Guest Commentary: Oklahoman Editorial Says 'Flap Over Online School Stokes Long-Simmering Feud'

"Twentieth-century school policies met 21st-century technology. The result wasn't pretty."
That's the opening of the Oklahoman editorial on the recent controversy over the launch of Oklahoma's first virtual school charter.
The school, Epic One, has been plagued with a series of problems that delayed its opening by more than a year.
Now, while it is enrolling students from throughout the state and getting ready to open this fall, another problem cropped up.
"Dozens of parents had their children's school plans disrupted and were left scrambling to make alternate plans. Oklahoma City schools Superintendent Karl Springer complained about a virtual charter school possibly trying to “franchise” all over the state in violation of its contract. The charter school in question — Epic One on One Charter School — maintains its on-site plans weren't actually schools. And state education officials were left to referee two issues pertaining to charter school law and school transfer policy, apparently to the full satisfaction of no one," according to the editorial.
"Sooner rather than later, either the state Education Department or lawmakers need to revisit the transfer and charter school laws with an eye toward online schooling trends," the editorial added.
Click here to read the complete editorial and read more about "the uneasy relationship" between Oklahoma's charter and traditional schools.

Guest Commentary: Oklahoman Editorial says 'Online Courses Should be Part of Education Mix'

Like so many states, Oklahoma policymakers are looking for a strategy to wisely expand the number of K-12 online education opportunities for the state's students. That's why it is significant that the editorial board of the state's leading news source declared its strong support for virtual education. "If school districts across Oklahoma aren't thinking about offering online classes, then they're out of step with today's digital world. It's one more way to reach students, particularly those who have gotten behind, need enrichment or have some other reason for needing a nontraditional approach to schooling. Failure to acknowledge this evolving approach could leave traditional districts out in the virtual cold." Click here to read the complete editorial.

Guest Commentary: EdReformer's Douglas Certs on Virtual Ed. Decisions in Oklahoma

Politicians in Oklahoma are leaning toward the Massachusetts mess up earlier this year, when it comes to drafting proposals for online virtual schools. The mainstay to this language seems to be that parents and student needs are left out of the mix. We are looking at the same issue here of physical location and committees being the rule of the game, rather than educational necessities and the ability to seek out the best high quality education for a kid.
According to a draft document with this heading: “210:16-34 Title 210 State Department of Education Chapter 16 – Curriculum and Instruction (New) Subchapter 34 – Online Course Procedures,” politicians in Oklahoma are lining up future online education and virtual charters rules to keep all the control in the hands of districts, rather than parents. They are also missing an opportunity to strengthen their charters law to enable virtual charters, like some of the successful statewide programs that run with great benefit to students elsewhere in the United States.
Click here to read the complete post on edreformer.com

Guest Commentary: Online Schooling Reshaping 21st-Century Classroom

The editorial board of the Oklahoman, which bills itself as "the most trusted news source" in Oklahoma, took a step away from the swirling controversy between a small school district that wants to create a virtual charter school and the state's Department of Education.
Instead of rehashing the same old arguments that involve Epic 1 and state education officials, the editorial acknowledges that virtual education is here to stay. What's more, it states that it's time that Oklahoma gets with it.
"A 2009 legislative task force found that the number of Oklahoma students enrolled in a full-time online program more than doubled between the 2008-09 and 2009-10 school years. Those numbers will continue to rise if the recent controversies are any indication," according to the editorial.
Click here to read the entire editorial.

Guest Commentary: Oklahoma School Board Should Continue to Eye Virtual Schooling Providers

The Oklahoman Editorial Board likes virtual schools and the direction it is taking education.
But most Oklahomans are slow to accept change. Any change. That's why the editorial board advises the state's ed board to take it slow when it comes to virtual school issues.
The newspaper's editorial says it views for-profit companies that provide curriculum, instructors, and school management with some wariness. It's not that their against the for-profits, it's just that for-profit companies being so hands-on in providing classroom experiences--even online classroom experiences.
"It's OK to wade in carefully," the editorial states. "Credible providers won't mind answering all the questions officials can muster."
Read the complete editorial here.