Countywide& Sun

Jul
11

2019 The Rodeo Heritage Has Deep Roots In The Roper Family
By MICHELE TOBERER bareback and bull rid- WLPH IRU Á\ ÀVKLQJ RF-
Page When your grandma ing. He was inducted casionally and enjoys
into the IFYR Hall Of JRLQJ ÀVKLQJ IRU WURXW
B01 is Betty Roper, the win-
ningest barrel racer in Fame in 2014. with his bulldogger
the International Pro- “Justin has been a friend, Shylo Glover.
Clip huge help to me over Jayco’s dad works for
resized fessional Rodeo Asso-
ciation, the announcer the years,” said Jayco. the Oklahoma Depart-
35% often mentions her “He is always there to ment of Transportation,
when introducing you KHOSÀ[P\ULJJLQJDQG and his mom works as
to the crowds. Jayco give me advice; I really a teacher at the Oklaho-
Roper has grown ac- look up to him. And, ma School for the Blind.
customed to hearing the I never ride a horse J.W.’s mom, Betty, lives
announcers rave about without praying to God next door to the family
his grandma and her ÀUVWµ and at 70 years old, still
six world titles as he is Jayco keeps up a very rides every day.
getting things just right busy schedule, com- “Grandma Betty is
in the chutes. peting in the Ameri- still healthy and gets
The Roper name has can Cowboys Rodeo around like a 40-year-
a longstanding rodeo Association, Cowboys old,” said Jayco. “She’s
history. As with many Regional Rodeo As- never sitting down
fourth-generation Okla- sociation and the All unless they’re eating
homa cowboys, rodeo Indian Rodeo Cowboys lunch.”
surrounds Jayco on all Association. Betty has helped both
sides. Jayco and his sis- “My dad is my big- granddaughters with
ters, Jaylie, 23, and Jer- Jayco Roper (Photo by Skylar Wright) time manager; he takes their barrel racing and
nie, 8, have had plenty care of everything,” imparted much of her
of examples set before would compete at. fourth in 2016 at the the past two years. He said Jayco. “He sched- training knowledge on
them, as their dad J.W. -D\FR·VÀUVW\HDULQWKH NJHSFR. He stepped resides in Oktaha, Okla- ules what rodeos I’m the girls as they work
competed as a team Oklahoma Junior High up to bareback horses homa, and is home- entering, and I hop and with her.
roper for many years. Rodeo Association led when he was about 14, schooled through Epic don’t ask too many “The IFYR is a great
Besides their grand- him to a national title and soon he was riding Charter School. questions.” competition where you
ma Betty’s successful as a seventh grader, with all the big boys on Learning the bronc Jayco spends much of can win a lot of money
barrel racing and horse when he left the NJHS- full size broncs. Jayco riding ropes has been his time practicing on and our family has a lot
training career, their FR in Des Moines, Iowa, won the 2017 Oklaho- easier with the help of his spur board, prepar- of history with both the
grandpa Jimmy Roper as the 2015 National ma High School Rodeo neighbor Justin McDan- ing for rodeos and goes IPRA and IFYR,” said
was a well-known and Champion Bareback Association Champion iel. Justin competed in to the gym at least three Jayco. “I’d like to win as
accomplished steer Steer Rider. Leading Bareback Rider title his the IFYR in 2003 and times each week. many world champion
wrestler. Jaylie com- up to that, he had won freshman year. 2004, winning the all- “I like to run and titles as she has so that
peted at the IFYR in the Oklahoma bareback Jayco is now 17 years around championship do a lot of core work one day, they may be
barrel racing when she steer champion title and old and has competed in 2004 after topping and powerlifting at the talking about me when
was younger and has champion rookie cow- at the International Fi- the earnings board with gym,” said Jayco. my grandson is getting
trained some great bar- boy title. Jayco placed nals Youth Rodeo for money earned in both He does make some ready in the chutes.”
rel horses; and Jernie
lives, eats and breathes
barrel racing.
Jayco started his ro-
deo career riding sheep
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starting at
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stepped up the rough
stock ladder to calves,
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ur
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Maylen.us
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ning at the Ward Rodeo 212 E. Main, Shawnee Hours: Mon-Sat, 9-5
Company rodeos he

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

Thursday, July 18, 2019 • The Anadarko, Oklahoma, Daily News • Page Three

Oklahoma virtual charter

Jul
18 ss,
founders embezzled millions
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) — Tommy Johnson wrote the school's lion in state funding in fiscal year
nd The founders of Oklahoma's largest founders, David Chaney and Ben 2019, according to figures from the
on virtual charter school embezzled Harris, split illegal profits of more Oklahoma State Department of Ed-
2019 millions of dollars in state funds than $10 million between 2013 and ucation.
— through an illegal scheme that in- 2018. "These allegations are extremely
ee volved the use of "ghost students" "Ben Harris and David Chaney serious and disturbing," State Su-
Page e's to artificially inflate enrollment inflated the number of students re- perintendent of Public Instruction
003 numbers, investigators allege. ported to (the Oklahoma State De- Joy Hofmeister said in a statement.
ve "The State Department of Educa-
Clip all
resized tion stands ready to work with any
th
47% criminal investigation to determine
ly
if public education and countless
be
Oklahoma taxpayers have been de-
frauded of millions of dollars."
act
A department spokeswoman said
.
ws Wednesday federal investigators
ke also have sought data about Epic
in from the agency.
do Epic also has expanded its virtual
charter school operations into Cali-
ke fornia and began efforts to move
ze into Arkansas .
in The school boasts on its website
se, that Epic teachers can earn an esti-
es mated $15,000 more than the state
average, and many parents say their
sa children prefer Epic to a traditional
IN THIS MARCH 11, 2019, photo, Epic Charter Schools administra- brick-and-mortar school. Epic also
in tor Erin Barnes speaks during Virtual Charter School Day at the state
as offers a "learning fund" credit of
Capitol in Oklahoma City. Oklahoma investigators allege the founders between $800 and $1,000 per stu-
of Epic, Oklahoma's largest virtual charter school, embezzled millions dent that can be used to pay for
of of dollars in state funds through an illegal scheme involving the use
a- such things as karate and dance les-
of "ghost students" to inflate enrollment numbers. (AP Photo by Sean sons, yoga or music instruction.
ur- Murphy)
ey Johnson wrote in the affidavit
Oklahoma State Bureau of Inves- partment of Education) by enrolling that Harris and Chaney used the
his tigation agent Tommy Johnson out- and/or retaining 'ghost students,'" learning fund to entice parents to
mp lined the allegations in an affidavit Johnson wrote. "Ghost students enroll their students in Epic.
ic for a search warrant of an Epic were students enrolled in Epic that Dozens of the 'ghost students' were
a- teacher's home filed late Monday in received little or no instruction home-school or private-school stu-
ill Oklahoma County. Investigators from Epic teachers." dents who were enrolled just so par-
er- seized a laptop and mobile phone The two men operated Epic ents could receive the credit
u- during their search. Youth Services, a for-profit limited without any intent to receive in-
th In the affidavit, Oklahoma State liability company, which contracted struction.
x- Bureau of Investigation agent with the school to oversee opera- "Many teachers dubbed them
er- tions and received a portion of the 'members of the $800 club,'" ac-
ew Records: school's state-appropriated funds. cording to the affidavit.
al-
of
Trump discussed The existence of the affidavit was
first reported by The Oklahoman .
One former Epic teacher told
Johnson about a family in rural
quashing stories The OSBI's investigation is ongo- Oklahoma that withdrew 10 of their
ry ing, and formal charges have not children from a local public school
ke about affairs been filed. and received $8,000.
n- NEW YORK (AP) — Court Epic did not make Chaney or "The parents did not require the
records show that in the days lead- Harris available for an interview, students to participate in any of
ing up to the 2016 election, Presi- but released a statement from the Epic's curriculums and they spent
e dent Donald Trump spoke with two men on Wednesday saying they their day horseback riding and par-
aides rushing to quash stories about dispute the allegations in the affi- ticipating in other non-educational
alleged affairs he had. davit and that they've cooperated activities," Johnson wrote.
Search warrants unsealed Thurs- fully with investigators for more Chaney also recruited students
me day shed new light on the presi- than five years. from private schools for dual en-
he dent's role as his campaign "We will continue to cooperate rollment in Epic, sometimes with-
he scrambled to respond to media in- with investigators, as we have out their parents' knowledge,
nt quiries about hush-money paid to throughout the history of our according to the affidavit. In one
two women who said they had af- school," the statement read. "We are case, a student was counted for two
o- fairs with Trump. confident the facts will once again school years after she moved to an-
on U.S. District Judge William vindicate our team." other state.
p- Pauley ordered the materials un- Epic is a free, public school for In his affidavit, Johnson wrote he
o- sealed this week after prosecutors children in pre-kindergarten has probable cause to believe
ve said they had concluded their inves- through grade 12 that has enjoyed crimes committed include embez-
ey tigation into a scheme intended to explosive growth since it was zlement, conspiracy, obtaining
ke protect Trump's reputation as he ran founded by Chaney and Harris in money under false pretenses, and
ar- for president. 2011. The school had more than violation of Oklahoma's Racketeer-
de The investigation involved pay- 21,000 students enrolled last year Influenced and Corrupt Organiza-
wo ments Michael Cohen helped or- and received more than $113 mil- tions Act.
er
chestrate to porn actress Stormy
Daniels and Pla bo centerfold Sudanese protesters rally to
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized
18 A003 47%
Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
INVESTIGATION
OSBI: ‘Ghost students’ at Epic Charter Schools
By Nuria Martinez-Keel
The Oklahoman
A state investiga-
tion alleges Epic Charter
Schools, the state’s larg-
est virtual charter school
system, embezzled mil-
lions in state funds by
illegally inflating enroll-
ment counts with “ghost
students.”
The Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation
alleged Epic co-founders
David Chaney and Ben
Harris “devised a scheme
to use their positions as
public officers to unlaw-
fully derive profits from
state appropriated funds.”
An OSBI agent made
the allegations in a search
warrant that sought
evidence of embezzle-
ment, obtaining money
by false pretenses and
racketeering.
Investigators reported
Chaney and Harris “cre-
ated a system of financial
gain at Epic” when they
founded the virtual char-
ter school in 2010. The
two co-founders have
managed the virtual
charter school through a
for-profit company, Epic
Youth Services, which
receives a portion of Epic’s
state funds.
Epic, which enrolled just
under 20,000 students
last year, is a public char-
ter school that receives
state education funding
for each student enrolled.
There is no cost to stu-
dents to attend.
In a statement emailed
to The Oklahoman, Epic
referred to the allegations
as a “coordinated effort”
to attack a fast-growing
school that “makes status
quo education lobbying
groups uncomfortable,”
said Shelly Hickman,
assistant superintendent
of communications for
Epic.
“We are audited by the
Department of Educa-
tion and state approved
auditors each school year
and are supremely con-
fident that we operate
our public school system
within the boundaries of
state and federal law,”
Hickman added. “Since
our inception in 2011
we have time after time
proven ourselves innocent
of all allegations. We will
again.”
In its search warrant,
OSBI alleged between 2013
and 2018, Chaney and
Harris unlawfully received
$10 million in profits from
Epic Youth Services and
split the total.
OSBI agents reportedly
found dozens of “ghost
students” counted in
Epic’s enrollment num-
bers, though they were
homeschooled or also
attended private and sec-
tarian schools, according
to the search warrant,
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
which was filed Tuesday with multiple parents, and academic standards, at her Oklahoma City
in Oklahoma County Dis- schools and day care cen- investigators reported. home. Patton could not
trict Court. ters that all reported Epic Epic’s truancy policy be reached for comment.
These students were incentivized them to dual stated any student who The OSBI found Harris
enrolled in Epic but enroll children. Many didn’t complete at least allowed hundreds of stu-
“received little or no children were enrolled five graded assignments dents to remain on Epic’s
instruction from Epic at Epic without their over 10 consecutive days rolls even though they no
teachers.” parents’ knowledge or would be withdrawn. longer attended Epic.
“Ben Harris and David consent while the school One teacher told Oklahoma State Super-
Chaney enticed ghost or learning center received the OSBI that she was intendent Joy Hofmeister
students to enroll in Epic money from Epic, accord- pressured to drop poor-
called the allegations from
by offering each student ing to the warrant. performing students
OSBI “extremely serious
an annual learning fund One woman, whom from enrollment so they
ranging from $800 to investigators only iden- wouldn’t count against and disturbing.”
$1,000,” OSBI reported tified by her initials Epic’s standardized test “The State Department
in the warrant. “… The LDW, operated a sec- scores. of Education stands ready
parents of many of the tarian school in Sapulpa “(The teacher) forced to work with any criminal
homeschool students when Epic presented her the students into tru- investigation to deter-
admitted they enrolled with an opportunity for ancy by giving them mine if public education
their children in Epic to an “economic windfall.” assignments that were and countless Oklahoma
receive the $800 learning The woman converted impossible to complete, taxpayers have been
fund without any intent to her school to a learning and they were with- defrauded of millions of
receive instruction from center under the “Epic drawn from Epic,” the dollars,” Hofmeister said
Epic.” model” to take advantage search warrant states. in a statement. “In the
Several parents refused of the economic benefits, “The students were later meantime, it is important
instruction from Epic agents reported. re-enrolled without the to let the legal system do
teachers but continued to LDW allowed students knowledge or consent of its work. For the sake of
accept the $800 learning to work on Epic assign- their parents.” Oklahoma students and
fund and expenses, inves- ments for three hours One student with- families all across the
tigators found. Many Epic to get credit for a full drew from Epic when her state, we must ensure
teachers dubbed these school day, though state family moved to Portland, accountability of all
families “members of the law requires six hours of Oregon, from Oklahoma education funding. We
$800 club,” investigators instruction. LDW and her City in September 2017. understand that today’s
said. staff were not certified However, she was still
events may create confu-
Chaney reportedly teachers. In fact, inves- listed as a student at an
sion and stress for many
estimated during a board tigators said LDW should Epic blended learning
students and families.
meeting in April 2013 have been prohibited center through the 2017-
that 30% of Epic students from working on school 18 and 2018-19 school They have our support.”
were homeschooled. The premises because she is years.
OSBI alleged Chaney was a convicted felon, having The student’s name still The Oklahoman is a
personally involved in pleaded guilty in 2010 to belonged to the roster sister publication of the
recruiting homeschool, mortgage fraud in Florida of Epic teacher Jenni- Bartlesville Examiner-
private and sectarian federal court. fer Patton. OSBI agents Enterprise. More content
school students for dual Ghost students were seized Patton’s computer from The Oklahoman is
enrollment in Epic. not held to general Epic Monday evening while available at www.oklaho-
Investigators spoke policies for attendance serving the search warrant man.com.
 The Freedom Call
Probe: Oklahoma virtual charter
Jul
18
2019
Page
founders embezzled millions
0003 By Sean Murphy
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP)
Clip — The founders of Oklahoma's
resized
largest virtual charter school
71%
embezzled millions of dollars
in state funds through an illegal
scheme that involved the use of
"ghost students" to artificially
inflate enrollment numbers, in-
vestigators allege.
Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation agent Tommy
Johnson outlined the allegations
in an affidavit for a search war-
rant of an Epic teacher's home
filed late Monday in Oklahoma
County. Investigators seized a
laptop and mobile phone during
their search.
In the affidavit, Oklahoma
State Bureau of Investigation
agent Tommy Johnson wrote
the school's founders, David
Chaney and Ben Harris, split il-
legal profits of more than $10
million between 2013 and 2018.
"Ben Harris and David
Chaney inflated the number of
students reported to (the Okla-
homa State Department of
Education) by enrolling and/
or retaining 'ghost students,'"
Johnson wrote. "Ghost students
were students enrolled in Epic
that received little or no instruc-
tion from Epic teachers."
The two men operated Epic
Youth Services, a for-profit lim-
ited liability company, which
contracted with the school to
oversee operations and received
a portion of the school's state-
appropriated funds.
The existence of the affi-
davit was first reported by The
Oklahoman . The OSBI's inves-
tigation is ongoing, and formal
charges have not been filed.
Epic did not make Chaney
or Harris available for an inter-
orig.pdf 1
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
view, but released a statement
from the two men on Wednes-
day saying they dispute the alle-
gations in the affidavit and that
they've cooperated fully with
investigators for more than five
years.
"We will continue to coop-
erate with investigators, as we
have throughout the history of
our school," the statement read.
"We are confident the facts will
once again vindicate our team."
Epic is a free, public school
for children in pre-kindergarten
through grade 12 that has en-
joyed explosive growth since
it was founded by Chaney and
Harris in 2011. The school had
more than 21,000 students en-
rolled last year and received
more than $113 million in state
funding in fiscal year 2019,
according to figures from the
Oklahoma State Department of
Education.
"These allegations are ex-
tremely serious and disturbing,"
State Superintendent of Public
Instruction Joy Hofmeister said
in a statement. "The State De-
partment of Education stands
ready to work with any crimi-
nal investigation to determine if
public education and countless
Oklahoma taxpayers have been
defrauded of millions of dollars."
A department spokeswoman
said Wednesday federal inves-
tigators also have sought data
about Epic from the agency.
Epic also has expanded its
virtual charter school operations
into California and began efforts
to move into Arkansas .
The school boasts on its web-
site that Epic teachers can earn
an estimated $15,000 more than
the state average, and many par-
ents say their children prefer
Epic to a traditional brick-and-
mortar school. Epic also offers
a "learning fund" credit of be-
tween $800 and $1,000 per stu-
dent that can be used to pay for
such things as karate and dance
lessons, yoga or music instruc-
tion.
Johnson wrote in the affida-
vit that Harris and Chaney used
the learning fund to entice par-
ents to enroll their students in
Epic. Dozens of the 'ghost stu-
dents' were home-school or pri-
vate-school students who were
enrolled just so parents could
receive the credit without any
intent to receive instruction.
"Many teachers dubbed them
'members of the $800 club,'" ac-
cording to the affidavit.
One former Epic teacher told
Johnson about a family in rural
Oklahoma that withdrew 10 of
their children from a local pub-
lic school and received $8,000.
"The parents did not require
the students to participate in any
of Epic's curriculums and they
spent their day horseback riding
and participating in other non-
educational activities," Johnson
wrote.
Chaney also recruited stu-
dents from private schools for
dual enrollment in Epic, some-
times without their parents'
knowledge, according to the
affidavit. In one case, a student
was counted for two school
years after she moved to another
state.
In his affidavit, Johnson
wrote he has probable cause to
believe crimes committed in-
clude embezzlement, conspira-
cy, obtaining money under false
pretenses, and violation of Okla-
homa's Racketeer-Influenced
and Corrupt Organizations Act.
19-Jul-19 15:38:55
 Clip
Jul 2019 Page resized
19 A002 52%

Ada News

Search warrant alleges embezzlement,

use of ‘ghost students’ by Epic Schools
By Jennifer Palmer | Oklahoma Watch Epic is accused of receiving
state funding for “ghost students”
as early as 2014. Those students
$VWDWHLQYHVWLJDWRU¶VVHDUFKZDUUDQW¿OHGLQFRXUW were homeschooled and attended
Tuesday seeks evidence of alleged embezzlement of private and sectarian schools Whitney Bryen | Oklahoma Watc
state funds and obtaining money under false pre- and enrolled in Epic to receive A sign is seen outside of 50 Penn Place in Oklahoma City, where Epic Char-
tenses at Epic Charter Schools, including through DQ³OHDUQLQJIXQG´ZLWKRXW ter Schools leases 40,000 square feet for administrative use.
the use of “ghost students” who receive no actual receiving instruction from Epic,
instruction at the school. WKHḊGDYLWVWDWHV(SLFWHDFKHUV uncomfortable. We are considering legal action to
Epic and and its two co-founders, David Chaney dubbed those students “members FRPEDWZKDWZHEHOLHYHLVDFRRUGLQDWHGH̆RUWWR
and Ben Harris, are the subject of a state law RIWKHFOXE´7KHOHDUQ- DAVID CHANEY GDPDJHRXUVFKRRORXUFRIRXQGHUVDQGRXUVWD̆´
enforcement investigation, according to the seven- ing fund is provided to all Epic Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, in a statement,
SDJHḊGDYLWDQGZDUUDQW¿OHGLQ2NODKRPD&RXQW\ students and can be spent on curriculum, technol- called the allegations “extremely serious and dis-
District Court. ogy and extracurricular activities. turbing.
The agent reviewed bank statements and found Shelly Hickman, a spokeswoman for Epic Charter “The state Department of Education stands ready
&KDQH\DQG+DUULVVSOLWVFKRROSUR¿WVRIDWOHDVW Schools, responded to media reports describing the to work with any criminal investigation to deter-
PLOOLRQEHWZHHQDQGWKHḊGDYLWVWDWHV allegations on Tuesday. mine if public education and countless Oklahoma
Epic is a publicly funded charter school that is man- “We are audited by the Department of Education taxpayers have been defrauded of millions of dol-
DJHGE\DIRUSUR¿WFRPSDQ\(SLF<RXWK6HUYLFHV and state-approved auditors each school year and lars. In the meantime, it is important to let the legal
ZKLFKLVRZQHGE\&KDQH\DQG+DUULV7KH¿OLQJRI DUHVXSUHPHO\FRQ¿GHQWWKDWZHRSHUDWHRXUSXEOLF system do its work,” she said.
WKHZDUUDQWZDV¿UVWUHSRUWHGE\7KH2NODKRPDQ school system within the boundaries of state and :KHQDVNHGZKHWKHUWKHDOOHJDWLRQVZRXOGD̆HFW
On June 28, OSBI agents visited the Oklahoma federal law,” her statement reads. “Since our incep- the handling of Epic’s 2019-20 funding, Education
&LW\KRPHRIDQ(SLFWHDFKHUWKHḊGDYLWVWDWHV tion in 2011 we have time after time proven our- 'HSDUWPHQWVSRNHVZRPDQ6WḢH&RUFRUDQVDLG
+HUFRPSXWHUFHOOSKRQHDQG¿OHVLQFOXGLQJQRWHV selves innocent of all allegations. We will again. they will consult with law enforcement to determine
letters, text messages with Epic parents, Chaney and “This latest attack comes at a time when our the next appropriate steps. Epic’s state funding for
Harris, is what agents sought in the search warrant. growth makes status quo education lobbying groups QH[W\HDULVHVWLPDWHGDWPLOOLRQ

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Alva Review-Courier
Jul
Probe: Oklahoma
19
2019
virtual charter founders
Page
0003
embezzled millions
Clip By Sean Murphy
resized
OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) —
69%
The founders of Oklahoma's largest
virtual charter school embezzled
millions of dollars in state funds
through an illegal scheme that in-
volved the use of "ghost students"
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numbers, investigators allege.
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Bureau of Investigation agent Tom-
my Johnson wrote the school's
founders, David Chaney and Ben
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than $10 million between 2013 and
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reported to (the Oklahoma State
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The two men operated Epic
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liability company, which contract-
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ations and received a portion of the
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man . The OSBI's investigation is
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Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
again vindicate our team." children from a local public school
Epic is a free, public school and received $8,000.
for children in pre-kindergarten "The parents did not require
through grade 12 that has enjoyed the students to participate in any of
explosive growth since it was Epic's curriculums and they spent
founded by Chaney and Harris in their day horseback riding and par-
2011. The school had more than ticipating in other non-educational
21,000 students enrolled last year activities," Johnson wrote.
and received more than $113 mil- Chaney also recruited students
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al brick-and-mortar school. Epic
DOVR R൵HUV D OHDUQLQJ IXQG FUHG-
it of between $800 and $1,000 per
student that can be used to pay for
such things as karate and dance les-
sons, yoga or music instruction.
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that Harris and Chaney used the
learning fund to entice parents to
enroll their students in Epic. Dozens
of the 'ghost students' were home-
school or private-school students
who were enrolled just so parents
could receive the credit without any
intent to receive instruction.
"Many teachers dubbed them
'members of the $800 club,'" ac-
FRUGLQJWRWKHD൶GDYLW
One former Epic teacher told
Johnson about a family in rural
Oklahoma that withdrew 10 of their
 Enid News & Eagle
Jul
19
2019
Epic questions
State lawmaker wants answers on Oklahoma charter school
Page By Dylan Goforth
The Frontier
A003
Clip A day after Oklahoma Superin-
resized tendent of Schools Joy Hofmeister
47%
said she would “work with any crimi-
nal investigation” conducted into Epic
Charter Schools, one state lawmaker
said she plans to ask Hofmeister if
that cooperation is even possible.
The Oklahoman reported Tuesday
that Epic Charter Schools founders
Ben Harris and David Chaney had
been accused in an Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation search war-
rant request of unlawfully “deriv-
ing profits from State appropriated
funds.”
The search warrant request
detailed an alleged scheme in which
Harris and Chaney inflated Epic’s
enrollment in order to collect more
money from the state, of which their
privately owned management compa-
ny kept 10 percent.
The search warrant affidavit said an
OSBI agent reviewed bank statements
and discovered Harris and Chaney
“split profits … of at least $10 million
between 2013 and 2018.
Harris and Chaney inflated the
number of students reported to OSDE
by enrolling and/or retaining “ghost
students,” the affidavit claimed. In
this context, ghost students refer to
students who were enrolled in the
charter school but “received little or
no instruction from Epic teachers.”
Following the Oklahoman’s story,
Hofmeister tweeted the allegations
against Epic Charter Schools were
“extremely serious” and “disturb-
ing.” She said the Oklahoma State
Department of Education “stands
ready to work w/any criminal inves-
tigation to determine if … taxpayers
have been defrauded.”
On Wednesday afternoon, Rep.
Melissa Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said
she planned to ask Hofmeister about
that cooperation pledge.
“I plan to ask her how she is
planning to cooperate in a way that
hasn’t already been taking place,”
Provenzano said. “If the state depart-
ment is doing its job and catching
these kind of things, then $10 million
doesn’t go poof.”
She said she believes the inves-
tigation eventually will lead to the
for-profit management company Epic
Youth Services that “Epic filters its
money through.”
“Next (legislative) session I think
there will be a greater alignment
between the accountability stan-
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
dards,” Provenzano said.
Epic Assistant Superintendent/
spokeswoman Shelly Hickman did
not respond to requests for comment.
Steffie Corcoran, spokeswoman for
OSDE, told The Frontier in an email
the department had already discussed
varying concerns with the OSBI.
“I can assure you there is no ques-
tion of any of this being a factor,
period,” Corcoran said in the email.
“We have the utmost confidence in
the professional standards of our legal
office.”
Rep. Melissa Provenzano
Epic said in a statement Tuesday,
“This latest attack comes at a time
when our growth makes status quo
education lobbying groups uncom-
fortable. We are considering legal
action to combat what we believe
is a coordinated effort to damage
our school, our co-founders and our
staff.”
The Oklahoman reported Wednes-
day that Gov. Kevin Stitt was seeking
a briefing by the OSBI on Epic’s
alleged “ghost students.”
Provenzano has long been con-
cerned about the differences in regu-
lations between traditional brick and
mortar schools in the state and virtual
schools like Epic. She said she also
was concerned about seemingly close
existing ties between OSDE and Epic.
Oklahoma State Department of
Education General Counsel Brad
Clark used to work for the Hickman
Law Group, a Norman-based legal
firm operated by Bill Hickman.
Hickman represents Epic Charter
Schools in multiple lawsuits brought
about by former Epic teachers, and his
wife is Shelly Hickman, Epic assis-
tant superintendent and spokeswom-
an. Shelly Hickman also was former
head of public affairs for the OSDE
under former State Superintendent
Sandy Garrett.
Hofmeister also received more
than $23,000 in campaign contribu-
tions from Chaney and Harris.
Provenzano was critical of Clark’s
decision last month to release the
physical and email addresses of thou-
sands of certified Oklahoma Public
School teachers to Epic in a records
request made by Shelly Hickman.
Hickman requested the information
in order to recruit teachers away from
traditional brick-and-mortar schools
and into Epic.
Provenzano told The Frontier she
did not believe Clark should have
released the information to Epic,
saying the request was only ful-
filled via a “loophole.” In the email
chain between Clark and Hickman,
Clark noted although such infor-
mation is typically prohibited from
being released, he believed since the
teachers had submitted the informa-
tion to a public body in order to get
their certification, it was subject to
disclosure.
Provenzano said she planned to
ask Hofmeister how she can ensure
the OSDE would ethically respond to
a criminal investigation, given “that
we just had all these teachers unsolic-
ited get recruitment emails from Epic
and your own general counsel cited a
loophole in order to release that infor-
mation.”
Provenzano said the “ball was roll-
ing” on the criminal investigation into
Epic “and has been rolling for a long
time and I doubt it will go away.”
“But I’m concerned about how
many people … in the state depart-
ment (of education) are willing to
facilitate this,” she said. “It’s not
about the students or the teachers, it’s
about who is running the show and
the money and could it go to students
to increase their graduation rate.”
Epic Charter School Board of
Education was scheduled to hold its
regular public meeting in Oklahoma
City on Wednesday, but it was can-
celed early Wednesday the morning.
The Frontier is a nonprofit focusing on
investigative and watchdog journalism. For more
information or to donate, go to www.readfrontier.
org.
 Moore American

Jul
Epic schools
alleged of
19

2019

Page
A001
Clip
resized
75% using ‘ghost
students’ to
embezzle
By Jennifer Palmer school
Oklahoma Watch profits of
at least $10
A state investigator’s million
search warrant filed in court between
Tuesday seeks evidence of 2013 and
alleged embezzlement of 2018, the
state funds and obtaining affidavit
money under false pretens- states. Epic
es at Epic Charter Schools, is a publicly funded charter
including through the use school that is managed
of “ghost students,” who re- by a for-profit company,
ceive no actual instruction Epic Youth Services, which
at the school. is owned by Chaney and
Epic and and its two Harris.
co-founders, David Chaney On June 28, OSBI agents
and Ben Harris, are the visited the Oklahoma City
subject of a state law home of an Epic teacher, the
enforcement investigation, affidavit states. Her com-
puter, cellphone and files,
according to the seven-page
including notes, letters, text
affidavit and warrant filed in
messages with Epic parents,
Oklahoma County District Chaney and Harris, is what
Court. agents sought in the search
The agent reviewed bank warrant.
statements and found
Chaney and Harris split See WATCH Page A2

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

y y g

lobbying groups uncom-

Jul
Watch: fortable. We are considering
legal action to combat what
19 From Page A1 we believe is a coordinated
effort to damage our school,
2019 Epic is accused of re- our co-founders and our
ceiving state funding for staff.”
Page “ghost students” as early as
A002 Superintendent Joy
Clip
2014. Those students were Hofmeister, in a state-
resized homeschooled and attend- ment, called the allegations
82%
ed private and sectarian extremely serious and
From
A001
schools and enrolled in Epic disturbing.
to receive an $800 “learn- “The state Department
ing fund” without receiving of Education stands ready
instruction from Epic, the to work with any criminal
affidavit states. Epic teach- investigation to determine if
ers dubbed those students public education and count-
“members of the $800 club.” less Oklahoma taxpayers
The learning fund is provid- have been defrauded of
ed to all Epic students and
millions of dollars. In the
can be spent on curriculum,
meantime, it is important
technology and extracur-
ricular activities. to let the legal system do its
Shelly Hickman, a spokes- work,” she said.
woman for Epic Charter When asked whether the
Schools, responded to allegations would affect the
media reports describing handling of Epic’s 2019-20
the allegations Tuesday. funding, Education Depart-
“We are audited by the ment spokeswoman Steffie
Department of Education Corcoran said they will
and state-approved auditors consult with law enforce-
each school year and are su- ment to determine the next
premely confident that we appropriate steps. Epic’s
operate our public school state funding for next year
system within the boundar- is estimated at $120 million.
ies of state and federal law,” Oklahoma Watch is a
her statement reads. “Since nonprofit, nonpartisan
our inception in 2011 we media organization that
have time after time proven produces in-depth and
ourselves innocent of all al- investigative content on a
e legations. We will again. range of public-policy issues
“This latest attack comes facing the state. For more
at a time when our growth Oklahoma Watch content,
makes status quo education go to oklahomawatch.org.

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Tahlequah Daily Press
Lawmaker has questions
about Epic investigation
Jul
By DYLAN GOFORTH
19 The Frontier
2019 A day after Oklahoma
Superintendent of Schools
Joy Hofmeister said she
Page would “work with any
A02 criminal investigation”
conducted into Epic Char-
Clip ter Schools, one state law-
resized
maker said she plans to ask
47%
Hofmeister if that coopera-
tion is even possible.
The Oklahoman report-
ed Tuesday that Epic Char-
ter Schools founders Ben
Harris and David Chaney
had been accused in an
Oklahoma State Bureau of
Investigation search war-
rant request of unlawfully
“deriving profits from State
appropriated funds.”
The search warrant re-
quest detailed an alleged
scheme in which Harris
and Chaney inflated Ep-
ic’s enrollment in order to
collect more money from
the state, of which their
privately owned manage-
ment company kept 10
percent.
The search warrant af-
fidavit said an OSBI agent
reviewed bank statements
and discovered Harris and
Chaney “split profits … of
at least ten million dollars”
between 2013 and 2018.
Harris and Chaney in-
flated the number of stu-
dents reported to OSDE by
enrolling and/or retaining
“ghost students,” the affi-
davit claimed. In this con-
text, ghost students refer
to students who were en-
rolled in the charter school
but “received little or no in-
struction from Epic teach-
ers.”
Following the Oklaho-
man’s story, Hofmeister
tweeted the allegations
against Epic Charter
Schools were “extremely
serious” and “disturbing.”
She said the Oklahoma
State Department of Edu-
cation “stands ready to
work w/any criminal in-
vestigation to determine
if … taxpayers have been
defrauded.”
On Wednesday af-
ternoon, Rep. Melissa
Provenzano, D-Tulsa, said
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
she planned to ask Hof-
meister about that coop-
eration pledge.
“I plan to ask her how
she is planning to cooper-
ate in a way that hasn’t al-
ready been taking place,”
Provenzano said. “If the
state department is doing
its job and catching these
kind of things, then $10
million doesn’t go poof.”
She said she believes
the investigation eventu-
ally will lead to the for-
profit management com-
pany Epic Youth Services
that “Epic filters its money
through.”
“Next (legislative) ses-
sion I think there will be a
greater alignment between
the accountability stan-
dards,” Provenzano said.
Epic Assistant Super-
intendent/spokeswoman
Shelly Hickman did not re-
spond to requests for com-
ment. Steffie Corcoran,
spokeswoman for OSDE,
told The Frontier in an
email the department had
already discussed varying
concerns with the OSBI.
“I can assure you there
is no question of any of
this being a factor, period,”
Corcoran said in the email.
“We have the utmost con-
fidence in the professional
standards of our legal of-
fice.”
Epic said in a statement
Tuesday, “This latest attack
comes at a time when our
growth makes status quo
education lobbying groups
uncomfortable. We are
considering legal action to
combat what we believe
is a coordinated effort to
damage our school, our
co-founders and our staff.”
The Oklahoman report-
ed Wednesday that Gov.
Kevin Stitt was seeking a
briefing by the OSBI on
Epic’s alleged “ghost stu-
dents.”
Provenzano has long
been concerned about the
differences in regulations
between traditional brick
and mortar schools in the
state and virtual schools
like Epic. She said she
also was concerned about
seemingly close existing
ties between OSDE and
Epic.
Oklahoma State Depart-
ment of Education General
Counsel Brad Clark used
to work for the Hickman
Law Group, a Norman-
based legal firm operated
by Bill Hickman. Hickman
represents Epic Charter
Schools in multiple law-
suits brought about by
former Epic teachers, and
his wife is Shelly Hickman,
Epic assistant superinten-
dent and spokeswoman.
Shelly Hickman also was
former head of public af-
fairs for the OSDE under
former State Superinten-
dent Sandy Garrett.
Hofmeister also re-
ceived more than $23,000
in campaign contributions
from Chaney and Harris.
Provenzano was criti-
cal of Clark’s decision
last month to release the
physical and email ad-
dresses of thousands of
certified Oklahoma Public
School teachers to Epic in
a records request made by
Shelly Hickman. Hickman
requested the information
in order to recruit teach-
ers away from traditional
brick and mortar schools
and into Epic.
Provenzano told The
Frontier she did not be-
lieve Clark should have
released the information
to Epic, saying the request
was only fulfilled via a
“loophole.” In the email
chain between Clark and
Hickman, Clark noted al-
though such information
is typically prohibited from
being released, he believed
since the teachers had sub-
mitted the information to a
public body in order to get
their certification, it was
subject to disclosure.
Provenzano said she
planned to ask Hofmeister
how she can ensure the
OSDE would ethically re-
spond to a criminal inves-
tigation, given “that we just
had all these teachers un-
solicited get recruitment
emails from Epic and your
own general counsel cited
a loophole in order to re-
lease that information.”