{"id":695300,"date":"2022-03-09T10:41:09","date_gmt":"2022-03-09T16:41:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/?p=695300"},"modified":"2022-03-09T10:41:11","modified_gmt":"2022-03-09T16:41:11","slug":"irs-investigating-epic-charter-schools-finances","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2022\/03\/09\/irs-investigating-epic-charter-schools-finances\/","title":{"rendered":"IRS Investigating Epic Charter Schools Finances"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Epic Charter Schools is facing another investigation of its finances and governance, this one by the Internal Revenue Service, <em>Oklahoma Watch<\/em> has learned.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The online charter school\u2019s board chairman was notified of the inquiry in a letter dated Jan. 14, records show.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In the letter, the IRS requested documents dating to 2015, about the same time period the state Auditor &amp; Inspector examined. That audit, released in October 2020, found the school diverted tens of millions of taxpayer dollars into a for-profit company controlled by the school\u2019s co-founders, David Chaney and Ben Harris, and its former chief financial officer, Josh Brock.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>State Auditor Cindy Byrd provided her findings to federal agencies, including the IRS and the FBI. The school has had to repay the state $20 million so far, but no criminal charges have been filed.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-3 is-2 is-landscape is-style-borders\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"695300\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>The Latest<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"754290\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-audio-stories series-audio-stories type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2026\/01\/05\/audio-stories-december-22-2025-2\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"200\" height=\"150\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Audio-Stories-400-x-200-px.png?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-tiny size-newspack-article-block-landscape-tiny wp-post-image\" alt=\"Audio Stories: December 29, 2025\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Audio-Stories-400-x-200-px.png?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Audio-Stories-400-x-200-px.png?zoom=2&amp;resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/Audio-Stories-400-x-200-px.png?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2026\/01\/05\/audio-stories-december-22-2025-2\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Audio Stories: December 29, 2025<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p>The IRS said it will be comparing documents it\u2019s requesting to information provided on the annual tax forms for Community Strategies, Inc., the legal name for Epic Charter Schools\u2019 board. The agency is looking for compliance in three areas: whether Epic has operated in ways allowed by its nonprofit tax status, whether it accurately reported revenue and expenses, and whether its governing board is adequate to \u201cprevent and identify any loss of your organization\u2019s assets.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>All Community Strategies revenue comes from public education funding.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Epic has faced a multitude of investigations since it was founded in 2011 by Chaney and Harris. The Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation spent years probing the school, beginning in 2013, and turned over its final report to the attorney general Jan. 28.<\/p>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles is-style-borders wpnbha show-image image-alignleft ts-3 is-2 is-landscape is-style-borders\"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"695300\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>RELATED<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"677398\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-education category-epic-charter-schools category-government category-publicmoney series-virtual-schools type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2020\/10\/01\/state-auditor-concerned-epic-funding-not-getting-to-students\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"State Auditor Concerned Epic Funding &#8216;Not Getting to Students&#8217;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2020\/10\/EpicAudit_70-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2020\/10\/01\/state-auditor-concerned-epic-funding-not-getting-to-students\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">State Auditor Concerned Epic Funding &#8216;Not Getting to Students&#8217;<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"entry-meta\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<time class=\"entry-date published\" datetime=\"2020-10-01T18:33:03-05:00\">October 1, 2020<\/time><time class=\"updated\" datetime=\"2022-06-23T15:38:11-05:00\">June 23, 2022<\/time>\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-meta -->\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t\n\n\n<p>Last month, Attorney General John O\u2019Connor handed the investigation back to Oklahoma County District Attorney David Prater, who originally oversaw the case. He will determine what, if any, charges are filed.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Epic in 2021 severed ties with its Chaney and Harris and their management company. Epic completed a full turnover of its board in an effort to improve its governance.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In December, the board\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2021\/12\/05\/epics-board-vice-chair-resigns-asks-for-investigation-into-misconduct\/\">vice chairperson resigned<\/a>, alleging fraud, workplace intimidation and harassment, and violations of the Open Meetings Act. A state Department of Education investigation into the allegations is underway.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\"\n  src=\"https:\/\/embed.documentcloud.org\/documents\/21399093-irs-examination\/?embed=1&amp;responsive=1&amp;title=1\"\n  title=\"IRS - Examination (Hosted by DocumentCloud)\"\n  width=\"700\"\n  height=\"905\"\n  style=\"border: 1px solid #aaa; width: 100%; height: 800px; height: calc(100vh - 100px);\"\n  sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-forms allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"\n><\/iframe>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img data-recalc-dims=\"1\" loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"771\" height=\"771\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=771%2C771&#038;ssl=1\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-700097\" style=\"width:193px;height:193px\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=771%2C771&amp;ssl=1 771w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=336%2C336&amp;ssl=1 336w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=140%2C140&amp;ssl=1 140w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=768%2C768&amp;ssl=1 768w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=400%2C400&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=200%2C200&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=300%2C300&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=706%2C706&amp;ssl=1 706w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?resize=100%2C100&amp;ssl=1 100w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194.jpg?w=800&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/07\/StaffHeadshots2022_5194-771x771.jpg?w=370&amp;ssl=1 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 771px) 100vw, 771px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p><em>Jennifer Palmer has been a reporter with Oklahoma Watch since 2016 and covers education. Contact her at <a href=\"tel:4057610093\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">(405) 761-0093<\/a> or <a href=\"mailto:jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">jpalmer@oklahomawatch.org<\/a>. Follow her on Twitter <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/jpalmerOKC\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">@jpalmerOKC<\/a><\/em>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:3px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\t<div\n\t\tclass=\"wp-block-newspack-blocks-homepage-articles  wpnbha is-grid columns-3 colgap-3 show-image image-aligntop ts-3 is-3 is-landscape \"\n\t\tstyle=\"\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t<div data-posts data-current-post-id=\"695300\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<h2 class=\"article-section-title\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<span>MORE FROM JENNIFER PALMER<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<\/h2>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"753902\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-chromebooks tag-ed-tech tag-education-2 tag-education-watch tag-ipads tag-oklahoma-education tag-rep-chad-caldwell tag-rep-ellen-pogemiller tag-sen-ally-seifried tag-state-chamber tag-superintendent-lindel-fields tag-technology category-education category-education-watch category-newsletters category-schools type-newspack_nl_cpt post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-with-smartphones-banned-policymakers-look-to-other-screens-in-classrooms\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"400\" height=\"300\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Donors-Choose-4.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-small size-newspack-article-block-landscape-small wp-post-image\" alt=\"Education Watch: With Smartphones Banned, Policymakers Look to Other Screens in Classrooms\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Donors-Choose-4.jpeg?w=598&amp;ssl=1 598w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Donors-Choose-4.jpeg?resize=300%2C225&amp;ssl=1 300w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Donors-Choose-4.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Donors-Choose-4.jpeg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/Donors-Choose-4.jpeg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-with-smartphones-banned-policymakers-look-to-other-screens-in-classrooms\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Education Watch: With Smartphones Banned, Policymakers Look to Other Screens in Classrooms<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"753726\"\n\t\tclass=\"category-education category-education-watch category-higher-education category-newsletters type-newspack_nl_cpt\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-ou-norman-cancel-school-for-football-playoff-game\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Education Watch: OU, Norman Cancel School for Football Playoff Game<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"753485\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-academic-achievement tag-chronic-absenteeism tag-data tag-education-2 tag-education-watch tag-english-language-learners tag-graduation-rates tag-growth tag-oklahoma-education tag-postsecondary tag-public-schools category-education category-education-watch category-newsletters type-newspack_nl_cpt post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-what-can-oklahomans-learn-from-the-latest-school-report-cards\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Education Watch: What Can Oklahomans Learn from the Latest School Report Cards?\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/12\/BridgeCreekMid_36-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-what-can-oklahomans-learn-from-the-latest-school-report-cards\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Education Watch: What Can Oklahomans Learn from the Latest School Report Cards?<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"753221\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-brandon-pasley tag-domestic-violence-fatality-review-board tag-jacquelyn-campbell tag-laura-thomas tag-scott-hawkins category-criminaljustice category-domestic-violence type-post post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/24\/domestic-violence-board-chairman-resigns-in-protest\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Domestic Violence Board Chairman Resigns in Protest\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/In-the-office-1-1.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/2025\/11\/24\/domestic-violence-board-chairman-resigns-in-protest\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Domestic Violence Board Chairman Resigns in Protest<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"753105\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-education-2 tag-education-watch tag-oklahoma-education tag-trump-administration tag-u-s-department-of-education category-education category-education-watch category-newsletters type-newspack_nl_cpt post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-a-plan-to-outsource-the-u-s-department-of-education\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Education Watch: A plan to outsource the U.S Department of Education\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/08\/Lockers-OKCPS-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-a-plan-to-outsource-the-u-s-department-of-education\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Education Watch: A plan to outsource the U.S Department of Education<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\n\t<article data-post-id=\"752880\"\n\t\tclass=\"tag-education-2 tag-education-watch tag-instructional-time tag-kfor tag-lindel-fields tag-literacy tag-oklahoma-education tag-retention tag-school-calendar category-education category-education-watch category-newsletters type-newspack_nl_cpt post-has-image\"\n\t\t\t\t>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<figure class=\"post-thumbnail\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-increasing-oklahomas-minimum-school-year-worth-a-discussion\/\" rel=\"bookmark\" tabindex=\"-1\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1\" class=\"attachment-newspack-article-block-landscape-large size-newspack-article-block-landscape-large wp-post-image\" alt=\"Education Watch: Increasing Oklahoma&#8217;s minimum school year &#8216;worth a discussion&#8217;\" data-hero-candidate=\"1\" srcset=\"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 1200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?resize=800%2C600&amp;ssl=1 800w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?resize=600%2C450&amp;ssl=1 600w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?resize=400%2C300&amp;ssl=1 400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?resize=200%2C150&amp;ssl=1 200w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?zoom=2&amp;resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1 2400w, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/oklahomawatch.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/11\/TED_3084-scaled.jpg?resize=1200%2C900&amp;ssl=1&amp;w=370 370w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 34.9rem) calc(100vw - 2rem), (max-width: 53rem) calc(8 * (100vw \/ 12)), (min-width: 53rem) calc(6 * (100vw \/ 12)), 100vw\" \/>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/figure><!-- .featured-image -->\n\t\t\n\t\t<div class=\"entry-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"entry-title\"><a href=\"https:\/\/oklahomawatch.org\/newsletter\/education-watch-increasing-oklahomas-minimum-school-year-worth-a-discussion\/\" rel=\"bookmark\">Education Watch: Increasing Oklahoma&#8217;s minimum school year &#8216;worth a discussion&#8217;<\/a><\/h3>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div><!-- .entry-wrapper -->\n\t<\/article>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>The IRS is probing Epic Charter School\u2019s finances, as the fallout from a scathing investigative audit continues. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2622484,"featured_media":695301,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"gigafact_has_fact_brief":false,"gigafact_remote_fact_brief_post_id":0,"gigafact_remote_sync_timestamp":"","gigafact_remote_sync_status":"","gigafact_remote_sync_response":"","gigafact_has_been_published":false,"newspack_ads_suppress_ads":false,"newspack_popups_has_disabled_popups":false,"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"everlit_article_id":"","everlit_hide_embed":false,"everlit_embed_size":"","everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_article_id":"","_everlit_hide_embed":false,"_everlit_embed_size":"","_everlit_generation_settings":[],"_everlit_content_hash":"","_everlit_metadata_hash":"","_newspack_byline_active":false,"_newspack_byline":"","newspack_featured_image_position":"","newspack_post_subtitle":"","newspack_article_summary_title":"Overview:","newspack_article_summary":"","newspack_hide_updated_date":false,"newspack_show_updated_date":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":true,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[13,46,523,16],"tags":[17591,8769,17590,8904,229,17587,17588,17589,8739,8907,17462,216,17592,291,6084,8795],"series":[233],"coauthors":[401],"class_list":["post-695300","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","category-government","category-news-alert","category-publicmoney","tag-attorney-general-john-oconnor","tag-ben-harris","tag-cindy-byrd","tag-community-strategies","tag-epic-charter-schools","tag-internal-revenue-service","tag-irs","tag-josh-brock","tag-oklahoma-county-district-attorney-david-prater","tag-oklahoma-state-auditor-and-inspectors-office","tag-oklahoma-state-bureau-of-investigation","tag-oklahoma-state-department-of-education","tag-open-meetings-act","tag-osbi","tag-state-auditor","tag-state-auditor-and-inspector-cindy-byrd","series-virtual-schools","entry"],"fact_brief":null,"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v26.6 - 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