The Madill Record

L OCAL AND AREA

Risks of Breakneck Growth at States Largest Virtual School

By Jennifer Palmer
Oklahoma Watch

Dec
29
2016
Page
B003
Clip
resized
30%

Oklahomas largest online

charter school is on a track of
explosive growth, nearly tripling its enrollment over three
years, to almost 8,500.
That pursuit of lightning
growth by Epic Charter Schools
 D JRDO DIUPHG E\ LWV FR
IRXQGHU  VKRZV QR VLJQV RI
OHWWLQJXS(SLFRIFLDOVSUHGLFW
enrollment will near 10,000 by
PLGVFKRRO\HDU
%XW WKH WUHQG LV UDLVLQJ
concerns from one top online
charter-school regulator about
whether there is too much
WXUQRYHU RI VWXGHQWV $QG DW
least one national report warns
WKDWUDSLGH[SDQVLRQDWYLUWXDO
charter schools can compromise
DFDGHPLFDFKLHYHPHQW
Epics unconventional efIRUWV WR GULYH HQUROOPHQW DOVR
KDYHUDLVHGH\HEURZV$PRQJ
other tactics, it gives out concert
WLFNHWV YDFDWLRQV DQG RWKHU
SUL]HVWRVWXGHQWVIDPLOLHVDV
UHZDUGV IRU UHIHUUDOV RI VWXGHQWV 7KH VFKRRO DOVR VSXUV
UHIHUUDOV E\ GHSRVLWLQJ ERQXV
PRQH\ LQWR OHDUQLQJ IXQG
accounts that families can
use to buy their curriculum or
FRPSXWHUVRUGHIUD\IHHVIRUH[tracurricular activities such as
GDQFLQJRUFOXEVSRUWV(SLFWROG
VWDWHRIFLDOVWKHUHZDUGVDUH
QRWSDLGIRUZLWKVWDWHIXQGV
(SLF DGPLQLVWUDWRUV VD\
WKHLUV\VWHPLVJURZLQJUDSLGO\
EHFDXVHSDUHQWVDQGVWXGHQWV
love it. Parents of some stuGHQWV DSSODXG WKH SURJUDP
saying it gives them the freeGRP RI KRPHVFKRROLQJ ZLWK
some of the
benefits of a
public school.
Clearly,
ZHUH SURYLGing a quality
RIVHUYLFHDQG
HGXFDWLRQWKDW
families are
HQMR\LQJ DQG
appreciate, or
ZH ZRXOGQW EH FRQWLQXLQJ WR
JURZ \HDU DIWHU \HDU VDLG
6XSHULQWHQGHQW'DYLG&KDQH\
%XW (SLFV DFDGHPLF SHUformance is average or low,
DV PHDVXUHG E\ WKH VWDWHV
VWDQGDUG DVVHVVPHQW WRROV
Just over a quarter of Epics
VWXGHQWV ODVW \HDU JUDGXDWHG
ZLWKLQ IRXU \HDUV FRPSDUHG
ZLWKSHUFHQWVWDWHZLGH
,WVHOHPHQWDU\PLGGOHDQG
KLJKVFKRROVUHFHLYHGD&'
DQG&RQWKHVWDWH$)UHSRUW
FDUGV
Those marks contrast with
Epics posting a 100 percent
DWWHQGDQFH UDWH IRU WKH 
VFKRRO\HDUDFKLHYHGE\
only one other school in the
VWDWH$%/(&KDUWHU6FKRRO
a virtual school the state is
trying to close.
7KHUH LV D JRRG SODFH IRU
YLUWXDO FKDUWHU VFKRROV VDLG
Rebecca Wilkinson, execuWLYH GLUHFWRU RI WKH 6WDWHZLGH
9LUWXDO&KDUWHU6FKRRO%RDUG
which oversees all of the states
online schools. Ive got lots of
VWRULHVIURPLQGLYLGXDOIDPLOLHV
DQGVWXGHQWVWKDWLWVWKHULJKW
choice for. But more than anything, these large numbers of
NLGVFRPLQJLQLWVGLVWXUELQJ
DQG RYHUVKDGRZV WKH JRRG LW
(SLFFDQGR
(SLFFRIRXQGHU%HQ+DUULV
VDLG WKH VFKRRO LV ZRUNLQJ RQ
LPSURYLQJLWVJUDGXDWLRQUDWHV
DQG$)OHWWHUJUDGHV+HDGGHG
the number that matters most
to him is enrollment.
The statistic that matters
to us is how many parents say
our school is the best choice for
them every year. We feel like
UHDO DFFRXQWDELOLW\ LV FKRLFH
+DUULVVDLG
Epics Rise
Epic Charter Schools was
WKH ILUVW VWDWHZLGH RQOLQH
charter school to form in OklaKRPD$WWKHWLPHLQLW
ZDV VSRQVRUHG E\ WKH VPDOO
*UDKDP'XVWLQ6FKRRO'LVWULFW
in Weleetka.
(SLFIRXQGHGE\&KDQH\DQG
+DUULVEHJDQFODVVHVZLWKDQ
enrollment of more than 1,700
for the year. Its tenure has
EHHQ PDUNHG E\ FRQWURYHUV\
LQFOXGLQJ(SLFVXLQJWKH6WDWH

MATT WHITTINGTONRI(GPRQGHQUROOHGLQ(SLF&KDUWHU6FKRROVEHFDXVHWKHH[LELOLW\RI
RQOLQHFODVVHVWZLWKKLVFRPPLWPHQWWRJ\PQDVWLFV7KHIDPLO\PDGHVSHFLDOHIIRUWVWRHQVXUH
WKDWWKHDUUDQJHPHQWZRUNHG
'HSDUWPHQWRI(GXFDWLRQRYHU
IXQGLQJDQGWKHUHOHDVHRILWV
UHSRUWFDUG,QERWKODZVXLWV
(SLFSUHYDLOHG7KHVFKRRODOVR
LVGHDOLQJZLWKDQRQJRLQJVWDWH
investigation into allegations of
IUDXGZKLFK(SLFGHQLHV
Epic Charter Schools is the
EUDQG QDPH IRU &RPPXQLW\
Strategies Inc., a nonprofit
WKDW UHFHLYHV VWDWH DQG RWKHU
HGXFDWLRQIXQGV7KHQRQSURW
contracts with Epic Youth SerYLFHVDIRUSURWFRPSDQ\WKDW
manages the school for a fee of
10 percent of Epics gross revenue. Epic Youth Services, in
WXUQFRQWUDFWVZLWK$GYDQFHG
$FDGHPLFV D GLYLVLRQ RI &RQQHFWLRQV(GXFDWLRQD3HDUVRQ
company
Chaney is both superintenGHQWRI(SLFDQGFKLHIH[HFXWLYH
RIFHURI(SLF<RXWK6HUYLFHV
/LNH RWKHU FKDUWHU VFKRROV
(SLF UHFHLYHV VWDWH DLG EDVHG
RQHQUROOPHQW$QGWKDWHQUROOPHQW EHJDQ WDNLQJ GUDPDWLF
leaps in 2014-2015, when the
WRWDOQXPEHURIVWXGHQWVVRDUHG
by 50 percent, to nearly 4,400.
This year, Epic also became
the first Oklahoma charter
VFKRRO WR H[SDQG WR DQRWKHU
VWDWH ZKHQ VFKRRO OHDGHUV
RSHQHG DQ RQOLQH VFKRRO LQ
California last month.
Success with SelfDiscipline
Oklahomas five virtual
charter schools cater to parents
DQGVWXGHQWVDWWUDFWHGE\WKH
FRQYHQLHQFH DQG IOH[LELOLW\
RI DWWHQGLQJ SXEOLF VFKRRO DW
home.
6WXGHQWV LQ RQOLQH FKDUWHU
schools take their courses mainly by computer, often using
OHDUQLQJSURJUDPVSURYLGHGE\
WKLUGSDUW\FRPSDQLHVVXFKDV
9LUJLQLDEDVHG.,QF6RPH
VFKRROVSURYLGHVWXGHQWVDFRPSXWHUDQGIUHHLQWHUQHWDFFHVV
7HDFKHUVFRQWDFWVWXGHQWVDQG
parents regularly via email,
telephone or in-person visits.
Online school operators say
WKHLUOHDUQLQJPRGHODQGH[LEOHVFKHGXOHVDUHLGHDOIRUVWXGHQWVLQPDQ\VLWXDWLRQVVXFK
as athletes, musicians, teenage
PRPVFKURQLFDOO\LOOVWXGHQWV
DQGYLFWLPVRIEXOO\LQJ
Matthew Whittington, of
(GPRQGVDLGOHDYLQJWKHIRXU
walls of his high school was
about rearranging time for his
passion: gymnastics.
+LV IUHVKPDQ \HDU KHG
URXWLQHO\IROORZDGD\RIFODVVHV
ZLWKIRXURUYHKRXUVDWWKH
J\P 7KHQ WLUHG KHG FRPH
home to a mess of homework.
+H OHDUQHG RI (SLF IURP
another competitive gymnast
DQGWKRXJKWLWVRXQGHGOLNHD
JRRGW
0DWWLVQRZLQKLVWKLUG\HDU
KLVVHQLRU\HDUZLWK(SLF+HV
SUHSDULQJ WR JUDGXDWH DQG LV
eyeing college.
While his mom, Peggy Whittington, speaks highly of the
HGXFDWLRQKHUVRQKDVUHFHLYHG
DW(SLFVKHDFNQRZOHGJHVWKDW
RQOLQHVFKRROLVQWDJRRGWIRU
HYHU\ VWXGHQW ,Q IDFW 0DWWV
two brothers (he is a triplet) atWHQGWKHLUQHLJKERUKRRGEULFN
DQGPRUWDU VFKRRO (GPRQG
0HPRULDO+LJK6FKRRO

M t

You have to be very selfPRWLYDWHGDQGVHOIGLVFLSOLQHG

3HJJ\:KLWWLQJWRQVDLG<RX
have to realize that just because
\RXUHQRWUXOHGE\WKHEHOO
you have to have structure to
\RXUOLIH
7R KHOS 0DWW VXFFHHG LQ
YLUWXDOVFKRROVKHKDGDQDUrangement with his teacher
WKHSDVWWZR\HDUV+HDQGWKH
RWKHUVWXGHQWVVSHQW7XHVGD\
:HGQHVGD\ DQG 7KXUVGD\ DW
the teachers home from about
9 a.m. to 2 p.m., where the
WHDFKHUIDFLOLWDWHGOHDUQLQJDQG
DQVZHUHGTXHVWLRQV
0DWWV GDG ZDV DEOH WR DUUDQJHDH[LEOHZRUNVFKHGXOH
to stay home with him some
GD\VDQGWHDFKKLPPDWKDQG
science.
:HPDGHLWZRUNLQRXUIDPily, but it wasnt without some
VDFULFHVDLG:KLWWLQJWRQD
WHDFKHUDW(GPRQG0HPRULDO
Researchers Urge Caution
$V RI 6HSW  PRUH WKDQ
 VWXGHQWV DFURVV 2NODKRPDZHUHHQUROOHGLQYLUWXDO
FKDUWHU VFKRROV +XQGUHGV RI
RWKHU VWXGHQWV DWWHQG RQOLQH
FRXUVHVSURYLGHGE\WUDGLWLRQDO
VFKRROGLVWULFWV
Most of the growth at virtual
FKDUWHUVFKRROVKDVEHHQGULYHQ
by Epics expansion.
In other states, skyrocketing
enrollments at virtual schools
KDYH UDLVHG UHG DJV DPRQJ
HGXFDWLRQRIFLDOV
,Q-XQHWKH1DWLRQDO$OOLance for Public Charter Schools,
ZKLFKHQGRUVHVYLUWXDOVFKRROLQJ LVVXHG D UHSRUW VKDUSO\
critical of virtual charter
schools.
,WFLWHGWKUHHVHSDUDWHVWXGLHVIURPODWHDQGQRWHG
0RVWVWULNLQJDQGWURXEOLQJLQ
WKHVHUHSRUWVLVWKHQGLQJRI
ODUJHVFDOH XQGHUSHUIRUPDQFH
by full-time virtual charter
VFKRROV
7KH 1DWLRQDO $OOLDQFH IRU
3XEOLF &KDUWHU 6FKRROV FDOOHG
for states to make the tough
SROLF\ FKRLFHV QHFHVVDU\ WR
HQVXUH RQOLQH HGXFDWLRQ LV
ZRUNLQJ LQFOXGLQJ FORVLQJ
low-performing virtual charter
schools.
$QDGGLWLRQDOUHFRPPHQGDtion was to curb enrollment
growth.
7KH DOOLDQFH SURSRVHG WKDW
VWDWHV FRQVLGHU HOLPLQDWLQJ
RSHQ HQUROOPHQW DQG VHWWLQJ
FULWHULD IRU DGPLVVLRQ RI VWXGHQWVZKRFDQEHVWEHQHWIURP
RQOLQHHGXFDWLRQ
,W UHFRPPHQGHG VHWWLQJ
maximum enrollment levels
for any school so operators
ZLOOIRFXVRQHQUROOLQJVWXGHQWV
ZKRZLOORXULVKLQWKLVW\SHRI
environment, rather than just
JHWWLQJVWXGHQWVLQVHDWV
Some states, such as Maine
DQG ,OOLQRLV KDYH FDSSHG WKH
JURZWKRIYLUWXDOVFKRROVEDVHG
RQSRRUDFDGHPLFSHUIRUPDQFH
DQGVHWWLQJOLPLWVRQKRZPDQ\
virtual schools can open each
year. Oklahoma has no limits
on enrollment in virtual schools
or the number of schools.
+RZHYHU2NODKRPD9LUWXDO
&KDUWHU $FDGHP\ WKH VWDWHV
VHFRQG ODUJHVW RQOLQH VFKRRO
VDLGLWKDVNHSWLWVHQUROOPHQW

W k

WRMXVWRYHUVWXGHQWVIRU
WKUHH\HDUVLQDURZLQRUGHUWR
improve quality.
:H H[SHULHQFHG JUHDW
JURZWK LQ WKH EHJLQQLQJ DQG
ZH ZDQWHG WR VWDELOL]H DQG
work on improving the program
UDWKHUWKDQJURZLQJ+HDGRI
6FKRRO6KHU\O7DWXPVDLG,WV
KDUGWRGRERWK
7KHVFKRROVJRYHUQLQJERDUG
sets a cut-off for enrollment,
usually in September.
'HVSLWH WKH HIIRUWV WKH
VFKRROV DFDGHPLF PHDVXUHV
remain low. In 2014-2015,
LWV HOHPHQWDU\ DQG PLGGOH
VFKRROV ZHUH JLYHQ ' JUDGHV
DQGLWVKLJKVFKRROUHFHLYHGD
&,WVIRXU\HDUJUDGXDWLRQRU
FRPSOHWLRQUDWHGURSSHGIURP
44 percent in 2012-2013 to 33
percent in 2013-2014.
(SLFV JUDGXDWLRQ UDWH LPSURYHGVOLJKWO\IURPSHUFHQW
to 28 percent.
$GGUHVVLQJ WKH JUDGXDWLRQ
UDWH+DUULVVDLGWKHPHDVXUHPHQWRXJKWWREHH[SDQGHGWR
VL[ \HDUV LQVWHDG RI IRXU 7KH
6WDWHZLGH 9LUWXDO &KDUWHU
6FKRRO%RDUGWKLV\HDULQWHQGV
WR FDOFXODWH ERWK IRXU DQG
six-year rates as well as the
percentage of starting seniors
ZKRJUDGXDWH
$VHVWLPDWHGSHUFHQWRI
(SLFVWXGHQWVDUHUHWXUQLQJWR
school to achieve a high school
GLSORPD +DUULV VDLG 0DQ\
WLPHV WKHVH VWXGHQWV DUHQW
DEOHWRJUDGXDWHRQWLPHZKLFK
ORZHUVWKHVFKRROVJUDGXDWLRQ
rate.
7KH QRUP ZHUH JKWLQJ
there is it only takes four years
WRJHWRXWRIKLJKVFKRRO+DUULV
VDLG%XWZKDWZHUHQGLQJLV
QRUPDOLVUDUHQRZ(YHU\ERG\
has their own unique circumVWDQFHV
State law allows high schools
WRHQUROOVWXGHQWVXSWRDJH
(SLFHQUROOVDQ\VWXGHQWDW
DQ\SRLQWLQWKH\HDUDQGKDV
QHYHUKDGDZDLWLQJOLVW+DUULV VDLG KHV HVSHFLDOO\ SURXG
to serve victims of bullying
DQGRWKHUVWXGHQWVIDFLQJVLJQLFDQWKXUGOHVLQDWUDGLWLRQDO
school setting.
+HVDLGKHVWLUHGRISHRSOH

FULWLFL]LQJWKHLUVFKRROPRGHO
Were going to serve thouVDQGV DQG WKRXVDQGV RI NLGV
WKLV\HDUDQGZHUHUHDOO\JHWWLQJWLUHGRIEHLQJPDOLJQHG
+DUULVVDLG
Concerns over Churn
7KH ORZ JUDGXDWLRQ UDWHV
tie into critics concerns that
virtual schools can become
VZLQJLQJGRRUV
6WXGHQW UHWHQWLRQ RU KRZ
PDQ\ VWXGHQWV UHWXUQ WR WKH
school in subsequent years,
ZLOOEHWKHIRFXVRIDQDXGLWWKH
9LUWXDO&KDUWHU6FKRRO%RDUG
SODQVWRFRQGXFWQH[WPRQWK
:LONLQVRQ VDLG VKH KRSHV
WKHGDWDZLOODGGUHVVZKHWKHU
there are certain times of the
\HDUZKHQVWXGHQWVDUHGURSping from the rolls, such as just
before spring testing or just
after Oct. 1, when enrollment
LV PHDVXUHG E\ WKH VWDWH IRU
IXQGLQJSXUSRVHV
1DWLRQDOVWXGLHVKDYHVKRZQ
that many times, virtual stuGHQWVHQGXSEDFNLQWKHLUWUDGLWLRQDO QHLJKERUKRRG VFKRRO
One of the problems with that
LVWKHIXQGLQJIRUWKDWVWXGHQW
stays with the virtual school.
(SLFOHDGHUVVD\DERXWWZR
WKLUGVRIWKHLUVWXGHQWVUHWXUQ
WKHQH[W\HDUOHDYLQJRQHWKLUG
ZKROHDYHWKHVFKRRODQGHQUROO
elsewhere.
Flight from Traditional
Schools
6RPH SDUHQWV DQG RQOLQH
VFKRRO OHDGHUV VD\ PDQ\ SDUents are migrating to virtual
VFKRROV EHFDXVH WKH\ DUH IHG
up with local schools.
More than 80 percent of Epic
VWXGHQWVSUHYLRXVO\DWWHQGHGD
QHLJKERUKRRGSXEOLFVFKRRODFFRUGLQJWRDVXUYH\RI(SLF
SDUHQWVLQ0D\FRQGXFWHGE\
7KH2IFHRI(GXFDWLRQDO4XDOLW\DQG$FFRXQWDELOLW\
1HDUO\SHUFHQWKDGEHHQ
KRPHVFKRROHGDQGSHUFHQW
KDG DWWHQGHG DQRWKHU RQOLQH
FKDUWHUVFKRRO6RPHVWXGHQWV
KDG PXOWLSOH SULRU VFKRROLQJ
experiences.
The most common reasons
parents sought a virtual school
ZDV WKDW WKHLU FKLOG ZDV QRW
VXFFHHGLQJ DFDGHPLFDOO\ ZDV
EHLQJ EXOOLHG RU QHHGHG H[LELOLW\GXHWRWUDYHOLQJKHDOWK
issues, or sports.
We saw that the schools
were getting worse, not better,
DQG GLGQW ZDQW RXU FKLOG LQ
WKDWHQYLURQPHQWRQHSDUHQW
ZURWH 0\ FKLOG ZDV EXOOLHG
DQGQRRQHVHHPHGWRFDUH
another wrote.

These parents may be

searching for alternatives when
they hear about virtual schools.
One way virtual schools
DQG WKHLU DIOLDWHV PD[LPL]H
enrollment is by engaging in
aggressive recruitment.
.WKH9LUJLQLDFRPSDQ\
ZKLFKSURYLGHVFXUULFXOXPIRU
two Oklahoma virtual charters,
VSHQWPLOOLRQRQDGYHUWLVLQJODVW\HDULQFOXGLQJSXEOLF
WHOHYLVLRQDGVDLUHGLQORFDOLWLHV
Epics recent contests for
parent-to-parent referrals inFOXGHGSUL]HVVXFKDVDSDFNDJH
of concert tickets to see Selena
*RPH]DQGDIDPLO\JHWDZD\WR
*UHDW:ROI/RGJH
7KH VFKRRO DOVR DGGV 
for each referral into a stuGHQWVOHDUQLQJIXQGDVFKRRO
FRQWUROOHGDFFRXQWWKDWVWDUWV
ZLWKHDFK\HDUDQGWKDW
SDUHQWVVSHQGRQFXUULFXOXP
ODSWRSVDQGDFWLYLWLHVVXFKDV
VSRUWVDQGGDQFHZKLFKTXDOLI\
DVSK\VLFDOHGXFDWLRQ
7KHOLVWRITXDOLI\LQJYHQGRUV
LQFOXGHV SLDQR VWXGLRV GDQFH
DFDGHPLHVVRFFHUDQGPDUWLDO
DUWVHYHQHTXHVWULDQFOXEVDQG
an archery range.
9LUWXDOVFKRROVVSHQGDORW
of money on marketing because
they rely on enrollment for
IXQGLQJDQGWKH\KDYHWRFRPSHQVDWHIRUKLJKDWWULWLRQVDLG
Mary Sue Backus, a law professor at the University of OklaKRPDZKRFRZURWHDVWXG\RQ
YLUWXDOVFKRROVWLWOHG6ROXWLRQ
RU6LUHQ6RQJ"
Thats a big open question.
+RZ PXFK DUH WKHVH VFKRROV
VSHQGLQJ RQ PDUNHWLQJ QRW
LQVWUXFWLRQ" :RXOG D SXEOLF
VFKRROHYHUVSHQGDQ\UHVRXUFHV
RQ GUXPPLQJ XS PRUH VWXGHQWV"%DFNXVVDLG
7KH VWXG\ E\ %DFNXV DQG
DWWRUQH\ DQG IRUPHU WHDFKHU
+D\OH\-RQHVUDLVHGTXHVWLRQV
DERXW WKH HIIHFWLYHQHVV IXQGLQJIRUPXODDQGSURWGULYHQ
SURYLGHUV RI YLUWXDO FKDUWHU
schools.
1RWLQJWKHLUUHVLVWLEOHOXUH
RIRQOLQHVFKRROVDQGWKHLULQnovative potential, the report
XUJHGSROLF\PDNHUVQRWWRUXVK
WRHPEUDFHWKHPZLWKRXWUVW
IXOO\ XQGHUVWDQGLQJ DQG FRQWUROOLQJIRUWKHSRWHQWLDOSHULO
(Editors Note: Oklahoma
:DWFKLVD QRQSURWQRQSDUtisan media organization that
produces in-depth and investigative content on public-policy
issues facing the state. For more
2NODKRPD:DWFKFRQWHQWJRWR
oklahomawatch.org.)

RED RIVER GRAIN

Kingston & Durant

20% Range Cubes

13% Creep
12% Cut N Horse
Sweet Ration
20 % All Natural Tubs(200#)
Valu Pak 24/20 Dog Food

7 (50#)
6 (50#)
$ 80
8 (50#)
$ 40
8
$
54 50
$
20 85 (50#)
$ 25
$ 85

(580) 564-2324 Intersection US 377 & Hwy 32 (580) 924-4879

Watts Funeral Home & Crematory

Funerales, Incineracin de Cadveres y Servicios Fnebres

SIRVIENDO LAS FAMILIAS DE LOS CONDADOS
MARSHALL Y JOHNSTON DESDE DOS
CONVENIETE LOCALIDADES.

Watts Funeral Home &

Crematory
6VW6WUHHW0DGLOO2.
7HOpIRQR

xperiencia es el mejor maestro y nosotros

tenemos cuatro generaciones con ms de 100
aos de experiencia. Hemos aprendido que las
atenciones a detalles y las necesidades individuales
nunca deben ser comprometidas.
Basados en nuestra larga trayectoria de servicio,
invitamos y bienvenimos comparaciones cuando
se trata del precio, servicio, localidad y personal.
Estamos dispuestos a igualdad o regatear cualquier
precio de la competencia.
Somos dueos locales, y nuestra familia no solo
da servicios a familias, sin embargo servimos a
nuestros amigos y vecinos. Nuestra sensibilidad a
estos hechos resulta en la dignidad y calidad que al
honorar a nuestros seres queridos merecen. Nuestro
compromiso de cuatro generaciones atrs, contina
a nuestra quinta y futuras generaciones de nuestra
f ili l d
d

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

The Newkirk Herald Journal

Dec
29
2016
Page
0008
Clip
resized
37%

Oklahomavirtual
charterschoolreceives
high marks
Editors Note: The EPIC Charter School was founded by
Newkirk graduate David Chaney, son of Roy and Nancy
Chaney. There are Epic students and staff from Newkirk.
OKLAHOMACITY The Office of Educational Quality &
Accountability (OEQA) has released a first-ever and positive,
in-depth performance review of EPICCharterSchool, which
has approximately 9,000studentsand teachers in most towns
acrossOklahoma.
In the report, available at:www.oeqa.ok.gov, EPIC iscommended
in various areas of operation and given recommendations for
how to accommodate the student growth, the rate of which
vastly exceeds any otherschoolinOklahoma.
The independent OEQA report was commissioned by
theOklahomaStatewideVirtualCharterSchoolBoard. It exceeds
200 pages and is structured in a format of commendations and
recommendations in five distinct areas: Management, Personnel
and Communications; Instructional Delivery; Business
Operations; Facilities Management; and Technology.
Among its highlights:
4 commendations for EPIC in Management, Personnel and
Staff, including its staff and parent communications and a
finding of effective professional development.
17 commendations for Instructional Delivery, with notable
recognition of its blended learning delivery system and
strategies, its special education program, its students steady
improvement on the ACT and amid a decline in scores statewide,
and its graduate management support system.
8 commendations for its Business Operations and Facilities
Management
6 commendations in Technology and the integrity of its IT
systems.
Recommendations to develop a long-term strategic plan,
gain more from such third-parties as landlords and continue
its ongoing efforts to engagestudentsin more group learning
and interactions.
No recommendations were found to be serious or required
immediate action.
OEQA Executive Director Dr. Daniel Craig praised EPIC for
its full cooperation in the performance review, indicating it
had impressive programs, financial efficiency and appeared
committed to optimizingstudentsuccess amid robust growth.
Our team was impressed with EPIC. In many areas, it is on par
or better than the districts we compared it to for the purpose of
this report, which is our practice for any performance review,
Dr. Craig said. As with any review, we provide recommendations
for continued improvement but we consider this a positive
performance review for EPIC.
R e b e c c a Wi l k i n s o n , e x e c u t i v e d i r e c t o r o f t h e
Statewide Vir tual Char ter S chool B oard, said the
Statewide Virtual Charter SchoolBoard commissioned
theschoolperformance reviews for a number of reasons.
The Board recognizes the expertise of the OEQA in education
data collection and analysis, and they recognize their ability to
provide quality independentschoolperformance reviews, she
said. The Board also took this step in an effort to fulfill their
statutory oversight responsibilities and to provide another layer
in fair accounting ofschoolperformance. I am pleased with the
results of the EPIC report and appreciate the efforts of both the
OEQA and EPICCharterSchool.
EPIC Superintendent David Chaney concurred the performance
review process had been a meaningful experience for staff and
faculty. EPIC already has implemented some of the strategies
OEQA included in its report, he said, and will be discussing the
report with its board for future planning.
When you are experiencing the growth weve had, having
an independent review like this is extremely helpful. It affirms
what you are doing right and sheds light on continuous
improvement, which should be the model for anyschool, he
said. We are grateful the Statewide Virtual Board allowed
us to be the firstvirtualschoolinOklahomato be evaluated
in such a rigorous, objective manner, and we encourage our
colleagues in preK-12 public education to work with OEQA
on performance, too.

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