
publicly tussled with the
school in a 2013 lawsuit
over Epic’s report cards.
Hofmeister’s campaign
has received more than
$40,000 since 2016 from
Chaney and Harris and
their spouses.
Within her office, the
person tasked with giving
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
THE EDMOND SUN
WHITNEY BRYEN / OKLAHOMA WATCH
Hofmeister legal advice,
general counsel Brad Clark,
previously worked for
attorney Bill Hickman, who
represents Epic and many
other charter schools. Clark
represented Epic in law-
suits against the depart-
ment in 2010 and in 2013.
The for-profit company
that manages Epic, Epic
Youth Services, employs
lobbyist Bobby Stem. Epic
Youth Services is owned by
Chaney and Harris.
Each year Epic hosts its
own Capitol Day, with
thousands of students and
families descending on the
statehouse. This year
Chaney and Harris took a
photo with Gov. Stitt, and
Chaney posted it to his
Facebook page.
Four bills addressing vir-
tual schools were filed last
session and one of those
was signed into law. House
Bill 1395, by Rep. Sheila
Dills, R-Tulsa, and Sen.
Dewayne Pemberton, R-
Muskogee, requires virtual
schools to be subject to the
same financial reporting
and audits as school dis-
tricts, and requires virtual
charters that contract with
managing organizations to
detail how those dollars are
spent.
Sen. Ron Sharp, R-
Shawnee, has been raising
concerns about Epic for
months. On Wednesday, he
called on the Legislature to
withhold Epic’s funding for
2019-20 until the investiga-
tion is complete. Sharp is a
former history teacher.
Concerns about virtual
schools, and in particular
Epic, have been voiced by a
number of lawmakers.
“This school has consis-
tently demonstrated ques-
tionable actions in how
money is spent (most often
not directly on students),
financial decisions, the way
attendance is calculated,
and their questionable
record keeping,” said Rep.
Melissa Provenzano, D-
Tulsa. “Given the strict
oversight the state
Department of Education
has for brick-and-mortar
schools, I am eager for
their response to this situa-
tion and their plans to keep
this from ever happening
again.”
Rep. Jacob Rosecrants,
D-Norman, said, “This is
exactly why so many of us
legislators, especially those
of us on the common edu-
cation committee, have
been calling for real
accountability for virtual
charters. Unfortunately, I
believe these findings are
just the tip of the iceberg.”
Three states cap or in
some way limit virtual
charter school enrollment,
according to the Education
Commission of the States
— something the
Oklahoma Legislature has
never attempted.
STATE DEPARTMENT
OF EDUCATION
Like all public schools,
Epic is audited each year.
The most recent audits —
for Epic One-on-One
statewide virtual school
and Epic Blended — were
completed by CBEW
Professional Group, based
in Cushing. The audits only
cover the activities of the
school, not Epic Youth
Services, the for-profit that
contracts to manage the
school.
The audits found no defi-
ciencies and found the
school in compliance.
However, the scope of
these types of audits is
more shallow than an
investigative audit, which
until Friday had never
been requested on Epic,
according to the state audi-
tor.
Shelly Hickman, a
EDUCATION | B9
spokeswoman for Epic,
said they will fully cooper-
ate with the audit and bear
the cost of it.
“We welcome this as an
opportunity to once again
prove to the public that our
school follows the law,” she
said.
Only certain entities can
request audits: the state
Department of Education,
the governor, House and
Senate leaders jointly, the
attorney general, the
Statewide Virtual Charter
School Board, the school’s
own board, or a district
attorney.
Hofmeister has request-
ed an investigative audit of
one charter school opera-
tor, Dove Schools, during
her tenure. Wilkinson, who
heads the Virtual Charter
School Board, has request-
ed one investigative audit
of a school, ABLE Charter
School. Dove is still open
and ABLE has since closed.
Neither had yet requested
one on Epic.
On Friday, Hofmeister
commended the gover-
nor’s action.
“As every public dollar is
precious, it is critical that
there be full transparency
and accountability for how
those dollars are spent,”
she said.
OKLAHOMA WATCH
reporter Trevor Brown contributed to
this story.
 McAlester News-Capital
Hofmeister: Epic school
complaints raised for years
■ Education
Department lacked
power to verify
Jul By JENNIFER
PALMER
OKLAHOMA WATCH
27
The state Board of Educa-
tion met Thursday and dis-
cussed, both publicly and
2019 behind closed doors, the in-
vestigation of Epic Charter
Schools.
Page State and federal investiga-
tors are probing allegations
A002 of embezzlement of public
funds by the online school’s
leaders. They have denied
Clip wrongdoing.
resized State Superintendent of In-
struction Joy Hofmeister
33% briefed board members on
the Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation’s search warrant
affidavit, filed in court July 16,
and a forensic audit now un-
derway by the State Auditor &
Inspector. Hofmeister joined
Gov. Kevin Stitt in requesting
the audit Friday.
The board also met in a
closed-door session with staff
attorney Brad Clark regarding
the audit and OSBI investiga-
tion, among other legal busi-
ness. Epic is being investigat-
ed by the FBI and Office of
Inspector General, the law
enforcement arm of the U.S.
Department of Education, as
well as the state entities.
Hofmeister called the alle-
gations “very serious” and
said she will continue to defer
to investigators on anything
that could affect the investiga-
tion.
“Every step we would need
to take in the normal course
of opening school and the new
school year, we will be work-
ing with investigative authori-
ties to ensure this is the right
step,” she said.
After the meeting,
Hofmeister an-
swered some ques-
tions about the in-
vestigation and the
department’s role
moving forward.
What’s in the im-
mediate future for
Epic with the 2019-20 school
year approaching?
Hofmeister said she doesn’t
expect a displacement of cur-
rent students. Funding and
accreditation of Epic are being
handled as business as usual.
The state board, in fact, ap-
proved accreditation Thurs-
day for school sites across the
state, including Epic’s. That
clears the way to receive state
funding, of which Epic is to
receive an estimated $120
million in the 2019-20 school
year, beginning Aug. 1. “We
keep moving forward unless
we are directed otherwise,”
Hofmeister said.
How long has the state Ed-
ucation Department had con-
cerns about Epic?
Epic has stirred controversy
since the get-go, and in the
OSBI affidavit, the investiga-
tor alleges that the entire
premise of Epic was a mon-
ey-making “scheme.” Hofmeis-
ter indicated the Education
Department has fielded com-
plaints for years but has been
unable to verify allegations
without additional authority,
such as subpoena power,
which she said 51 other state
agencies (like the auditor)
have.
“We will continue to ask for
that (subpoena power),” she
said.
She gave the example of the
OSBI investigator’s seizure
last month of an Epic teacher’s
laptop, along with a cell
phone. The Education Depart-
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
WHITNEY BRYEN | Oklahoma Watch
IN THIS February 2019
appearance, State
Superintendent Joy
Hofmeister spoke about the
new school report cards.
ment does not have the au-
thority to do that. They also do
not have records of students
who are home-schooled or are
enrolled in private schools,
which could have been used
to verify the dual enrollment
of “ghost students” alleged in
the affidavit.
To begin tracking that, the
Legislature would have to
change the law. “I think that
Oklahoma would have to de-
cide, ‘How far would that
reach be, with the govern-
ment, in the personal lives of
families?’” She also wants to
see the Statewide Virtual
Charter School Board, which
authorizes Epic and other vir-
tual schools, placed under the
state Education Department.
The department plans to push
for subpoena power and au-
thority over the Statewide
Virtual Charter School Board
in the next legislative session.
Why didn’t Hofmeister call
for an investigative audit
sooner?
The Education Department
was assisting the FBI and OIG
and those agencies did not
want it, Hofmeister said.
“There are reasons why they
would not want us to
do that,” she said.
“We’re very careful to
not impede an investi-
gation that we’re al-
ready aware of that
the public is not.”
Will Epic be shut
down?
Virtual schooling has many
supporters, and some of the
loudest and strongest advo-
cates support Epic. “It’s im-
portant to say there is a real
place for virtual schools and
that opportunity for students,”
Hofmeister said.
But there are signs that
state leaders and lawmakers
want to place additional
checks and restrictions on
these schools. The Legislature
approved this year House Bill
1395, authored by Rep. Sheila
Dills, R-Tulsa, which requires
virtual schools to be more
transparent and report spend-
ing by a for-profit manage-
ment company. Dills attended
the closed-door session of the
state board meeting.
Another expenditure Hof-
meister wants addressed is
schools’ use of public money
for advertising to recruit stu-
dents. “I don’t like seeing dol-
lars used in advertising to re-
cruit new students and grow
exponentially when school
performance isn’t as success-
ful for all kids,” she said, refer-
ring to Epic, which has blitzed
the state with print, online, TV
and radio ads. “But is that
unlawful? Does that need to
change? Perhaps.”
• Oklahoma Watch is a
nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3)
corporation whose mission is to
produce in-depth and investigative
journalism on public-policy and
quality-of-life issues facing the
state.
 The Norman Transcript

Hofmeister: Epic
Jul
27

2019
complaints
Page
A001
Clip
raised for years
resized By Jennifer Palmer tigated
72%
Oklahoma Watch by the
FBI and
The state Board of Office of
Education met Thurs- Inspector
day and discussed, General,
both publicly and be- the law
hind closed doors, the enforcement arm of
investigation of Epic the U.S. Department
Charter Schools. of Education, as well as
State and federal in- the state entities.
vestigators are probing Hofmeister called
allegations of em- the allegations “very
bezzlement of public serious” and said she
funds by the online will continue to defer
school’s leaders. They to investigators on any-
have denied wrongdo- thing that could affect
ing. the investigation.
State Superintendent “Every step we would
of Instruction Joy Hof- need to take in the
meister briefed board normal course of open-
members on the Okla- ing school and the new
homa State Bureau of school year, we will be
Investigation’s search working with investi-
warrant affidavit, filed gative authorities to
in court July 16, and ensure this is the right
a forensic audit now step,” she said.
underway by the State After the meeting,
Auditor & Inspector. Hofmeister answered
Hofmeister joined Gov. some questions about
Kevin Stitt in request- the investigation and
ing the audit Friday. the department’s role
The board also met moving forward.
in a closed-door ses- t What’s in the
sion with staff attorney immediate future for
Epic with the 2019-20
Brad Clark regarding
school year
the audit and OSBI
approaching?
investigation, among Hofmeister said she
other legal business.
Epic is being inves- See EPIC Page A6

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 The Norman Transcript
Jul
27
Epic:
From Page A1
2019 doesn’t expect a displace-
ment of current students.
Page Funding and accreditation
A006 of Epic is being handled
as business as usual.
Clip The state board, in fact,
resized
60% approved accreditation
Thursday for school sites
From across the state, including
A001
Epic’s.
That clears the way to
receive state funding, of
which Epic is to receive an
estimated $120 million in
the 2019-20 school year,
beginning Aug. 1. “We
keep moving forward un-
less we are directed other-
wise,” Hofmeister said.
t How long has the
state Education
Department had
concerns about Epic?
Epic has stirred con-
troversy since the get-go,
and in the OSBI affidavit,
the investigator alleges
that the entire premise of
Epic was a money-making
“scheme.” Hofmeister
indicated the Education
Department has fielded
complaints for years but
has been unable to verify
allegations without ad-
ditional authority, such as
subpoena power, which
she said 51 other state
agencies (like the auditor)
have.
“We will continue to
ask for that (subpoena
power),” she said.
She gave the example
of the OSBI investiga-
tor’s seizure last month of
an Epic teacher’s laptop,
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
along with a cell phone.
The Education Depart-
ment does not have the
authority to do that. They
also do not have records
of students who are home-
schooled or are enrolled
in private schools, which
could have been used to
verify the dual enrollment
of “ghost students” alleged
in the affidavit.
To begin tracking that,
the Legislature would
have to change the law.
“I think that Oklahoma
would have to decide,
‘How far would that reach
be, with the government,
in the personal lives of
families?’”
She also wants to see
the Statewide Virtual
Charter School Board,
which authorizes Epic
and other virtual schools,
placed under the state
Education Department.
The department plans to
push for subpoena power
and authority over the
Statewide Virtual Charter
School Board in the next
legislative session.
t Why didn’t Hofmeis-
ter call for an investiga-
tive audit sooner?
The Education Depart-
ment was assisting the
FBI and OIG and those
agencies did not want it,
Hofmeister said. “There
are reasons why they
would not want us to do
that,” she said. “We’re very
careful to not impede an
investigation that we’re
already aware of that the
public is not.”
t Will Epic be shut
down?
Virtual schooling has
many supporters, and
some of the loudest and
strongest advocates sup-
port Epic. “It’s important
to say there is a real place
for virtual schools and
that opportunity for stu-
dents,” Hofmeister said.
But there are signs that
state leaders and lawmak-
ers want to place addi-
tional checks and restric-
tions on these schools.
The Legislature approved
this year House Bill 1395,
authored by Rep. Sheila
Dills, R-Tulsa, which
requires virtual schools
to be more transparent
and report spending by
a for-profit management
company. Dills attended
the closed-door session of
the state board meeting.
Another expenditure
Hofmeister wants ad-
dressed is schools’ use of
public money for advertis-
ing to recruit students.
“I don’t like seeing dol-
lars used in advertising to
recruit new students and
grow exponentially when
school performance isn’t
as successful for all kids,”
she said, referring to Epic,
which has blitzed the state
with print, online, TV
and radio ads. “But is that
unlawful? Does that need
to change? Perhaps.”
Oklahoma Watch is a
nonprofit, nonpartisan
media organization that
produces in-depth and
investigative content on
a range of public-policy
issues facing the state. For
more Oklahoma Watch
content, go to oklaho-
mawatch.org.
 The Shawnee News-Star

Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art

Jul
27

2019

Page
A001
Museum program
Clip
resized
encourages
53%

By Brooklyn Wayland

A
Shawnee museum has
kept its 100 year-long goal
of immersing Oklahomans
in art from across the globe alive
through programs and events
held at the museum; the Cre-
ative Arts Camp throughout the
summers is one way they have
focused on allowing students to
experience art and learn from it
at a young age.
“We’re still open” said Amber
DuBoise-Shepherd, Manager of
Education and Outreach at the
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.
Many believe since the closing
of St. Gregory University, the
museum is also closed, but that Students work with LEGO bricks to create things that fly using
isn’t the case; despite some of mathematical skills and critical thinking. This is part of the
their funding being lost from the curriculum in the STEAM program called “Brick by Brick” at the
Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art.
recent closing of the university,
the Mabee-Gerrer Museum of Art BROOKLYN WAYLAND | NEWS-STAR
is still open and currently offers
summer art camps for youth. through art. That is still the goal ican art pieces, Roman and Greek
From the start of this museum, of the museum 100 years later. antiquities, paintings from the
the founder, Fr. Gregory Gerrer, The museum has an impressive Middle Ages and Renaissance pe-
had the goal of bringing art to collection that includes ancient riods, Native American Art from
Oklahoma and letting local peo- Egyptian mummies, shrunken many tribes and much more.
ple truly experience the world heads, South and Central Amer-
ART, Page 5A

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 The Shawnee News-Star

REGION
ART
Continued from Page 1A

DuBoise-Shepherd grew
up going to the Mabee-Ger-
Jul UHU PXVHXP DQG VSHFL¿-
27 cally remembers how fas-
cinated she was with the
mummies as a young child.
2019 “I was the kid who’d
smoosh my face against the
Page glass to look at them,” re-
called DuBoise-Shepherd.
A005 Coming back to her
Clip hometown of Shawnee,
resized DuBoise-Shepherd has
53% eventually taken over an
education program at the
From museum focused on expos-
A001 ing students to art.
The museum has an edu-
cation collection of art with
the purpose of allowing
students to be able to touch
and handle certain ancient
pieces to add an extra layer
of familiarity to art.
DuBoise-Shepherd said
it is often hard for little
ones to not be able to touch
the exhibits so this offers
them a way to interact
with the art; kids can even
put on one of the ancient
helmets and look around
with it. BROOKLYN WAYLAND | NEWS-STAR
A part of the education
department at the museum
is the summer programs
they offer. The Creative While registration for of these summer programs
Arts Camps are one of the these summer programs have been or currently are
programs offered for stu- are closed this year, there educators of some sort.
dents. are many more programs Burleigh is currently a
This program was for and features offered by the teacher at Oklahoma City
children from age 5 to age museum for students. Public Schools. She works
13. The morning sessions “Brick by Brick” is the with Thick Descriptions
were offered for 5-8 year STEAM Camp with Thick over school breaks.
olds, and the afternoon ses- Descriptions offered this “My favorite part is
sions for the 9-13 year olds. week at the museum. meeting all the new kids.
Tuition for these camps According to Allisyn Each group is so unique,”
was $60 including sup- Burleigh, an instructor for said Burleigh.
plies. Scholarships were the “Brick by Brick” course, Other programs offered
also available for those this STEAM (standing for by the museum are Teens/
children who qualify. science, technology, art Tweens Clinics, tours and
There is a $10 discount and mathematics) course Field Trips for groups or
for members and student is based on art through the schools.
who are enrolled in EPIC engineering, technology After 100 years, the mu-
charter schools also receive DQGPDWKHPDWLFVRIÀLJKW seum hopes to continue to
a discount per EPIC. For example, the stu- bring art to Oklahoma and
Each of these one-week GHQWV¿UVWEHJLQE\SDLQW- let local people truly expe-
camps has an art exhibit LQJ WKLQJV WKDW À\ ZKLFK rience the world through
that families and friends pulls on prior knowledge art in programs like these.
of the students are en- then they work with LEGO To help make this pos-
couraged to attend and bricks to build things that sible, anyone can donate
check out their student’s FRXOGÀ\ZKLFKIRFXVHVRQ supplies, time or even
art work. mathematics. The students funding. There are so
Students who are ho- will also be taught about many ways to help the Ma-
meschooled may even be WKHIRUFHVRIÀLJKWDQGWR bee-Gerrer Museum of Art;
able to receive an art credit incorporate anthropology, WR¿QGRXWPRUHDERXWKRZ
through these programs. the Tuskegee Airmen. to help, visit www.mgmoa.
Each of the instructors org or call (405) 878-5300.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Alva Review-Courier

Has oversight of Epic

Schools been lax?
Jul
28
By Jennifer Palmer
2019 Oklahoma Watch
In his request for a search
warrant, a law enforcement agent
Page described Epic
0001 Charter Schools
as being set up a
Clip decade ago as a
resized SUR¿WJHQHUDWLQJ 0
“scheme.” Q
54%
And he Y
described the F
school’s co-
founders as deeply involved in
alleged embezzlement of state
funds and obtaining money under
M
false pretenses – such as personally
recruiting “ghost students” to boost
the school’s funding and allowing
n
students who completed no work or
moved out of state on the school’s
rolls.
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All of which begs the question: intense news coverage have put
Who is responsible for oversight of charities requiring transparency and
SUHVVXUH RQ SXEOLF R൶FLDOV WR GR a
Epic? And have they done enough banning campaign activities and
something. Yet as a charter school, E
to be a check on the state’s largest Epic is more loosely regulated than
SUR¿WVIRUVKDUHKROGHUV G
virtual school? Charter school authorizers – in
traditional district schools and is an h
Co-founders David Chaney and Epic’s case, the Statewide Virtual
icon of school choice to supporters. D
Ben Harris, in a joint statement, say Charter School Board – have two
6R LQFUHDVHG H൵RUWV WR FXUE LWV t
the allegations are false. main responsibilities, said Greg
practices could meet resistance. w
“We will continue to cooperate Epic, the brand name for5LFKPRQGFKLHIH[HFXWLYHR൶FHURI
with investigators, as we have the National Association of Charter
Community Strategies Inc., is a p
throughout the history of our school. School Authorizers. Those are
:HDUHFRQ¿GHQWWKHIDFWVZLOORQFH
again vindicate our team,” their joint
statement reads.
The allegations outlined in
the Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation’s search warrant have
drawn the attention of the highest-
UDQNLQJ VWDWH R൶FLDOV *RY .HYLQ
Stitt has asked to be briefed on the
investigation, and Superintendent of
Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister
called the allegations “extremely
serious, disturbing.” On Friday
afternoon, Stitt and Hofmeister
announced they have requested
an investigative audit on Epic and
its related companies by the state
Auditor & Inspector, looking at the
past three years.
What will ultimately result from
the audit and OSBI investigation
is unclear. The accounts of alleged
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Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
QRQSUR¿W F RUJDQL]DWLRQ
making sure taxpayers are getting
and has a board of directors, which
what they paid for and children are
LV WKH ¿UVW OLQH RI DFFRXQWDELOLW\
getting a good education.
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Richmond said part of the
K
s
and the school’s board.
problem with virtual school
Above that, there’s the Statewide
Virtual Charter School Board,accountability is most school laws
were not written with virtual schools
which is a small state agency with
in mind.
a governor-appointed board charged B
with overseeing and authorizing “That creates uncertainty around
how things are supposed to be
each statewide virtual school. )
administered and creates openings
Then there’s the state Department t
which a disingenuous person can
of Education, which accredits Epic f
take advantage of,” he said.
as a charter school, and Rose State G
College, which sponsors Epic’s Several states have uncovered d
fraud at virtual schools at taxpayers’
separate charter school composed o
expense. A large virtual charter in
of blended learning centers in w
Oklahoma City and Tulsa. The Ohio closed abruptly last year and the d
school is audited by an independent
VWDWHRUGHUHGLWWRUHSD\PLOOLRQ
In Indiana, state investigators say
auditor each year, and until Friday, a
two virtual charter schools received
an investigative audit had never 
been sought from the State Auditor.
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enrollments and have ordered the
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subject to IRS rules for tax-exempt
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Richmond says one weakness b
in accountability that he commonly
sees in states is that virtual schools L
are overseen by a separate agency, g
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and underfunded. O
Oklahoma’s virtual charter r
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which includes Executive Director l
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Wilkinson said the board “has g
À
See Epic Page 2 p
 Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized From
28 0007 97% 0001

Alva Review-Courier

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organization that produces in-depth
and investigative journalism on
important public-policy issues facing
the state. The organization’s website
is at www.oklahomawatch.org.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized
28 A004 68%
The Norman Transcript
L E TT ER S T O TH E ED I TO R
Why is Epic still
receiving tax dollars?
Epic Charter Schools in
Oklahoma has been given the
OK from the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation to con-
tinue to receive tax dollars for
the upcoming school season.
The investigation into the claims
of embezzlement of those
tax dollars by the OSBI is still
ongoing.
There was a time when pigs
would fly before those accused
would keep receiving alleged
embezzled tax dollars. Has
anybody else noticed that Epic
Charter Schools are buying
a lot of ad time on our local
OKC TV stations with those tax
dollars?
I bet Norman Public Schools
would like to have enough
money in their accounts to
buy TV ads, but it seems our
public schools are having to
hire scores of emergency
credentialed teachers, because
we don’t have the tax dollars to
hire qualified trained teachers
O i i P FAQ
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
at a pay scale commensurate
to their education and desire to
teach our children.
That is unseemly at best and
criminal at worst. I expect noth-
ing but unseemly and criminal
at every level of government,
given that the Republican-con-
trolled U.S. Congress’ first point
of order, when they convened
in January 2017, after Trump’s
Electoral College victory, was to
water down the ethics rules and
then give us alternative facts.
Maybe it’s best Epic Charter
Schools and full-time substitute
teachers are educating our
kids, so they can teach our
children the fake science that
pollution is good for the air and
water, that it is normal for polar
ice caps to melt and flying pigs
in the sky are a Trump miracle.
Jim Ammerman
NORMAN
NCAB is good way to
stay informed
Editor, The Transcript:
Too often, cities, towns
and villages are distrusting,
aggravated and suspicious
of their government and their
public servants. These issues
are commonly due to a lack of
communication between the
citizens and those who serve
them. We Normanites, for the
most part, enjoy open and
honest communication with
our elected officials and our
public services.
A little over a year back, the
Norman Police Department
began the process of estab-
lishing a Norman Citizens’
Advisory Board (NCAB) for the
purpose of providing direct
conversation and communica-
tion between the citizens and
the department.
The NCAB mission: Open
and maintain communication
between Norman citizens and
the Norman Police Depart-
ment. In short, NCAB provides
a two-way line of communica-
tion between citizens and our
police department leadership
concerning the “why/why not”
of procedures and enforce-
ment procedures and actions.
O Ed b i i
Once each month, the
NCAB meets with police
department representatives
to review specific events,
processes and procedures,
then advises the department
from the point of view of the
citizens.
In addition, NCAB hosts
a public forum every three
months (quarterly) where
citizens are encouraged to
present and discuss issues
and events, then ask ques-
tions of the members. These
concerns are then shared with
NPD leadership.
NCAB provides an excellent
point of contact for Norman
citizens to share information
and ask questions on behalf
of “we the people.” Those
wishing to know the “when
and where” of public meet-
ings, please go to websites
for the City of Norman and/or
Norman Police Department, or
check The Norman Transcript.
We look forward to seeing
you.
Bill Huntington
Member, NCAB
f it b th t
 Stillwater NewsPress

State/Local y, y ,

Hofmeister: Epic complaints raised for years

Oklahoma State Superintendent says education department lacked power to verify
Jul By Jennifer Palmer
Oklahoma Watch
28 The state Board of Edu-
cation met Thursday and
discussed, both publicly and
2019 behind closed doors, the in-
vestigation of Epic Charter
Schools.
Page State and federal investiga-
A002 tors are probing allegations of
embezzlement of public funds
Clip by the online school’s leaders.
resized They have denied wrongdo-
39% ing.
State Superintendent of
Instruction Joy Hofmeister
briefed board members on the
Oklahoma State Bureau of In-
vestigation’s search warrant
affidavit, filed in court July
16, and a forensic audit now
underway by the State Audi-
tor & Inspector. Hofmeister
joined Gov. Kevin Stitt in re-
questing the audit Friday.
The board also met in a
closed-door session with staff
attorney Brad Clark regard-
ing the audit and OSBI inves-
tigation, among other legal
business. Epic is being inves-
tigated by the FBI and Office
of Inspector General, the law
enforcement arm of the U.S.
Department of Education, as WHITNEY BRYEN/OKLAHOMA WATCH
well as the state entities. In this February 2019 appearance, State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister spoke about the new
Hofmeister called the al- school report cards. Hofmeister discussed the Epic Charter Schools situation recently.
legations “very serious” and
said she will continue to defer
to investigators on anything
keep moving forward unless verify the dual enrollment of Will Epic be shut down?
we are directed otherwise,” “ghost students” alleged in the
that could affect the investi- Hofmeister said. affidavit. Virtual schooling has many
gation. To begin tracking that, supporters, and some of the
“Every step we would need the Legislature would have loudest and strongest advocates
to take in the normal course How long has the state to change the law. “I think support Epic. “It’s important
of opening school and the Education Department had that Oklahoma would have to to say there is a real place for
new school year, we will be decide, ‘How far would that virtual schools and that oppor-
working with investigative concerns about Epic? reach be, with the government, tunity for students,” Hofmeister
authorities to ensure this is said.
Epic has stirred controversy in the personal lives of fam-
the right step,” she said. ilies?’” She also wants to see But there are signs that state
since the get-go, and in the
After the meeting, Hofmeis- the Statewide Virtual Charter leaders and lawmakers want
OSBI affidavit, the investi-
ter answered some questions School Board, which autho- to place additional checks and
gator alleges that the entire
about the investigation and rizes Epic and other virtual restrictions on these schools.
premise of Epic was a mon-
the department’s role moving The Legislature approved this
ey-making “scheme.” Hofmeis- schools, placed under the state
forward. Education Department. The year House Bill 1395, authored
ter indicated the Education
Department has fielded com- department plans to push for by Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa,
What’s in the immediate plaints for years but has been subpoena power and authori- which requires virtual schools
unable to verify allegations ty over the Statewide Virtual to be more transparent and
future for Epic with the without additional authority, Charter School Board in the report spending by a for-profit
2019-20 school year such as subpoena power, which next legislative session. management company. Dills
she said 51 other state agen- attended the closed-door session
approaching? cies (like the auditor) have. of the state board meeting.
“We will continue to ask for
Why didn’t Hofmeister call Another expenditure Hof-
Hofmeister said she doesn’t
expect a displacement of cur- that (subpoena power),” she for an investigative audit meister wants addressed is
rent students. Funding and said. schools’ use of public money for
accreditation of Epic are being She gave the example of
sooner? advertising to recruit students.
handled as business as usual. the OSBI investigator’s sei- The Education Department “I don’t like seeing dollars used
The state board, in fact, ap- zure last month of an Epic was assisting the FBI and in advertising to recruit new
proved accreditation Thursday teacher’s laptop, along with OIG and those agencies did students and grow exponen-
for school sites across the a cell phone. The Education not want it, Hofmeister said. tially when school performance
state, including Epic’s. That Department does not have the “There are reasons why they isn’t as successful for all kids,”
clears the way to receive state authority to do that. They also would not want us to do that,” she said, referring to Epic,
funding, of which Epic is to do not have records of students she said. “We’re very careful which has blitzed the state with
receive an estimated $120 who are home-schooled or are to not impede an investigation print, online, TV and radio ads.
million in the 2019-20 school enrolled in private schools, that we’re already aware of “But is that unlawful? Does
year, beginning Aug. 1. “We which could have been used to that the public is not.” that need to change? Perhaps.”

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized
29 A001 50%

Enid News & Eagle

Hofmeister: Education Dept. lacked power to verify Epic complaints

Joy Hofmeister (File Photo)
By Jennifer Palmer
Oklahoma Watch
The state Board of Education
met Thursday and discussed,
both publicly and behind closed
doors, the investigation of Epic
Charter Schools.
State and federal investiga-
tors are probing allegations of
embezzlement of public funds
by the online school’s leaders.
They have denied wrongdoing.
State Superintendent of
Instruction Joy Hofmeister
briefed board members on
Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation’s search warrant
affidavit, filed in court July 16,
and a forensic audit now under-
way by the State Auditor &
Inspector’s Office. Hofmeister
joined Gov. Kevin Stitt in
requesting the audit Friday.
The board also met in a
closed-door session with staff
attorney Brad Clark regarding
the audit and OSBI investiga-
tion, among other legal business.
Epic is being investigated by
the FBI and Office of Inspector
General, the law enforcement
arm of the U.S. Department of
Education, as well as the state
entities.
Hofmeister called the allega-
tions “very serious” and said she
will continue to defer to inves-
tigators on anything that could
affect the investigation.
“Every step we would need
to take in the normal course of
opening school and the new
school year, we will be working
with investigative authorities to
ensure this is the right step,”
she said.
After the meeting, Hof-
meister answered some ques-
tions about the investigation and
the department’s role moving
forward.
What’s in the immediate
future for Epic with the 2019-
20 school year approaching?
Hofmeister said she doesn’t
expect a displacement of current
students. Funding and accredi-
tation of Epic are being handled
as business as usual. The state
board, in fact, approved accred-
itation Thursday for school
sites across the state, including
Epic’s. That clears the way to
receive state funding, of which
Epic is to receive an estimated
$120 million in the 2019-20
school year, beginning Aug. 1.
“We keep moving forward
unless we are directed other-
wise,” Hofmeister said.
How long has the state
Education Department had
concerns about Epic?
Epic has stirred controver-
sy since the get-go, and in the
OSBI affidavit, the investigator
alleges that the entire premise
of Epic was a money-making
“scheme.” Hofmeister indicated
the Education Department has
fielded complaints for years but
has been unable to verify allega-
tions without additional authori-
See EPIC, Page A3

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 Enid News & Eagle

According to Alzhei- 3900.

EPIC
Continued from Page A1
Jul
29 ty, such as subpoena power, which she said 51 other state agen-
cies (like the auditor) have.
2019 “We will continue to ask for that (subpoena power),” she
said.
Page She gave the example of the OSBI investigator’s seizure
A003 last month of an Epic teacher’s laptop, along with a cellphone.
Clip The Education Department does not have the authority to do
resized that. They also do not have records of students who are home-
64%
schooled or are enrolled in private schools, which could have
From
P been used to verify the dual enrollment of “ghost students”
A001 alleged in the affidavit.
To begin tracking that, the Legislature would have to change
d the law. “I think that Oklahoma would have to decide, ‘How
e far would that reach be, with the government, in the personal
y lives of families?’” She also wants to see the Statewide Virtual
Charter School Board, which authorizes Epic and other virtu-
e al schools, placed under the state Education Department. The
n department plans to push for subpoena power and authority
- over the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board in the next
g legislative session.
Why didn’t Hofmeister call for an investigative audit
sooner?
The Education Department was assisting the FBI and OIG
and those agencies did not want it, Hofmeister said.
“There are reasons why they would not want us to do that,”
she said. “We’re very careful to not impede an investigation that
we’re already aware of that the public is not.”
Will Epic be shut down?
Virtual schooling has many supporters, and some of the
loudest and strongest advocates support Epic.
“It’s important to say there is a real place for virtual schools
and that opportunity for students,” Hofmeister said.
But there are signs that state leaders and lawmakers want to
place additional checks and restrictions on these schools. The
Legislature approved this year House Bill 1395, authored by
Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, which requires virtual schools to be
more transparent and report spending by a for-profit manage-
ment company. Dills attended the closed-door session of the
state board meeting.
Another expenditure Hofmeister wants addressed is schools’
use of public money for advertising to recruit students.
“I don’t like seeing dollars used in advertising to recruit new
students and grow exponentially when school performance
isn’t as successful for all kids,” she said, referring to Epic,
which has blitzed the state with print, online, TV and radio ads.
“But is that unlawful? Does that need to change? Perhaps.”
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)(3) corporation whose mission is to
n produce in-depth and investigative journalism on public-policy and quality-of-life issues
p facing the state.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.