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Ada News
Enrollment shifting online
as digital divide lingers
By Janelle Stecklein | CNHI State Reporter
OKLAHOMA CITY
— The state’s largest
virtual public charter
school is seeing hun-
dreds of new students
from across the state
enrolling each day.
So many students
enrolled recently that
administrators with
Epic Public Charter
Schools now expect it
will become the largest
public school district in
the state when classes
resume in September.
Shelly Hickman, an
assistant superinten-
dent, said about 60%
of new families say the
COVID-19 pandemic
is the reason they’re
ditching traditional
brick-and-mortar public
schools in favor of Epic,
which has specialized
in virtual education for
about a decade.
“How much we are
going to spend on
WHFKQRORJ\LVYHU\ÀXLG
right now because of the
enrollment spike,” she
said.
Its model prioritizes
purchasing new devices
and ensuring internet
connectivity for every
student. Hickman said
the school expects to
are exacerbated by the
pandemic, the resulting
economic shutdowns
spend at least $30 and the struggling oil
million on technology, and gas industry.
hardware and connec- Many districts are
tivity. just trying to make ends
Statewide, more meet, she said. Without
GLVWULFWVDUHR̆HULQJ the funds to buy the
distance-based learning necessary technology to
options to students who support remote learn-
don’t want in-person ing, some districts are
instruction. School telling parents they’re
leaders say enrollment on their own if they
and interest in distance- choose that option.
based learning options Campo’s organiza-
is growing. However, tion aims to integrate
education advocates technology to transform
say it’s an expensive teaching and learning in
proposition for districts, schools.
which are now facing “There have not
unexpected, unfunded been the discretionary
and mounting technol- (state) funds to be able
ogy tabs that state law- to invest in technology
makers didn’t cover. like we normally would
Advocates fear that if we had good, solid
distance-based learning budgets,” Campo said.
initiatives could widen “That’s something we’ve
the gap between the been talking about a
wealthiest districts that long time in Oklahoma.
have the tax bases to It is a situation where,
provide a computer to unfortunately, we are
every student and the going to have to rely on
poorest districts that the federal government
don’t. to pass legislation that
Donna Campo, puts money into the
executive director of school districts.”
the Oklahoma Technol- At the start of the pan-
ogy Association, said demic, Campo said she
districts already are urged lawmakers and
grappling with state HOHFWLRQṘFLDOVWRR̆HU
legislative budget cuts. more election dates for
District funding woes districts that needed to
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
pass bonds to pay for
technology. There was
little interest.
“It is certainly an issue
when the school can’t
provide technology to
be able to access the
virtual option,” Campo
said.
On Friday, state
Superintendent Joy
Hofmeister announced
that 175 school districts
were given mobile in-
ternet access devices to
help ensure all students
needing distance or
hybrid learning models
have access.
“The pandemic has
underscored the inequi-
ties of the digital divide
that hinder opportuni-
ties for so many of our
children,” she said. “We
know one-fourth of our
students lack reliable
home internet access.”
She said many dis-
tricts already used a
portion of federal coro-
navirus relief money to
purchase devices.
“But a device without
connectivity is like a
book in a pitch-dark
room,” Hofmeister said.
Districts that receive
the hotspots must pay a
“nominal monthly fee”
for unlimited services
for at least six months
and ensure that the
devices are assigned $2 million in unantici-
only to low-income stu- pated costs for his smal
dents. School systems district.
can purchase additional With hundreds of
hotspots for teachers, thousands of districts
VWD̆DQGRWKHUVWXGHQWV all competing for the
Chris Brewster, su- same technology,
perintendent of Santa Brewster said he’s run
Fe South Schools, said into another unantici-
about 20% of the fami- pated problem — order
lies attending his south backlogs.
Oklahoma City charter “The type of pressure
school expressed inter- on the supply and de-
est in full-time virtual mand is enormous right
education because of now,” he said.
the rapidly evolving With school scheduled
COVID-19 situation. to start in days, he’s
For safety reasons, still 300 to 400 devices
the school decided to short, and doesn’t know
have only 25% of the ZKHQKLV¿QDORUGHUV
students present at any will arrive.
given time. On days Other districts may
when students will not have to wait until
attend in person, they’ll Christmas to receive
attend virtually. their orders, he said.
Brewster’s district is “(Some districts) are
trying to purchase tech- simply saying, ‘Parents,
nology for all 3,600 stu- you’re on your own.
dents so each child will <RX¶YHJRWWR¿JXUHRXW
have a Chromebook, the a device,’” Brewster
software and internet said. “I don’t know wha
access needed to run it parents are going to do
from home. Nearly 93% if they haven’t already
of the district’s students ¿JXUHGRXWKRZWRJHW
are at or below the pov- a device at home in
erty line. districts that are not al-
Brewster said he’s ready providing those.”
applied for a hotspot Janelle Stecklein
JUDQWWRKHOSR̆VHW covers the Oklahoma
COVID-19 expenses, Statehouse for CNHI’s
which are already into newspapers and
WKHVHYHQ¿JXUHV+H¶V websites. Reach her at
expecting nearly $1.5 to jstecklein@cnhi.com.
 Stillwater NewsPress

Enrollment shifting online

Aug
01

2020
as digital divide lingers
Page By Janelle Stecklein nology is very fluid right
A001
Clip
CNHI State Reporter now because of the en-
resized
94% rollment spike,” she said.
OKLAHOMA CITY – Its model prioritizes
The state’s largest virtu- purchasing new devices
al public charter school and ensuring internet
is seeing hundreds connectivity for every
of new students from student. Hickman said
across the state enrolling the school expects to
each day. spend at least $30 mil-
So many students lion on technology, hard-
enrolled recently that ware and connectivity.
administrators with Epic Statewide, more dis-
Public Charter Schools tricts are offering dis-
now expect it will be- tance-based learning
come the largest public options to students who
school district in the don’t want in-person in-
entire state when classes struction. School leaders
resume in September. say enrollment and in-
Shelly Hickman, an as- terest in distance-based
sistant superintendent, learning options is grow-
said about 60 percent ing. However, education
of new families say the advocates say it’s an
COVID-19 pandemic is expensive proposition
the reason they’re ditch- for districts, which are
ing traditional brick-and- now facing unexpected,
mortar public schools in unfunded and mounting
favor of Epic, which has technology tabs that
specialized in virtual ed- state lawmakers didn’t
ucation for about decade. cover.
“How much we are
going to spend on tech- See Online, Page A8
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Clip
Aug 2020 Page resized From
01 A008 45% A001

Stillwater NewsPress
g p g yg p

pass legislation that puts intendent of Santa Fe ders, he said. don’t know what parents those.”

Online money into the school

districts.”
At the start of the
Continued from Page A1 pandemic, Campo said
she urged lawmakers
Advocates fear that and election officials to
distance-based learning offer more election dates
South Schools, said about
20 percent of the families
attending his south Okla-
homa City charter school
expressed interest in full-
time virtual education be-
cause of the rapidly evolv-
“(Some districts) are
simply saying, ‘Parents,
you’re on your own.
You’ve got to figure out a
device,’” Brewster said. “I
are going to do if they
haven’t already figured
out how to get a device
at home in districts that
are not already providing
Stecklein covers the
Oklahoma Statehouse for
CNHI’s newspapers and
websites. Reach her at
jstecklein@cnhi.com.

Sh o p
initiatives could widen for districts that needed ing COVID-19 situation.
the gap between the to pass bonds to pay for For safety reasons, the
wealthiest districts that technology. There was lit- school decided to have

Fr e e
tle interest. only 25 percent of the

TaSx
have the tax bases to
provide a computer to “It is certainly an issue students present at any
every student and the when the school can’t given time. On days when
poorest districts that provide technology to be students will not attend
don’t. able to access the virtual in person, they’ll attend
Donna Campo, execu-
tive director of the Okla-
option,” Campo said.
On Friday, state Super-
virtually.
Brewster’s district is
at. Aug. 7th &
Fri. & 8th
homa Technology Asso- intendent Joy Hofmeis- trying to purchase tech-
ciation, said districts al- ter announced that 175 nology for all 3,600 stu-
ready are grappling with school districts were given dents so each child will
state legislative budget mobile internet access have a Chromebook, the
cuts. District funding devices to help ensure all software and internet ac-
woes are exacerbated by students needing distance cess needed to run it from
the pandemic, the result- or hybrid learning models home. Nearly 93 percent
ing economic shutdowns have access. of the district’s students Girls’ Cactus
and the struggling oil “The pandemic has un- are at or below the pover- Print Shirt
and gas industry. derscored the inequities ty line. $
Many districts are of the digital divide that Brewster said he’s ap- 2299
just trying to make ends hinder opportunities for plied for a hotspot grant
meet, she said. Without so many of our children,” to help offset COVID-19
the funds to buy the she said. “We know one- expenses, which are al-
necessary technology to fourth of our students ready into the seven-fig- Girls’ Lyndie
support remote learning, lack reliable home inter- ures. He’s expecting near- Low Rise
some districts are telling net access.” ly $1.5 to $2 million in Jeans
parents they’re on their She said many districts unanticipated costs for his
$
own if they choose that already used a portion of small district. 3799
option. federal coronavirus relief With hundreds of
Campo’s organiza- money to purchase devic- thousands of districts all
tion aims to integrate es. competing for the same Girls’ Cactus
technology to transform “But a device without technology, Brewster Boots
teaching and learning in connectivity is like a book said he’s run into another $
schools. in a pitch-dark room,” unanticipated problem – 7599
“There have not been Hofmeister said. order backlogs.
the discretionary (state) Districts that receive “The type of pressure on
funds to be able to in- the hotspots must pay a the supply and demand is
vest in technology like “nominal monthly fee” for enormous right now,” he
we normally would if we unlimited services for at said. Boys’
had good, solid budgets,” least six months and en- With school scheduled
“Pioneer”
Campo said. “That’s sure that the devices are to start in days, he’s still
something we’ve been assigned only to low-in- 300 to 400 devices short, Blue Shirt
talking about a long come students. School and doesn’t know when $
time in Oklahoma. It is systems can purchase his final orders will ar-
2899
a situation where, unfor- additional hotspots for rive. Only
teachers, staff and other Other districts may
tunately, we are going
to have to rely on the students. have to wait until Christ-
$
1695
federal government to Chris Brewster, super- mas to receive their or-
Kids
O
Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 The Norman Transcript

Aug
02

2020
Enrollment shifting
Page
A001
Clip
resized
110%
online as digital
divide still lingers
By Janelle Stecklein ber.
CNHI News Oklahoma Shelly Hickman, an
assistant superintendent,
OKLAHOMA CITY — said about 60% of new
The state’s largest virtual families say the COVID-19
public charter school is pandemic is the reason
seeing hundreds of new they’re ditching traditional
students from across the brick-and-mortar public
state enrolling each day. schools in favor of Epic,
So many students which has specialized in
enrolled recently that virtual education for about
administrators with Epic a decade.
Public Charter Schools “How much we are going
now expect it will become to spend on technology
the largest public school
is very fluid right now
district in the state when
classes resume in Septem- See ENROLLMENT Page A5

Property of OPS News Tracker and members of the Oklahoma Press Association.
 Clip
Aug 2020 Page resized From
02 A005 57% A001

The Norman Transcript

Sunday, Aug. 2, 2
the struggling oil and gas needing distance or hybrid child will have a Chrome-
Enrollment: industry.
Many districts are just try-
learning models have access.
“The pandemic has un-
book, the software and in-
ternet access needed to run
From Page A1 ing to make ends meet, she derscored the inequities of it from home. Nearly 93% of
said. Without the funds to the digital divide that hinder the district’s students are at
because of the enrollment buy the necessary technol- opportunities for so many or below the poverty line.
spike,” she said. ogy to support remote learn- of our children,” she said. Brewster said he’s applied
Its model prioritizes ing, some districts are telling “We know one-fourth of our for a hotspot grant to help
purchasing new devices and parents they’re on their own students lack reliable home offset COVID-19 expenses,
ensuring internet connectiv- if they choose that option. internet access.” which are already into the
ity for every student. Hick- Campo’s organization She said many districts seven-figures. He’s expecting
man said the school expects aims to integrate technology already used a portion of nearly $1.5 to $2 million in
to spend at least $30 million to transform teaching and federal coronavirus relief unanticipated costs for his
on technology, hardware and learning in schools. money to purchase devices. small district.
connectivity. “There have not been the “But a device without con- With hundreds of thou-
Statewide, more districts discretionary (state) funds to nectivity is like a book in a sands of districts all compet-
are offering distance-based be able to invest in technol- pitch-dark room,” Hofmeis- ing for the same technology,
learning options to students ogy like we normally would ter said. Brewster said he’s run into
who don’t want in-person if we had good, solid bud- Districts that receive the another unanticipated prob-
instruction. School leaders gets,” Campo said. “That’s hotspots must pay a “nomi- lem — order backlogs.
say enrollment and interest something we’ve been nal monthly fee” for unlim- “The type of pressure on
in distance-based learning talking about a long time in ited services for at least six the supply and demand is
options is growing. However, Oklahoma. It is a situation months and ensure that the enormous right now,” he
education advocates say it’s where, unfortunately, we are devices are assigned only to said.
an expensive proposition for going to have to rely on the low-income students. School With school scheduled to
districts, which are now fac- federal government to pass systems can purchase addi- start in days, he’s still 300
ing unexpected, unfunded legislation that puts money tional hotspots for teachers, to 400 devices short, and
and mounting technology into the school districts.” staff and other students. doesn’t know when his final
tabs that state lawmakers At the start of the pan- Chris Brewster, superin- orders will arrive.
didn’t cover. demic, Campo said she tendent of Santa Fe South Other districts may have
Advocates fear that urged lawmakers and elec- Schools, said about 20% of to wait until Christmas to
distance-based learning tion officials to offer more the families attending his receive their orders, he said.
initiatives could widen the election dates for districts south Oklahoma City char- “(Some districts) are sim-
gap between the wealthiest that needed to pass bonds ter school expressed interest ply saying, ‘Parents, you’re
districts that have the tax to pay for technology. There in full-time virtual education on your own. You’ve got to
bases to provide a computer was little interest. because of the rapidly evolv- figure out a device,’” Brews-
to every student and the “It is certainly an issue ing COVID-19 situation. ter said. “I don’t know what
poorest districts that don’t. when the school can’t pro- For safety reasons, the parents are going to do if
Donna Campo, executive vide technology to be able school decided to have only they haven’t already figured
director of the Oklahoma to access the virtual option,” 25% of the students present out how to get a device at
Technology Association, said Campo said. at any given time. On days home in districts that are not
districts already are grap- On Friday, state Super- when students will not at- already providing those.”
pling with state legislative intendent Joy Hofmeister tend in person, they’ll attend
budget cuts. District funding announced that 175 school virtually. Janelle Stecklein covers the
woes are exacerbated by districts were given mobile Brewster’s district is trying Oklahoma Statehouse for CNHI’s
the pandemic, the resulting internet access devices to to purchase technology for newspapers and websites. Reach
economic shutdowns and help ensure all students all 3,600 students so each her at jstecklein@cnhi.com.

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