The Cordell Beacon

Sep Five Things To Know About Virtual School Funding

18 Jennifer Palmer cost per student” for vir- from local and state rev- Hime said. “Charters don’t allowing “gaming the tween 93% and 98% of a
Oklahoma Watch tual students compared to enue at about 45% each, have those chargeables system.” He and the rest traditional school.
traditional, brick-and-mor- with federal funds kicking (of local revenue), so it ap- of the education commit- A different report how-
Oklahoma lawmakers tar schools. in another 10% for certain pears out of balance,” but tee on Wednesday heard ever, found virtual schools
2019 have 133 million reasons Rep. Lundy Kiger, R-Po- student populations. But is just the way the formula from the superintendent should cost at least 24
to examine virtual charter teau, said he was particu- because charter schools equalizes funding. of Spiro Public Schools, percent less than brick-
school funding. That is the larly concerned about Ep- are excluded from re- who talked about two and-mortar schools. That
Page number of state taxpayer
dollars expected to flow
ic’s spending on referral
bonuses for teachers and
ceiving local tax dollars,
nearly all charters’ funding
Funding is based on a
point-in-time student
students who enrolled in
Spiro on Oct. 3 last year.
report, by the Education
Commission of the States,
A006 to the state’s five state-
wide online schools for
students, marketing and
advertising.
comes from state dollars.
That doesn’t necessar-
head count, even in vir-
tual schools.
One had been enrolled
in virtual school since the
found virtual school en-
rollment is too unpredict-
Clip the current school year. “I totally support any ily mean charters receive previous May, the other able – because of unlim-
The largest of those kind of education that’s fewer dollars, said Shawn Because of the easy since June, but the virtual ited size and enrollment
resized schools, Epic Charter going to be effective,” Hime, executive director access to virtual schools, school had no grades to capacity – to be funded
30% Schools, is under investi- Kiger said. “I want them of the Oklahoma State there are more students report for the students. through traditional school
gation by the Oklahoma (virtual schools) to be ful- School Boards Associa- coming and going than in “If you keep a student finance models.
State Bureau of Investi- ly equipped, I just don’t tion. The state funding for- traditional schools. Epic on record until Oct. 1,
gation for alleged finan- want state taxpayer dol- mula is meant to equalize allows year-round enroll- you get the financial aid Some lawmakers see
cial mismanagement and lars to be wasted.” funding, so local tax dol- ment and has one of the for them,” said Richard signs virtual schools
is facing a forensic audit Here are five things to lars are subtracted from highest rates of part-year Haynes, Spiro’s superin- receive too much.
by the State Auditor and know about virtual charter the amount a school is students in the state; in tendent.
Inspector. The school’s funding. assigned for its needs and June 2018, more than half Epic has denied manip- Epic’s spending has
spending on a recent ad the difference is provided of its students were en- ulating or gaming the tim- raised eyebrows for years
campaign also has ruffled Virtual charter schools by the state. For charter rolled part-year. But like ing of enrollment or with- for various reasons: Its
a few feathers. receive most of their schools, the full amount is all schools, they receive drawing students. for-profit management
The state House Com- funding from the state. provided by the state. funding based on an Oct. company takes an auto-
mon Education Commit- “When districts have 1 head count. Lawmakers are likely matic 10% cut of revenue;
tee held a study Wednes- As a whole, school fund- property taxes go up, it Kiger said he’s con- to propose changes in it offers each student a
day looking at the “real ing in Oklahoma comes results in less state aid,” cerned that method is 2020. “learning fund” that al-
lows them to spend edu-
Kiger said the purpose cation dollars on lessons
of the study was to look and hobbies; it holds a
NOTICE OF PERSONS APPEARING ZENGER JACOB RALPH O SYVERSON ESTATE OF at whether virtual schools back-to-school event that
TO BE OWNERS OF ABANDONED PROPERTY 402 CHOCTAW A 1623 CRESTVIEW
should be funded through reserves an entire amuse-
SEWELL WALTER
CANUTE 1107 N COLLEGE ST a separate formula, and if ment park for students
ADAMS GARRY
612 MAIN ST
SHANNON LORETHA F so, what that would look and parents for a day.
100 S COLLEGE ST APT 101
BARELA AMANDA SHANNON STEVE
like. An example given But Epic’s recent media
RR 1 BOX 1410 100 S COLLEGE ST APT 101 during the session was campaign involving TV
BARELA BUD
RR 1 BOX 1410
SHERWOOD GLENDA M a performance-based commercials and other ad
604 N TEMPLE
BURK GENELLE SIZEMORE ELLEN
model, such as in Flori- buys has hit a nerve with
PO BOX 40 1400 N COLLEGE ST #9B da, where virtual schools many residents and law-
LOOKING FOR LOST TREASURE? DURLAND DUSTIN A
RT 2 BOX 98 A
SOUTHWEST TIRE FUEL LLC receive state funding for makers, including State
601 E MAIN ST
ELIZABETH HERMAN TAYLOR SKYLER T
students only if they suc- Superintendent Joy Hof-
Common types of unclaimed property include: PO BOX 154
809 E 9 cessfully complete the meister, who has said she
FOUST CRYSTAL
Cash | Royalties | Life Insurance Proceeds 11753 N 2070 RD
WEDEL GARY course. doesn’t like it. Epic has
22784 E 1180 RD
Rebates | Paychecks | Stocks and Bonds FOUST JUSTIN Sen. Ron Sharp, R-Shaw- said as an online charter
WOODS MARSHEILA
11753 N 2070 RD
400 E 14TH ST APT 106 nee, proposed a bill last school, it needs to mar-
GOSS CHRISTOPHER
WASHITA COUNTY PO BOX 35
WORK BRUCE session that would have ket its program to families
112 ELAINE DR made Oklahoma’s virtual who want alternatives to
HAGGARD I E
WORK ROSEMARY
RT 2 BOX 64
112 ELAINE DR school funding based on traditional district schools.
BESSIE JOHN VIRGIL S JACKSON FRED L
course completion, but it Rep. Sheila Dills, R-Tul-
BORCHERS PAUL PO BOX 495 125 HWY 66 CORN
PO BOX 36 MAPLES DAVID JACKSON SHARON E CORN BIBLE ACADEMY didn’t pass. Sharp, who is sa, on Wednesday ques-
PO BOX 636
CUPP JAMES 125 HWY 66 208 NORTH REIMER a frequent critic of Epic, tioned Wilkinson, whose
1008 MADISON ST MARY LARA EST OF C/O ARTURO MANDRELL LELAND CORN BIBLE ACADEMY
LARA 20833 S FRONTAGE RD
has indicated he would agency authorizes all of
DONNA NICKEL PO BOX 38
RR 1 BOX 26
PO BOX 656 MAY CHRISTY FOOTE MARTHA pursue it again in 2020. the state’s virtual schools,
MCCARTY STACI RR 3 BOX 71A RT 1 BOX 1E Kiger said he would like about the spending.
ERNST EMIL PO BOX 762 MAY KEN
PO BOX 37
MCNEES SADIE J RR 3 BOX 71A
NURNBERG ROBERT A to address students leav- “If virtuals can spend so
FRANKLIN BARRY L PO BOX 83
PO BOX 113 MERKEY ALBERT R PECK MICKEY R PAULS KENNETH ing virtual schools after much on marketing, do
PO BOX 41 10453 N 2060 RD PO BOX 477 Oct. 1 through legislation. you believe they receive
PAUL BORCHERS TRUST
MERKEY MARY J POLENSKY JERIMY
PO BOX 36
PO BOX 41 221 S 7TH ST
SEE BARBARA Sharp and Kiger are for- too much?” she asked.
WESTREICHER PAUL 106 W ADAMS
MIA VERNA SANCHEZ NICOLAS B TOMPSON BARBER
mer educators. Wilkinson replied that
PO BOX 81 PO BOX 1008 108 S 2ND ST 482 207 N LUELLA she doesn’t know that the
BURNS FLAT MONROE PAUL SCHNEBERGER KARY S There’s no consensus spending was illegal, then
BAKER JASON PO BOX 178 RT 2 BOX 130 DILL CITY
PO BOX 378 MURRAY DUSTIN T S RENTALS LLC BARTLETT JOHN HAROLD over the “actual cost” added: “It is something
BEALS COBY PO BOX 886 716 S MAIN ST 55 RAMBO of virtual schooling. this committee should be
NICHOLAS LYNN SCHRECK TLC RENTALS C/O JANICE WARNKE BARTLETT RUBY M
PO BOX 1285
PO BOX 1436 RR 1 BOX 260 55 RAMBO asking.”
BEGGS CHRIS When it comes to virtu-
406 NAVAJO TRL PATTON CASSIE WEINETTE WILLARD K C/O DOUG BENNETT LARRY
BISHOP CAROL
PO BOX 1067 HOLMES 140 N WERN al schools, some costs are
PATTON LORIN RR 2 BOX 34 A CLARK CHRIS
308 SEMINOLE TRL, PO BOX 1426
PO BOX 1067 WILLAIMS RICHARD D JR 208 S RAMBO
higher, some are lower,
BOND DARRON
REINSCHMIDT GINGER PO BOX 609 JACKSON BRENDAN S and others are just differ-
208 IROQUOIS, PO BOX 397
CHAVARRIA MAYRA B
PO BOX 106
COLONY
307 S RAMBO ST ent, said Rebecca Wilkin-
RICKWARTZ CARL LEE EDWARD CARTER AND DORIS son, executive director
309 B CHEROKEE PO BOX 756 EVANS JAMES JEAN
DELORES E SULLIVAN TRUST RODDAN SHARON H
111 WEICHEL ST 217 S WESTERN of the Statewide Virtual
PO BOX 38 PO BOX 222 CORDELL MAXEY JOSHUA B Charter School Board.
ELMORE JAMES SADIE J MCNEES TEST TRUST PO BOX 235
PO BOX 1064 PO BOX 957
ADAMS BRUCE
PACKER JOYCE Y
Technology expenses and
701 E 12TH ST
ELMORE VELMA L SESCO MICHELLE MARY BEECH LEONARD & FLORENCE PO BOX 275 travel, for instance, are
PO BOX 1064 311 BRYAN ST 1502 N COLLEGE ST SMITH DILLON likely higher, but there’s
FREELS LONNIE SHOOP JERRY PO BOX 265
PO BOX 310
BELL ROXIE V typically no food or trans-
PO BOX 814, 306 B PUEBLO TRL 1305 E MAIN
GUZMAN RUDY STEINMETZ ELIZABETH
FOSS portation costs and build- Oklahoma Watch, at
BERRY LAVERN BOONE TED
310 CHEROKEE A 206 CHEYENNE APT B 112 TAHOE DR 301 SEMINOLE TRL
ing costs are less. oklahomawatch.org, is a a
HARRIS ROZELLA SULLIVAN DELORES E BONHAM LESLIE C She pointed to a 2015 nonprofit media organiza-
404 PAWNEE KAMPHAUS WAYNE E
PO BOX 38 221 E MAIN ST
HILL MARY THOMSEN KENO BRYANT TERRY INS
11264 N 2100 RD study by the Internation- tion that covers significant
306 B PUEBLO TRL, PO BOX 814 KHRISTIAN LANGLEY C/O KENNY D al Association for K-12 public policy issues fac-
315 MOHAWK PO BOX 377 LANGLEY
HODGES WILLIE VILLAREAL PAULA JEAN BURCH TONY PO BOX 11 Online Learning, which ing the state.
PO BOX 1213 PO BOX 1138 1000 N WEST ST
CARTER BILLY D
MCCURDY LINDSAY found the cost of a full-
210 A CHEYENNE RD
This is only the latest list of names so be sure to search 111 FLORENCE DR RAY TONY M
time online school is be-

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
EDUCATION
Sep
5 things to know about
19
2019
virtual school funding
Page
A001
Clip
resized
49%
Senator Ron Sharp airs concerns about Epic Charter Schools during an interview with Oklahoma Watch in his
office at the State Capitol on April 22, 2019. WHITNEY BRYEN/OKLAHOMA WATCH
Lawmakers examine virtual charter school funding
By Jennifer Palmer
Oklahoma Watch
Oklahoma lawmakers have
133 million reasons to exam-
ine virtual charter school
funding. That is the number
of state taxpayer dollars
expected to flow to the state’s
five statewide online schools
for the current school year.
The largest of those
schools, Epic Charter
Schools, is under investiga-
tion by the Oklahoma State
Bureau of Investigation for
alleged financial mismanage-
ment and is facing a forensic
audit by the State Auditor
and Inspector. The school’s
spending on a recent ad cam-
paign also has ruffled a few
feathers.
The state House Common
Education Committee held a
study Sept. 11 looking at the
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
State Funding for
Virtual Schools
Epic Blended $42,817,925
Epic One on One $70,139,049
Oklahoma Virtual Charter Acad-
emy $11,985,942
Oklahoma Connections Acad-
emy $4,941,880
Insight School of Oklahoma
$3,213,159
ESchool Virtual $129,289
All Virtual Schools
$133,227,244
“real cost per student” for
of education that’s going to
virtual students compared to
be effective,” Kiger said. “I
traditional, brick-and-mor-
want them (virtual schools) to
tar schools.
be fully equipped, I just don’t
Rep. Lundy Kiger,
want state taxpayer dollars to
R-Poteau, said he was partic-
be wasted.”
ularly concerned about Epic’s
Here are five things to know
spending on referral bonuses
about virtual charter funding.
for teachers and students,
marketing and advertising.
“I totally support any kind SEE VIRTUAL, A3
 Clip
Sep 2019 Page resized From
19 A003 44% A001
Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise
VIRTUAL
From Page A1
Virtual charter
schools receive most
of their funding from
the state.
As a whole, school
funding in Oklahoma
comes from local and
state revenue at about
45% each, with federal
funds kicking in another
10% for certain student
populations. But because
charter schools are
excluded from receiving
local tax dollars, nearly all
charters’ funding comes
from state dollars.
That doesn’t necessar-
ily mean charters receive
fewer dollars, said Shawn
Hime, executive direc-
tor of the Oklahoma
State School Boards
Association. The state
funding formula is meant
to equalize funding, so
local tax dollars are sub-
tracted from the amount
a school is assigned for its
needs and the difference
is provided by the state.
For charter schools, the
full amount is provided
by the state.
“When districts have
property taxes go up, it
results in less state aid,”
Hime said. “Charters
don’t have those charge-
ables (of local revenue), so
it appears out of balance,”
but is just the way the for-
mula equalizes funding.
Funding is based on a
point-in-time student
head count, even in
virtual schools.
Because of the easy
access to virtual schools,
there are more students
coming and going than
in traditional schools.
Epic allows year-round
enrollment and has one
of the highest rates of
part-year students in the
state; in June 2018, more
than half of its students
were enrolled part-year.
But like all schools, they
receive funding based on
an Oct. 1 head count.
Kiger said he’s con-
cerned that method is
allowing “gaming the
system.” He and the rest
of the education commit-
tee on Wednesday heard
from the superintendent
of Spiro Public Schools,
who talked about two
students who enrolled in
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
Spiro on Oct. 3 last year.
One had been enrolled in
virtual school since the
previous May, the other
since June, but the vir-
tual school had no grades
to report for the students.
“If you keep a student
on record until Oct. 1,
you get the financial aid
for them,” said Rich-
ard Haynes, Spiro’s
superintendent.
Epic has denied manip-
ulating or gaming the
timing of enrollment or
withdrawing students.
Lawmakers are likely
to propose changes in
2020.
Kiger said the purpose
of the study was to look
at whether virtual schools
should be funded through
a separate formula, and if
so, what that would look
like. An example given
during the session was
a performance-based
model, such as in Flor-
ida, where virtual schools
receive state funding for
students only if they suc-
cessfully complete the
course.
Sen. Ron Sharp,
R-Shawnee, proposed a
bill last session that would
have made Oklahoma’s
virtual school funding
based on course comple-
tion, but it didn’t pass.
Sharp, who is a frequent
critic of Epic, has indi-
cated he would pursue it
again in 2020.
Kiger said he would like
to address students leav-
ing virtual schools after
Oct. 1 through legislation.
Sharp and Kiger are
former educators.
There’s no consensus
over the “actual cost”
of virtual schooling.
When it comes to vir-
tual schools, some costs
are higher, some are
lower, and others are just
different, said Rebecca
Wilkinson, executive
director of the Statewide
Virtual Charter School
Board. Technology
expenses and travel, for
instance, are likely higher,
but there’s typically no
food or transportation
costs and building costs
are less.
She pointed to a 2015
study by the Interna-
tional Association for
K-12 Online Learning,
which found the cost of a
full-time online school is
between 93% and 98% of
a traditional school.
commercials and other
ad buys has hit a nerve
A different report with many residents and
however, found vir- lawmakers, including
tual schools should cost State Superintendent
at least 24 percent less Joy Hofmeister, who has
than brick-and-mortar said she doesn’t like it.
schools. That report, by Epic has said as an online
the Education Commis- charter school, it needs
sion of the States, found to market its program to
virtual school enrollment families who want alter-
is too unpredictable – natives to traditional
because of unlimited size district schools.
and enrollment capacity Rep. Sheila Dills,
– to be funded through R-Tulsa, on Wednesday
traditional school finance questioned Wilkinson,
models. whose agency autho-
rizes all of the state’s
Some lawmakers see
virtual schools, about the
signs virtual schools spending.
receive too much. “If virtuals can spend
so much on marketing, do
Epic’s spending has
you believe they receive
raised eyebrows for years
too much?” she asked.
for various reasons: Its
Wilkinson replied that
for-profit management
she doesn’t know that the
company takes an auto-
spending was illegal, then
matic 10% cut of revenue;
added: “It is something
it offers each student
this committee should be
a “learning fund” that
asking.”
allows them to spend
education dollars on les-
– Oklahoma Watch is a
sons and hobbies; it holds
nonprofit, no partisan
a back-to-school event
media organization that
that reserves an entire
produces in-depth and
amusement park for stu-
investigative stories on
dents and parents for a
important issues facing
day.
the state. For more Okla-
But Epic’s recent media
homa Watch content, go
campaign involving TV
to oklahomawatch.org