Epic charter school teacher salary12/1/2023 I sincerely hope that those who aimed to defraud the public will be held responsible and that restitutions will be made to our education system.” “When education funding has become increasingly tight over the past 10 years, the fraudulent practices of EPIC have created even more stress on our public education system. “Overall, the results of this investigation saddens me,” said Rep. If the OSBI shows that these individuals did indeed defraud Oklahoma taxpayers, I would hope that Attorney General Mike Hunter would see past their wealth and their campaign donations and hold them accountable.”įour Oklahoma House Democrat Representatives who were teachers before running for office, also released statements following the announcement of the OSBI investigation. “I am glad to see that the OSBI is taking this matter seriously. “I am very concerned about the report that Epic Charter Schools has been paying students and their families to enroll so that the school can profit from taxpayer money,” said State House Minority (Democrat) Leader Emily Virgin (D-Norman). The liberal political establishment soon piled on to the attacks on EPIC. They also provide a computer and in some cases internet access. Since EPIC does not offer sports, band, or other activities, they provide a stipend to students to pay for those activities. So, EPIC is educating students for about half the cost that the Oklahoma City or Tulsa schools spend. The other government funded schools in the state also receive funds from local property taxes, along with federal funds. Unlike the traditional government funded schools in Oklahoma, EPIC only receives the state portion of education funds, about $5,000 per student. EPIC boasts that it offers the highest annual teacher salaries in the state, about $15,000 more than the regular government schools provide. Students who have struggled in the government schools, or dropped out, have gravitated to this alternative education model. But, accusations, annual audits, and continued scrutiny from both the OSBI and the FBI has failed to uncover any wrong doing in EPIC’s operations. In 2013, then-Governor Mary Fallin, asked the OSBI to investigate EPIC’s operations. While they offer mostly online courses, they also have physical facilities in Oklahoma City and Tulsa. EPIC is now ranked as the third largest school system in the state, with students spread across nearly everywhere in Oklahoma. As the EPIC system of education grew, it became a threat to Oklahoma’s education establishment. State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Joy Hofmeister, confirmed that EPIC will receive its yearly allocation of state funds.Īfter overcoming resistance by the state, EPIC began offering an education alternative for Oklahoma families in 2011. While the OSBI continues its investigation, the virtual charter school will continue to receive state funding. Perhaps to blunt the further expansion of EPIC, the education establishment leveled allegations that EPIC was embezzling state education funds based on “ghost students” and the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) was asked to launch an investigation.ĮPIC’s co-founders dispute the embezzlement claims and say they will be vindicated when the investigation concludes. The mostly online alternative to the traditional government schools, undertook a massive television and radio campaign to attract students for the next school year. This summer there was great attention focused on EPIC Charter Schools in Oklahoma.
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