The week in coveducation: 'Ghost students' examined

The week in coveducation: 'Ghost students' examined

The week in coveducation: ‘Ghost students’ examined

There could be a light at the end of the tunnel for Oklahoma teachers still waiting to be vaccinated after Gov. Kevin Stitt announced this week that COVID-19 vaccines would be available to all pre-K through 12th grade educators beginning Feb. 22.

Also this week, voters hit the polls in some local school board elections, including the race for chairperson of the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education. Plus, The Oklahoman and StateImpact examined the term “ghost students,” as it was used by Stitt during his State of the State address.

But first, make sure you heard the latest episode of NonDoc’s podcast — Live From the News Dungeon — which featured a guest appearance by House Common Education Chairwoman Rhonda Baker (R-Yukon).

Once you’re done with that, be sure to catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Oklahoma teachers eligible for vaccine Feb. 22

Gov. Kevin Stitt announced Thursday that pre-K through 12th grade teachers, school staff CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: 'Ghost students' examined

The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

Monday, Feb. 1, marked the beginning of the 2021 legislative session, where Gov. Kevin Stitt used his State of the State address to touch on his goals for the Oklahoma education landscape.

Also this week — a superintendent at a Fairfax county school district has been suspended by the school’s board owing to new sanctions by federal and state education authorities.

Catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Stitt pushes for changes to student transfer policy, funding formula

Stitt’s State of the State address referenced two of his #oklaed goals: changing the state’s school funding formula and creating a stronger and statewide open transfer policy for students between Oklahoma’s more than 500 school districts.

The Frontier’s Ben Felder reported that while schools are currently funded based off of the highest enrollment count for one of the past three years, Stitt wants the enrollment CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Stitt outlines #oklaed goals

The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The State Board of Education and Epic Charter Schools board each welcomed new members during respective meetings this week.

Also this week, Tulsa Public Schools called for vaccine prioritization for school employees amid criticism from Gov. Kevin Stitt over the districts decision to remain in distance learning.

Catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Impromptu interview with Epic Charter Schools co-founder Ben Harris

Epic Charter Schools co-founder Ben Harris isn’t known for talking extensively to the media. So, when NonDoc editor-in-chief Tres Savage ran into him on Monday evening while trying to access a board meeting, he turned on his recording device and asked him a few questions.

Read and listen to this interview, where Harris answers questions surrounding recent issues facing Oklahoma’s largest — and most controversial — school district.

Mike Cantrell leaves Epic Charter Schools board CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: A call for teacher vaccine prioritization

The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The State Board of Education is slated to hold its first meeting of 2021 at 10 a.m. Thursday with the Epic Charter Schools Board of Education scheduled to meet Monday evening.

But before we get ahead of ourselves, this week Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed former businessman and University of Oklahoma football player Trent Smith to the Board of Education and continued his push for open schools.

Catch up on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Stitt appoints new State Board of Education member

Trent Smith appointed to State Board of Education - https://nondoc.com/?p=20865 by @https://twitter.com/MeganPrather405 on @nondocmedia

On Friday, Gov. Kevin Stitt named former Oklahoma Employment Security Commission commissioner and former University of Oklahoma football player Trent Smith as his appointment to fill the vacant seat on the State Board of Education.

NonDoc reported that Smith will fill the seat for Congressional District 3, which was left vacant after Stitt removed Kurt Bollenbach from the board in December.

Smith said he is familiar with and supportive of Stitt’s goals for public education in the state, including Stitt’s statements that all students need to have an option for in-person instruction this year despite the pandemic.

Stitt pushes to open schools amid worsening pandemic CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Stitt continues push for in-person learning

The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

A new state policy that gives school districts the option not to require students to quarantine if they’ve been exposed to someone with COVID-19 — as long as their school district is enforcing a masking policy and other preventative measures — was met with criticism by school leaders.

Catch up on that and a packed week of education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around Oklahoma.

New policy seeks to incentivize schools to offer in-person options

On Tuesday, Gov. Kevin Stitt announced a new policy from the Oklahoma State Department of Health that would gives districts the option to allow asymptomatic students exposed to someone positive for COVID-19 not to have to quarantine if their school is enforcing a mask policy and protocols like social distancing.

NonDoc reported that Stitt also announced increased delivery of COVID-19 tests to school districts, increased delivery of personal protective equipment to school districts and the start of vaccinations of teachers age 65+ this week.

Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister, the Oklahoma Education Association and the Oklahoma City American Federation of Teachers released statements CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: New school quarantine policy met with criticism

The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The state saw some big news in the education world this week with an announcement from the State Department of Education that Oklahoma public school enrollment has dropped. The timeline for getting all Oklahoma teachers vaccinated was also found to be unclear.

In the coming week, the Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education will meet Monday, Jan. 11, and Epic Charter Schools’ board, Community Strategies, is set to meet Wednesday, Jan. 13.

Stay up-to-date on the week’s Oklahoma education news with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state in our coveducation recap.

Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

Some of Oklahoma’s teachers at the highest risk for contracting COVID-19 received vaccine doses this week. However, it’s unclear when all K-12 teachers in the state will receive vaccinations.

The Oklahoman’s Nuria Martinez-Keel reported this week that officials at the Oklahoma State Department of Health said, at this point, federal vaccine allocations have only CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Timeline unclear for teacher vaccinations

The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

Happy New Year, readers!

There’s a lot to look out for as we begin 2021, including school board elections for numerous districts and how schools in the state will continue to grapple with the COVID-19 pandemic.

As we try to forget 2020 and prepare for the onslaught of 2021, make sure you’re caught up on the news affecting Oklahoma schools with a few recent education headlines from reporters around the state.

Governor’s staff discussed a plan to reopen schools based on mask mandate

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has called for all schools to reopen for in-person learning for the spring semester. Meanwhile, Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister wants a mask mandate in all school facilities.

The Frontier’s Ben Felder reported that, earlier this month, staff for each worked on a CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Oklahoma schools to see $650 million in COVID relief

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

There’s a lot of Oklahoma education news to catch up on this week, from Gov. Kevin Stitt moving teachers to phase two of Oklahoma’s vaccine distribution plan to an updated audit of Epic Charter Schools showing the school could have shortchanged taxpayers an additional $823,000.

Don’t fret. We’ve made it easy to stay up-to-date with a collection of education headlines from reporters around the state in our coveducation recap.

Epic shortchanged taxpayers an additional $823,000

The Oklahoman’s Nuria Martinez-Keel reported this week that an updated audit of Epic Charter Schools shows the school could have overspent by an additional $823,772 on administrators’ salaries.

State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd announced Wednesday that a second evaluation of Epic’s CONTINUE READING: Coveducation recap: OKCPS plan, attendance questions & snow days

The week in coveducation: Board of Education appointee backs out, Epic updates

The week in coveducation: Board of Education appointee backs out, Epic updates

The week in coveducation: Board of Education appointee backs out, Epic updates

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s controversial appointee to the State Board of Education withdrew her name from consideration this week. Meanwhile, the Epic Charter Schools board approved more corrective actions surrounding the investigative audit of Epic One-on-One and Epic Blended, as well as noncompliance found in the federal programs monitoring of Epic Blended.

There’s a lot of Oklahoma education news to catch up on this week, and we’re trying to make it easy with this collection of headlines from reporters around the state, all in one place.

Stitt’s Board of Education appointee backs out

The Tulsa World’s Andrea Eger reported that Gov. Kevin Stitt blasted Democrats and teachers unions Monday after his appointee to the Oklahoma State Board of Education backed out amid criticism, which even came from nonpartisan groups.

Stitt abruptly gave the boot to state board member Kurt Bollenbach of Kingfisher on Dec. 3 and nominated in his place Enid resident Melissa Crabtree.

Crabtree made headlines in Enid earlier this year for founding a group to oppose city mandates for face masks and some elected officials who supported them.

SVCSB makes Phyllis Shepherd, Mathew Hamrick recuse on Epic matters CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Board of Education appointee backs out, Epic updates

The week in coveducation: Stitt removes State Board of Education member

The week in coveducation: Stitt removes State Board of Education member

The week in coveducation: Stitt removes State Board of Education member

Following the Thanksgiving holiday, there’s a lot to catch up on in the Oklahoma education world, including Epic Charter Schools settling a 2019 legal claim and Gov. Kevin Stitt replacing a State Board of Education member.

Catch up on the Oklahoma education news you need with this weekly collection of headlines from reporters around the state.

Gov. Stitt replaces Board of Education member

Gov. Kevin Stitt abruptly replaced one of his own appointees to the Oklahoma State Board of Education this week.

The Tulsa World’s Andrea Eger reported Friday that Kurt Bollenbach of Kingfisher, whom Stitt appointed in April 2019 to serve a four-year term, was removed from the board and replaced by Enid resident Melissa Crabtree.

Bollenbach recently supported a high-profile move to recoup more than $11 million in state funding from Epic Charter Schools. He also supported a failed attempt to mandate CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Stitt removes State Board of Education member

The coveducation week: House Dems ask two SVCSB members to resign

The coveducation week: House Dems ask two SVCSB members to resign

The coveducation week: House Dems ask two SVCSB members to resign

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As we head into Thanksgiving week, make sure you’re caught up on all the education news around Oklahoma to share with your family around the dinner table — or over Zoom. I hear people just love talking about the news over dinner, right?

This year, I am personally thankful for our readers and the reporters around the state working hard to bring you the education news that I get to compile into this weekly #coveducation recap.

House Democrats call on two SVCSB members to step down.

Members of the House Democratic Caucus education policy group released a statement this week asking two members of the Statewide Virtual Charter School Board to step down owing to alleged conflicts of interest with Epic Charter Schools.

SVCSB member Phyllis Shepherd is being asked to step down after it was discovered through social media posts that she is the aunt of Epic co-founder David Chaney. The Tulsa World looked into genealogy records showing that Chaney and Shepherd are related on Chaney’s fathers side of the family.

Mathew Hamrick is being asked to step down owing to the nature of his relationship with Chaney, as well. According to the Epic audit, in 2017 Hamrick received political CONTINUE READING: The coveducation week: House Dems ask two SVCSB members to resign

Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning

Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning

Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning

Community Strategies, which serves as Epic Charter Schools’ board of education, will meet Wednesday, Nov. 18, to continue discussing corrective actions after an investigative audit revealed issues such as poor financial oversight.

The Rose State Board of Regents will also be meeting next week, with Epic officials planned to be in attendance. Combined, the public bodies are likely to make for another week of marathon #oklaed meetings worth watching.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, however, catch up on this week’s marathon meetings and other Oklahoma education news with our recap of headlines from reporters around the state.

OKCPS returning to remote learning

Oklahoma City Public Schools announced Friday that the district will be returning to remote learning on Nov. 16 through the end of the semester.

This comes after one week of in-person classes on an A/B schedule and as Oklahoma County reached the State Department of Education’s ‘Red Alert’ level for COVID-19 cases CONTINUE READING: Coveducation recap: After one week, OKCPS moves back to remote learning

The week in coveducation: OKCPS bringing students back, coalition calls for mask mandate

The week in coveducation: OKCPS bringing students back, coalition calls for mask mandate

The week in coveducation: OKCPS bringing students back, coalition calls for mask mandate

After a week dominated by election coverage, it’s likely that most people have at least a little bit of news fatigue. But whether you’re going to spend the weekend trying to avoid it all for your own sanity or continue to track updates, this post can offer you a slight break in election news.

Oklahoma City Public Schools will be proceeding with their plans of bringing back all students in-person on an A/B schedule this week. The OKCPS Board of Education will meet Monday evening, and the State Board of Education is scheduled to meet at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, Nov. 12.

Catch up on the week’s education headlines from reporters around Oklahoma with this coveducation recap.

OKCPS bringing back first-12th grades

Oklahoma City Public Schools will be proceeding with its plans of bringing first through 12th grade students back to in-person learning on an A/B schedule the week of Nov. 9.

Kindergartners and pre-K students returned to the classroom on an A/B schedule Oct. 20.

The Oklahoman’s Nuria Martinez-Keel reported this week that despite classes being canceled for nearly two weeks owing to weather and subsequent power outages, Oklahoma City students are still expected to return to more than 50 schools next week for CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: OKCPS bringing students back, coalition calls for mask mandate

The week in coveducation: Cancellations, unclaimed funds, public school oversight

The week in coveducation: Cancellations, unclaimed funds, public school oversight

The week in coveducation: Cancellations, unclaimed funds, public school oversight

Oklahoma faced intense winter weather this week that took down tree limbs, left more than 250,000 people without power and caused school cancellations.

Despite this freeze in the weather, the Oklahoma education news gears kept spinning to include a reported decline in enrollment at Tulsa Public Schools, 70 Oklahoma schools failing to submit vaccination data and an Oklahoma lawmaker who intends to seek the reorganization of public school oversight.

Catch up on the week’s education news with this coveducation recap of headlines from reporters around the state.

OKCPS changes CONTINUE READING: The week in coveducation: Cancellations, unclaimed funds, public school oversight