Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Bin 3819 604537 1
Bin 3819 604537 1
Sep
12
2019
From the Desk of Dr. Jim Beckham
Page Superintendent of Blanchard Public Schools
A005 This week I would like to share this article from Senator Ron Sharp...
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The Clinton Daily News
0RUHGLVWULFWVFKRROV
Sep RIIHUYLUWXDOSURJUDPV
14
Melanie Brungardt’s their community, school
four children were frus- leaders say. Students
2019 trated at school. can customize a blend
Brungardt, of Okla- of online and in-person
homa City, said some Put- classes.
Page nam City Schools classes “It’s
A007 had too many students, about
and teachers were forced choice
Clip to spend more time on and what
resized behavioral issues and fits the
42% less time on instilling kids,”
knowledge. She under- said Jay
stood teachers’ challeng- Rotert,
es, but “as a parent, you director
hate sending your kid to Mia of Sand
school all day to not learn Springs
anything.” Mamone Virtual
The family considered Academy,
homeschooling but de- which be-
cided against it – and gan offering a fully virtual
ruled out virtual charter K-12 program this year.
schools – because her kids Some school officials say
didn’t want to miss out on the trend is being driven
sports and band. So they by a need to stay relevant
opted for something else: in a technological world.
Putnam City’s own full- But another factor is Epic
time virtual program. Charter Schools’ draw-
In recent years, most of ing students away from
the attention on online district schools.
education has been on Pawhuska Superinten-
virtual charter schools dent David Cash told a
such as Epic, whose Bartlesville radio station
enrollment has soared that the district will offer
to more than 24,000. The a virtual academy this
school is being investigat- year to counter Epic’s
ed for alleged fraud and growing popularity in
misuse of public funds, Osage County.
which Epic denies. The question that nags
Less visible is the grow- these schools is the same
ing number of brick-and- one that troubles virtual
mortar districts that are charters: Is the quality
offering full-time online of online education the
programs. same as that of in-person
The state doesn’t track instruction? School of-
the number of districts ficials aren’t really sure.
with online courses or Steffie Corcoran, a
how many students are spokeswoman for the
enrolled part-time or Oklahoma State Depart-
full-time. But a check ment of Education, said
of district websites and virtual programs are gov-
other web sources indi- erned by locally elected
cates at least 20 districts school boards, which
offer such programs. still must meet state and
Supplemental on- federal standards. Dis-
line courses have been tricts aren’t required to
available in traditional measure differences in
schools since at least success between partially
2010 and are required by or fully virtual students
law. But more students and traditional students.
and parents are seeking Many districts have only
full-time virtual educa- implemented their online
tion, and districts are programs in recent years
reshaping their models to and don’t have the data
accommodate them. yet to make comparisons.
The programs offer Some districts, like
advantages over virtual Cleveland, are watching
charter schools because some metrics. This school
students retain access to year will be its first to offer
campus amenities such a fully virtual program
as libraries, gyms, clubs, and the third for a blended
and sports and arts pro- program, which Superin-
grams. This allows stu- tendent Aaron Espolt said
dents to stay connected to has been successful so far.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The Express-Star
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Clip
Sep 2019 Page resized
14 B005 44%
McAlester News-Capital
4
online schools for the current There’s no offers each student a “learning
school year. consensus fund” that allows them to spend
The largest of those schools, education dollars on lessons
Epic Charter Schools, is under over the and hobbies; it holds a back-to-
investigation by the Oklahoma “actual cost” of school event that reserves an
State Bureau of Investigation entire amusement park for
for alleged financial misman- virtual schooling. students and parents for a day.
agement and is facing a forensic When it comes to virtual But Epic’s recent media cam-
audit by the State Auditor and schools, some costs are higher, paign involving TV commer-
Inspector. The school’s spending some are lower, and others are cials and other ad buys has hit
on a recent ad campaign also just different, said Rebecca a nerve with many residents
has ruffled a few feathers. Oklahoma Watch Wilkinson, executive director of and lawmakers, including State
The state House Common the Statewide Virtual Charter Superintendent Joy Hofmeister,
Education Committee held a in another 10% for certain stu- student head count, financial aid for them,” said School Board. Technology ex- who has said she doesn’t like
study Wednesday looking at the dent populations. But because Richard Haynes, Spiro’s super-
“real cost per student” for virtu- charter schools are excluded even in virtual intendent. penses and travel, for instance, it. Epic has said as an online
Epic has denied manipulat- are likely higher, but there’s charter school, it needs to mar-
al students compared to tradi- from receiving local tax dollars, schools. ing or gaming the timing of typically no food or transporta- ket its program to families who
tional, brick-and-mortar schools. nearly all charters’ funding
Because of the easy access to enrollment or withdrawing tion costs and building want alternatives to
Rep. Lundy Kiger, R-Poteau, comes from state dollars. costs are less.
said he was particularly con- That doesn’t necessarily virtual schools, there are more students. traditional district
students coming and going She pointed to a schools.
cerned about Epic’s spending mean charters receive fewer 2015 study by the In-
3
on referral bonuses for teachers dollars, said Shawn Hime, ex- than in traditional schools. Epic Lawmakers ternational Association
Rep. Sheila Dills,
and students, marketing and ecutive director of the Oklaho- allows year-round enrollment R-Tulsa, on Wednesday
ma State School Boards Associ- and has one of the highest rates are likely to for K-12 Online Learn- questioned Wilkinson,
advertising. ing, which found the
“I totally support any kind of ation. The state funding formu- of part-year students in the propose cost of a full-time on-
whose agency autho-
education that’s going to be state; in June 2018, more than rizes all of the state’s
effective,” Kiger said. “I want
la is meant to equalize funding,
half of its students were en- changes in 2020. line school is between virtual schools, about the spend-
so local tax dollars are subtract- 93% and 98% of a traditional ing.
them (virtual schools) to be ed from the amount a school is rolled part-year. But like all Kiger said the purpose of the
schools, they receive funding study was to look at whether school. “If virtuals can spend so
fully equipped, I just don’t want assigned for its needs and the A different report however,
state taxpayer dollars to be based on an Oct. 1 head count. virtual schools should be fund- much on marketing, do you
difference is provided by the found virtual schools should
wasted.” Kiger said he’s concerned that ed through a separate formula, believe they receive too much?”
state. For charter schools, the cost at least 24 percent less than
Here are five things to know method is allowing “gaming the and if so, what that would look she asked.
full amount is provided by the system.” He and the rest of the like. An example given during brick-and-mortar schools. That
about virtual charter funding: state. report, by the Education Com- Wilkinson replied that she
e d u c a t i o n c o m m i t t e e o n the session was a perfor-
“When districts have property Wednesday heard from the su- mance-based model, such as in mission of the States, found doesn’t know that the spending
1
Virtual charter taxes go up, it results in less perintendent of Spiro Public Florida, where virtual schools virtual school enrollment is too was illegal, then added: “It is
schools state aid,” Hime said. “Charters Schools, who talked about two receive state funding for stu- unpredictable – because of un- something this committee
don’t have those chargeables (of students who enrolled in Spiro dents only if they successfully limited size and enrollment should be asking.”
receive most local revenue), so it appears out on Oct. 3 last year. One had complete the course. capacity – to be funded through • Oklahoma Watch is a
of their funding of balance,” but is just the way been enrolled in virtual school Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, traditional school finance mod- nonprofit, nonpartisan media
the formula equalizes funding. since the previous May, the proposed a bill last session that els.
from the state. other since June, but the virtual would have made Oklahoma’s
organization that produces in-depth
2 5
Funding is Some and investigative content on a range
As a whole, school funding in school had no grades to report virtual school funding based on
Oklahoma comes from local for the students. course completion, but it didn’t of public-policy issues facing the
and state revenue at about 45%
based on a “If you keep a student on pass. Sharp, who is a frequent
lawmakers state. For more Oklahoma Watch
each, with federal funds kicking point-in-time record until Oct. 1, you get the critic of Epic, has indicated he see signs content, go to oklahomawatch.org.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The Ardmoreite
MOREITE
OKLAHOMA WATCH
Breaking
Sep
15 down
2019 virtual
Page
A001
Clip
school
resized
55%
funding
By Jennifer Palmer
Oklahoma Watch
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Clip
Sep 2019 Page resized From
15 A005 42% A001
The Ardmoreite
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Enid News & Eagle
Sep
15
2019
Page
A005 As part of its marketing campaigns, Epic Charter Schools sponsored a play area at Penn Square Mall earlier
this year. (Mashiur Rahaman / Oklahoma Watch)
Clip
resized
32% Virtual charter schools get
most of money from state
By Jennifer Palmer the timing of enrollment or withdrawing stu-
Oklahoma Watch dents.
Lawmakers likely are to propose chang-
Oklahoma lawmakers have 133 million es in 2020
reasons to examine virtual charter school fund- Kiger said the purpose of the study was to
ing. That is the number of state taxpayer dol- look at whether virtual schools should be fund-
lars expected to flow to the state’s five state- ed through a separate formula, and if so, what
wide online schools for the current school year. that would look like. An example given during
The largest of those schools, Epic Charter the session was a performance-based model,
Schools, is under investigation by Oklahoma such as in Florida, where virtual schools
State Bureau of Investigation for alleged finan- receive state funding for students only if they
cial mismanagement and is facing a forensic successfully complete the course.
audit by the State Auditor and Inspector’s Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shawnee, proposed
Office. The school’s spending on a recent ad a bill last session that would have made
campaign also has ruffled a few Oklahoma’s virtual school fund-
feathers. ing based on course completion,
The state House Common but it didn’t pass. Sharp, who is
Education Committee held a a frequent critic of Epic, has indi-
study Wednesday looking at the cated he would pursue it again in
“real cost per student” for virtual 2020.
students compared to traditional, Kiger said he would like to
brick-and-mortar schools. address students leaving virtual
Rep. Lundy Kiger, R-Poteau, schools after Oct. 1 through leg-
said he was particularly concerned islation.
about Epic’s spending on referral Sharp and Kiger are former
bonuses for teachers and students, educators.
marketing and advertising. There’s no consensus over
“I totally support any kind of education the “actual cost” of virtual schooling
that’s going to be effective,” Kiger said. When it comes to virtual schools, some
“I want them (virtual schools) to be fully costs are higher, some are lower, and others
equipped, I just don’t want state taxpayer dol- are just different, said Rebecca Wilkinson,
lars to be wasted.” executive director of the Statewide Virtual
Here are five things to know about virtual Charter School Board. Technology expenses
charter funding. and travel, for instance, are likely higher, but
Virtual charter schools receive most of there’s typically no food or transportation costs
their funding from the state and building costs are less.
As a whole, school funding in Oklahoma She pointed to a 2015 study by the
comes from local and state revenue at about International Association for K-12 Online
45% each, with federal funds kicking in anoth- Learning, which found the cost of a full-time
er 10% for certain student populations. But online school is between 93% and 98% of a
because charter schools are excluded from traditional school.
receiving local tax dollars, nearly all charters’ A different report however, found virtual
funding comes from state dollars. schools should cost at least 24 percent less
That doesn’t necessarily mean charters than brick-and-mortar schools. That report,
receive fewer dollars, said Shawn Hime, by the Education Commission of the States,
executive director of Oklahoma State School found virtual school enrollment is too unpre-
Boards Association. The state funding formula dictable — because of unlimited size and
is meant to equalize funding, so local tax dol- enrollment capacity — to be funded through
lars are subtracted from the amount a school traditional school finance models.
is assigned for its needs and the difference is Some lawmakers see signs virtual schools
provided by the state. For charter schools, the receive too much
full amount is provided by the state. Epic’s spending has raised eyebrows for
“When districts have property taxes go years for various reasons: Its for-profit man-
up, it results in less state aid,” Hime said. agement company takes an automatic 10% cut
“Charters don’t have those chargeables (of of revenue; it offers each student a “learning
local revenue), so it appears out of balance,” fund” that allows them to spend education dol-
but is just the way the formula equalizes fund- lars on lessons and hobbies; it holds a back-to-
ing. school event that reserves an entire amusement
Funding is based on a point-in-time stu- park for students and parents for a day.
dent head count, even in virtual schools But Epic’s recent media campaign involv-
Because of the easy access to virtual ing TV commercials and other ad buys has
schools, there are more students coming and hit a nerve with many residents and law-
going than in traditional schools. Epic allows makers, including State Superintendent Joy
year-round enrollment and has one of the Hofmeister, who has said she doesn’t like it.
highest rates of part-year students in the state; Epic has said as an online charter school, it
in June 2018, more than half of its students needs to market its program to families who
were enrolled part-year. But like all schools, want alternatives to traditional district schools.
they receive funding based on an Oct. 1 head Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, on Wednesday
count. questioned Wilkinson, whose agency autho-
Kiger said he’s concerned that method is rizes all of the state’s virtual schools, about the
allowing “gaming the system.” He and the spending.
rest of the education committee Wednesday “If virtuals can spend so much on market-
heard from the superintendent of Spiro Public ing, do you believe they receive too much?”
Schools, who talked about two students who she asked.
enrolled in Spiro on Oct. 3 last year. One Wilkinson replied she doesn’t know that
had been enrolled in virtual school since the the spending was illegal, then added: “It is
previous May, the other since June, but the something this committee should be asking.”
virtual school had no grades to report for the
students.
Oklahoma Watch is a nonprofit, tax-exempt, 501(c)
“If you keep a student on record until Oct.
1, you get the financial aid for them,” said (3) corporation whose mission is to produce in-depth and
Richard Haynes, Spiro’s superintendent. investigative journalism on public-policy and quality-of-life
Epic has denied manipulating or gaming issues facing the state.
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
El Reno Tribune
Sep
15
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The Norman Transcript
Virtual school
Sep
16
2019
funding: five
Page
A001
Clip
things to know
By Jennifer Palmer Rep.
resized Oklahoma Watch Lundy Kiger,
52% R-Poteau,
Oklahoma lawmakers said he was
have 133 million reasons particularly
to examine virtual charter concerned
school funding. That about Epic’s
is the number of state spending on
taxpayer dollars expected referral bonuses for teach-
to flow to the state’s five ers and students, market-
statewide online schools ing and advertising.
for the current school “I totally support any
year. kind of education that’s
The largest of those going to be effective,”
schools, Epic Charter Kiger said. “I want them
Schools, is under investi- (virtual schools) to be
gation by the Oklahoma fully equipped, I just don’t
State Bureau of Investiga- want state taxpayer dol-
tion for alleged financial lars to be wasted.”
mismanagement and is Here are five things to
facing a forensic audit know about virtual char-
by the State Auditor and ter funding:
Inspector. The school’s
spending on a recent ad 1. Virtual charter
campaign also has ruffled
a few feathers. schools receive most
The state House Com- of their funding
mon Education Commit-
tee held a study Wednes-
from the state
day looking at the “real
As a whole, school fund-
cost per student” for
ing in Oklahoma comes
virtual students compared
from local and state
to traditional, brick-and-
mortar schools. See FUNDING Page A6
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
The Norman Transcript
y y
Sep
16
2019
Page
A006
Clip
resized
31%
From
A001
there are more students if so, what that would K-12 Online Learning,
Funding: coming and going than in
traditional schools. Epic
look like. An example
given during the session
was a performance-based
which found the cost of a
full-time online school is
between 93% and 98% of
State funding
for virtual schools
Q Oklahoma
Virtual Charter Academy:
$11,985,942
From Page A1 allows year-round enroll-
ment and has one of the model, such as in Florida, a traditional school. Q Oklahoma
where virtual schools A different report Entries are listed by school Connections Academy:
revenue at about 45% highest rates of part-year
students in the state; in receive state funding however, found virtual and Fiscal Year 2020 initial $4,941,880
each, with federal funds
kicking in another 10% for June 2018, more than half for students only if they schools should cost at allocation: Q Insight School of
certain student popula- of its students were en- successfully complete the least 24 percent less Oklahoma: $3,213,159
tions. But because charter rolled part-year. But like course. than brick-and-mortar Q Epic Blended: Q ESchool Virtual:
schools are excluded from all schools, they receive Sen. Ron Sharp, R- schools. That report, by $42,817,925 $129,289
receiving local tax dol- funding based on an Oct. Shawnee, proposed a bill the Education Commis- Q Epic One on One: Q All Virtual Schools:
lars, nearly all charters’ 1 head count. last session that would sion of the States, found $70,139,049 $133,227,244
funding comes from state Kiger said he’s con- have made Oklahoma’s virtual school enrollment
dollars. cerned that method is virtual school funding is too unpredictable –
based on course comple- because of unlimited size as an online charter school, Wilkinson replied that
That doesn’t necessar- allowing “gaming the
tion, but it didn’t pass. and enrollment capacity it needs to market its pro- she doesn’t know that the
ily mean charters receive system.” He and the rest of
Sharp, who is a frequent – to be funded through gram to families who want spending was illegal, then
fewer dollars, said Shawn the education committee alternatives to traditional added: “It is something
Hime, executive director on Wednesday heard from critic of Epic, has indi- traditional school finance
cated he would pursue it models. district schools. this committee should be
of the Oklahoma State the superintendent of
again in 2020. Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tulsa, asking.”
School Boards Associa- Spiro Public Schools, who
Kiger said he would like on Wednesday questioned Oklahoma Watch is a
tion. The state funding talked about two students
to address students leav-
5. Some lawmak- Wilkinson, whose agency nonprofit, nonpartisan
formula is meant to who enrolled in Spiro on
ing virtual schools after ers see signs virtual authorizes all of the state’s media organization that
equalize funding, so local Oct. 3 last year. One had virtual schools, about the produces in-depth and
tax dollars are subtracted been enrolled in virtual
Oct. 1 through legislation. schools receive too spending. investigative content on a
Sharp and Kiger are
from the amount a school school since the previous former educators.
much “If virtuals can spend so range of public-policy issues
is assigned for its needs May, the other since June, much on marketing, do you facing the state. For more
and the difference is but the virtual school had Epic’s spending has believe they receive too Oklahoma Watch content,
provided by the state. For no grades to report for the 4. There’s no consen- raised eyebrows for years much?” she asked. go to oklahomawatch.org.
students. for various reasons: Its
charter schools, the full
“If you keep a student
sus over the ‘actual
amount is provided by the for-profit management
state. on record until Oct. 1, cost’ company takes an auto-
“When districts have you get the financial aid of virtual schooling matic 10% cut of revenue;
property taxes go up, it for them,” said Richard it offers each student a
results in less state aid,” Haynes, Spiro’s superin- When it comes to virtu- “learning fund” that allows
tendent. al schools, some costs are them to spend education
Hime said. “Charters don’t
Epic has denied ma- higher, some are lower, dollars on lessons and
have those chargeables (of
nipulating or gaming the and others are just differ- hobbies; it holds a back-to-
local revenue), so it ap-
timing of enrollment or ent, said Rebecca Wilkin- school event that reserves
pears out of balance,” but
withdrawing students. son, executive director an entire amusement park
is just the way the formula
equalizes funding. of the Statewide Virtual for students and parents
3. Lawmakers are Charter School Board. for a day.
Technology expenses and But Epic’s recent media
2. Funding is based likely to propose travel, for instance, are campaign involving TV
on a point-in-time changes in 2020 likely higher, but there’s commercials and other
typically no food or ad buys has hit a nerve
student head count, Kiger said the purpose transportation costs and with many residents and
even in virtual schools of the study was to look building costs are less. lawmakers, including State
at whether virtual schools She pointed to a 2015 Superintendent Joy Hof-
Because of the easy should be funded through study by the Interna- meister, who has said she
access to virtual schools, a separate formula, and tional Association for doesn’t like it. Epic has said
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.