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Isn’t CRT Banned in Oklahoma?

Guest Post By Dayna Mooney – Chapter Chair, Moms For Liberty (Canadian County, OK)

Like many Parents, we have discovered things being taught to our children with which we disagree.

Some members have even taken it further and begun researching the curricula being used, looking into Teachers that are in our schools, books in our School Library or even considered running for a School Board seat themselves.

For me, it was the COVID lockdowns that lead me to see what my children were being taught and what they weren’t being taught, a discovery that eventually lead me to start a Chapter in Canadian County for Moms for Liberty. Moms for Liberty works to empower Parents to advocate for their children and take back their Parental Rights.

During each of our Chapter meetings, we review School Board Agendas for School Districts that are represented within our Chapter.

During the October 27th Chapter meeting of last year (2022) we discussed Out of State Approvals for Yukon Public Schools, in particular an approval for the District Social Studies Curriculum Coordinator to attend the National Council for Social Studies Conference in Philadelphia, PA, December 1-4, 2022. Curious, we researched further.

It turns out, this conference is one of the largest gathering of K-12 social studies classroom teachers in the US. While we have no idea which of the 500+ sessions this teacher chose to attend, these were the 6 Sub Themes covered in this Conference:

  1. Connecting Educators as Learners
  2. Teaching Civil Discourse
  3. Embracing Hard History
  4. Building Critical Media Literacy
  5. Fostering Global Citizens
  6. Navigating the Political Landscape in Teaching Social Studies

These were some of the Workshops/Sessions available at this Conference:

  • Teaching History for Justice
  • Critical Race Theory and Social Studies Futures
  • Be(com)ing Stranger: Towards a Posthuman Social Studies
  • Proceeding with Caution and Care: Examining Classroom Simulations Through the Lens of Educational Equity
    • Participants will investigate classroom simulations, focusing on the challenges and dangers that surround their use. Presenters will provide administrators and supervisors strategies for identifying harmful simulations and how to coach teachers away from using them and move toward more culturally responsive, culturally sensitive, and more equitable and inclusive classroom activities
  • Embracing Student Activism
    • How a Pride Flag led to lobbying in Congress: learn how a school district located on indigenous territory embraced student activism and the opportunities it created
  • Mind the Gap: Tackling Conspiracy Theories in the Classroom
    • Combatting the prevalence of misinformation available to students is a challenge in classrooms today. Discover strategies for debunking common 9/11 conspiracy theories that translate across a variety of content and subjects.
  • Exploring Primary Sources in Ethnic Studies: Using the Library of Congress to Create School District Professional Development
    • Learn how Houston ISD leveraged their Teaching with Primary Sources grant award to expand teacher access to ethnic studies knowledge, teaching resources, and curriculum
  • Teaching Critical Race Theory with Primary Source Documents
    • Learn how two educators used primary sources to support the curriculum of a dedicated Critical Race Theory class at the college level. Connections to the K-12 classroom will be shared
  • How to Teach the Truth and Not End Up in the Principal’s Office
    • The Library of Congress and the TPS Teachers Network have resources and professional support to aid educators in their quest to teach accurate history in an era of divisive topics laws.
  • Diversity and Inclusion Pedagogy for Teaching Global Learning and Leadership
    • Explore project-based instructional techniques and best practices that empower and immerse students more deeply in the Global Citizenship learning experience by utilizing diverse and inclusive student-led engagement activities
  • The 1619 Project, Critical Race Theory, Divisive Concepts Legislation: Empowering Teachers and Communities to Confront the Politicization of Social Studies
    • Unravel the politicization of the 1619 Project, Critical Race Theory, and divisive concepts legislation with other educators who seek to confront racialized rhetoric with truth
  • Fostering Community, Understanding, and Growth Through Civil Dialogue
    • Explore meaningful methods for creating, building, and fostering civil dialogue techniques with your students to increase content understanding, promote social-emotional learning, and maintain community among your students.
  • The Color of Law: Exploring Systemic Racism in Housing Policy Using PBL
    • Using the project-based learning model, U.S. History/Government teachers can position students to raise awareness of systemic racism in housing policy using Richard Rothstein’s 2017 book The Color of Law.
  • Truth and Reconciliation: Sexual Slavery During World War II
    • Inquiry about sexual slavery during World War II with embedded best Social Emotional Learning practices by examining transgressions of the past and truth and reconciliation
  • Don’t End up on the News! A Trauma-Informed Approach to Teaching Hard History
    • Don’t let the headlines scare you! New teachers, let’s talk about ways to approach hard history using trauma-informed best practices
  • Teaching Untold Stories to Inspire Children as Changemakers
    • Challenge the dominant discourse of the civil rights movement in elementary social studies and, instead, embrace teaching unsung heroes in an effort to create social justice advocates in our students
  • Combating Misinformation with Culturally Responsive Teaching
    • Explore innovative approaches for designing and implementing culturally responsive instruction. With a firm understanding of these techniques and principles, attendees will reap the benefits of these lessons
  • Reimagining Civic Action: Human Rights Close to Home
    • Hear youth scholars and educators share how Human Rights Education can serve as a blueprint for experiential learning that promotes student civic engagement and activism

As you can see, there was a theme to what was being discussed at this Conference. Any teachers in attendance will then bring what they’ve learned back to the District and share it with their fellow teachers, maybe even during a Professional Development, or other training day.

As you can see with the picture below Critical Race Theory, Cultural Relevant Pedagogy, Multicultural Education and Civil Rights Movement are all one in the same. Many use buzz words to get around Critical Race Theory laws within the State in order to continue teaching it in our Schools.

Another commonly known buzz word that we hear now is Social Emotional Learning or SEL, MANY Schools, if not all are using some type of SEL Program within our Schools. All of these are vehicles for Critical Race Theory, no matter what you call them and are designed to infringe on a Parent’s Right to educate their children in the worldview of their family. These programs promote feelings and behaviors that are not usually reflective of our teachings as the parent.

In December of 2020, CASEL (Collaborative for Academic, Social and Emotional Learning) updated their definition for SEL to showcase the value of SEL as a weapon for social justice. These SEL programs gather non-cognitive data using attributes, feelings, grit, mindsets and more that’s been gathered through various programs and different terminology. None of which can be fairly assessed with a computer.

Do you remember Common Core that’s also against the law to teach in Oklahoma? SEL, CRT are just the newest versions of Common Core, just a different name, pretty bow on the surface that ultimately pushes the same message that focuses less on academics and more on mindsets, feelings and behaviors. SEL claims to improve test scores, but as we are seeing by the latest release, it’s done the opposite. Just one of many claims, that have all proven to do the opposite.

All of these programs, no matter what you call them, get in the way of good, efficient teaching. Teachers are being asked to take on the role therapists, which they aren’t trained for, nor do they want to be therapists in most cases. Running off good teachers, to make way for the activist teachers to be the student’s parent, tell them how to think and how to hate their Country!

As Parents, we have to stand up against this agenda and do our part to get our Education System back on track! Even if your children are grown, you have a place in this fight as well! The more the merrier!

These are some results of SEL Teachings. You may already be seeing them in your School;

  • Larger Class Sizes
  • More about Diversity
  • Changes to what was once a Zero Tolerance Policy
  • Grading Policy Changes on some or all Levels
  • School(s) are becoming overpopulated

Follow the link below to see a graphic to connect CRT to SEL and more

https://drive.google.com/file/d/19j0O_0aAdQPjbazAA842ncsGfTAGxvz2/view?usp=sharing

For more information on Moms for Liberty feel free to visit www.momsforliberty.org or email me, Dayna Mooney at moms4liberty_canadiancounty@protonmail.com.

For more information on SEL, see Six Reasons Why The Oklahoma State Legislature Should Ban The Use of SEL – Social Emotional Learning Through SB1442

Senator Jett has filed SB1027 (2023) to stop the teaching of SEL.

1

An Analysis of Three Oklahoma Voucher Bills:  SB822 (Daniels, 23), SB943(Jett, 23), SB1647 (Treat, 22)

To study the Voucher (state aid – aka tax dollars/public funds – for private schools) issue in Oklahoma, I have reviewed three Oklahoma voucher bills originating in the Oklahoma Senate – one from 2022, the other two from the 2023 legislative session – and compared them against each other.

According to an article in 538 – 14 states already have universal voucher programs or are attempting them via legislation in 2023. 

Oklahoma, then, is not leading, we’re simply following the explosion of ‘universal’ voucher legislation being forwarded through the states from a variety of national, multimillion dollar private, non-profit organizations, including Milton Friedman’s EdChoice, a Charles Koch/Walton Foundation joint venture called yes. every. kid., Jeb Bush’s ExcelInEd, The Walton Family Foundation, Betsy DeVos’ American Federation for Children, and a conglomeration of many school choice advocate groups led by DeVos under the umbrella The Alliance For School Choice and Americans For Prosperity.  

Oklahoma houses state groups operating under their national parents – American Federation for Children and AFP – as well as Oklahoma-originated “choice” groups,  OCPA and Scissortail, both of which are interconnected and involved with the groups Choice Matters and the Parent Voice Oklahoma network. 

Yearly, millions of dollars are spent by ‘school choice’ advocacy groups, whose donations fund election campaigns for and against ‘choice’ candidates and lobbying efforts, instead of creating and seeding the Education Savings Accounts they spend so much money on lobbyists to force STATE TAX PAYERS to fund.

OKLAHOMA PARENTS HAVE EDUCATIONAL CHOICE

Let’s be clear.  Oklahoma parents have EDUCATIONAL CHOICE.  In fact, one of the first school “choice” organizations, EdChoice, outlines the variety of ‘choices’ available to parents in Oklahoma on their website, saying:

“Oklahoma offers K–12 students and their families several types of school choice, including two private school choice programs, charter schools, magnet schools, home schooling and inter-district public school choice via an open enrollment policy.”

So, not only does Oklahoma have a WIDE VARIETY of choices available to parents to educate their children, we also have TWO SEPARATE WAYS to help Oklahoma public school students attend PRIVATE SCHOOLS without further legislation.

If Oklahoma already has full Educational Choice, what does the term “School Choice” mean other than specifically, “universal vouchers”.

If Oklahoma already has full Educational Choice, then why must Oklahoma institute Universal vouchers?  Vouchers, like other ‘private/public’ partnerships take private schools and introduce money from the state coffers.  All state money should come with strings that provide public accountability for the money forcibly taken from the tax payer and benevolently gifted to another for use.  In that case public money MUST impose restrictions on private schools/institutions that weren’t there before the public dollars were introduced.  Thus, private becomes – in essence – public, no matter what any legislation says.

Why would Oklahomans want to be deprived of the choice of true private schools?  How does that action provide educational choice?  And for all the tin-foil-hat-wearing readers – doesn’t making all schools public provide excellent inroads toward one world government?  Just a few thoughts to mull over while reading the mechanics of the bills.

OKLAHOMA BILLS

All three bills have the same opening lines in Section 1 (the first section of New Law) – my favorite of which begins, “It is the intent of the legislature…”  Apparently the authors haven’t read the axiom about the road to hell and intent.

By my count, all three bills make the State Treasurer’s office responsible for no less than 20 EXTRA jobs – and that’s on top of the biggest job of all – accountability for a whole new Revolving Fund storing taxpayer dollars.

SB822’s (’23, Julie Daniels; co-author SB1647 ’22) voucher program is called the “Oklahoma Education Freedom Act”.  Freedom, however, isn’t provided by 7 new sections added to the overcrowded books of Oklahoma law.

SB943’s (’23, Shane Jett; co-author SB1647 ’22) voucher program is called, “The Oklahoma Parent Empowerment Act for Kids Account – or the OK PEAK Account”.  The state cannot ‘empower’ parents by taking money from their budgets by force and then offering that money to others to do something they couldn’t already do on their own budget.  That’s welfare, not empowerment. 

SB1647’s (’22 Greg Treat) voucher program was to be called, “The Oklahoma Empowerment Act”.  (To find the text of the bill, go to the Oklahoma Legislature.  From the top menu, click on “Legislation”, then click on “Advanced Bill Search”.  Type in SB1647 in left box, pull down 2022 regular session and select, then push “retrieve”.  Click on the “floor version” hyperlink as that was the bill voted on in the Senate last year.)

BASIC INFO:

DescriptionSB1647SB822SB943
Identifies the Treasury as “Agent/Agency” over created student accounts – drastically expanding that officeXXX
Number of new sections added to Oklahoma State law676
Stipulates qualifying student must be within 300% of income to qualify for free or reduced lunchX  
Calculation made for each eligible student approved to participate in the Account =  total State Aid factors including pupil category weights for the applicable school year X grade weight generated by the student for the applicable school yearXXX
Constitutional homeschoolers carved out of participation with specific language “other means of education”X––

Here I will summarize ALL parts of the bills.  In some cases, I will copy the bill word-for-word and CAPITALIZE the lettering.  These are the points that need careful consideration and the points on which I will opine in my next piece.

FYI:  ESP = Education Service Provider, OSDE = Oklahoma State Department of Education, Agency = The Oklahoma State Treasurer’s Office.  Act is used to cover EVERY Act since they are nearly 100% similar and Account is used to denote every Account though the bills give them specific names.

SPECIFIC INFO:

DescriptionSB1647SB822SB943
*Section 2 (New Law); definitions are all the same excepting Act/Account names XXX
Section 2C1; Applications made to Agency – no deadline for submissionXXX
Section 2C2; Agency establish procedures to approve applications – parents agree to: Use Account for only qualified expenses, NOT ENROLL STUDENT IN FULL-TIME PUBLIC SCHOOL, Comply w/Agency rules, NOT ACCEPT Lindsey Nicole Henry SCHOLARSHIP FOR STUDNETS W DISABILITIESXXX
Section 2C3; Antidiscrimination provision–XX
Section 2D; Student not required to be ENROLLED FULL OR PART TIME IN A PRIVATE BRICK/MORTAR OR ONLINE SCHOOLXXX
Section 2E; Accounts may be closed if: Student RE-ENROLLS IN PUBLIC SCHOOL FULL TIMEX––
Student ENROLLED FULL TIME IN PUBLIC SCHOOL–XX
Intentional misuse, Graduation, or age 21XXX
Section 2F; If student moves to PUBLIC SCHOOL deposits suspended/remitted to GR fund at year endXXX  
Section 2G1; Agency requests state aid eligibility from OSDE (via calculation listed above) Student accounts funded monthlyAgency notifies OSDE regarding account changesXXX
Section 2H; ESP can’t share/refund/rebate money to parent or student only to AccountXXX
Section 2I; PARENTS PROBHIBITED FROM DEPOSITING INTO ACCOUNTXXX
Section 2J; Account monies NOT TAXABLEXXX
Section 2K; Funds accrue monthly/yearlyXXX
Section 3 (New Law)A; Agency maintains public list of ESPsXXX
Section 3B; Agency provides Account holders information including the ROLE OF ANY PRIVATE FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT FIRM OR OTHER PRIVATE ORGANIZATION WITH WHICH THE AGENCY MAY CONTRACT TO ADMIN THE ACTXXX
Section 3C; Agency provides Account students w/disabilities notice  that PARTICIPATION IN THE ACCOUNT SHALL HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS A PARENTAL REVOCATION OF CONSENT PURSUANT TO 20 U.S.C., SECTIONS 1414(a)(1)(D) AND 1414(C) OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA) and rights parents of Account holders have under IDEA and any applicable state laws/regulations.XXX
Section 3D; AGENCY MAY CONTRACT WITH PRIVATE FINANCIAL MGT FIRM OR OTHER PRIVATE ORG TO ADMIN ACCOUNT.XXX
Section 3E; Agency may withhold funding from deposits to admin Account at 5% first 2 yrs and 3% yearly afterXXX
Section 3F; Agency SHALL establish system to pay ESPs from Account via electronic or online funds transferXXX
Section 3F1; Payment system requirementsXXX
Section 3F2; AGENCY MAY CONTRACT W PRIVATE ENTITIES TO DEVELOP PAYMENT SYSTEMXXX
Section 3G; Agency implement rating system for ESPsXXX
Section 3H; Partial payments in advance of services may be paid to ESP and then deducted from depositsXXX
Section 3I; AGENCY HAS AUTHORITY TO CONDUCT/CONTRACT FOR ACCOUNT AUDITING – SHALL CONDUCT RANDOM AUDITS OF 10% OF ACCOUNTS ANNUALLYXXX
Section 3J; Agency as authority to remove eligibility if intentional/substantial misuse of Account fundsXXX
Section 3J1; Agency creates procedures to determine misuse. If misuse by parent, student shall be eligible in future X X X
Section 3J2; Agency has authority to refer to AG for fraud investigationXXX
Section 3J3; Parents may appeal revocation of account eligibilityXXX
Section 3K; Agency may cease payments to ESP for: Intentional misrepresentation/failed to refund overpaymentsRoutine failure to provide servicesXXX
Section 3L; Agency shall create procedures for ESP sanctions, ESP must notify parents if prohibited, ESP may appeal prohibitionXXX
Section 3M; AGENCY MAY ACCEPT GIFTS AND GRANTS FROM ANY SOURCE TO SUPPORT ADMINISTRATION OF ACCOUNT TO – ADVERTISE PROGRAM – AND FUND ADDITIONAL ACCOUNTSXXX
Section 3N; Agency promulgate rules for Act Creation of anonymous online fraud reporting service, Creation of anonymous phone hotline for fraud reporting, Requiring surety bond for ESPs funded over 100KRefunding payments from ESPs back to AccountsXXX
Section 4 (New Law)A; AGENCY MAY APPROVE ESPs ON OWN INITIATIVE, AT REQUEST OF PARENTS, AT REQUEST OF A PROSPECTIVE ESP.XXx
Section 4B; Prospective ESP shall Submit notice to Agency of desire to participate and receive funds, AGREE NOT TO REFUND, REBATE, OR SHARE ACCOUNT FUNDS WITH PARENTS/STUDENTSXXX
Section 4C; Public school of Account student must provide records to PRIVATE SCHOOL ESPXXX
Section 4D; NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL LIMIT THE INDEPENCE OR AUTONOMY OF AN ESP OR MAKE THE ACTIONS OF AN ESP THE ACTIONS OF STATE GOVERNMENT. ESPs SHALL BE GIVEN MAXIMUM FREEDOM TO PROVIDE FOR THE EDUCATIONA NEEDS OF ACCOUNT STUDENTS WITHOUT GOVERNMENAL CONTROL. AN ESP ACCEPTING PAYMENTS FROM ACCOUNT AS DIRECTED BY PARENTS PURSUANT TO THIS ACT SHALL NOT BE CONSIDERED AN AGENT OF THE STATE OR FEDERAL GOVERNMENT.AN ESP SHALL NOT BE REQUIRED TO ALTER ITS CREED, PRACTICES, ADMISSIONS POLICY OR CURRICULUM TO ACCEPT PAYMENTS AS DIRECTY BY PARENTS FROM AN ACCOUNT.XXX
Section 4E; NOTHING IN THIS ACT SHALL BE CONSTRUED TO EXPAND THE REGULATORY AUTHORITY OF THE STATE, ITS OFFICERS, OR ANY PUBLIC SCHOOL TO IMPOSE ANY ADDITIONAL REGULATION OF ESPs BEYOND THOSE NECESSARY TO ENFORCE THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE ACCOUNT.XXX
Section 4F; If judicial finding of noncompliance w D/E Agency docked 5% in state funding for following fiscal year–XX
Section 4G; Account student/parent has cause of action against Agency in case of noncompliance w D/E_XX
Section 5 (New Law); Creates continuing, yearly, revolving fund for Account.  Account SHALL CONSIST OF ALL MONIES RECEIVED BY THE OFFICE OF THE STATE TREASURER FROM APPROPRIATIONS, GIFTS, GRANTS, DONATIONS AND BEQUESTS. Agency budgets, appropriates and expends Account monies. Expenditures made by Agency issued warrants.XXX
Section 6 (New Law)A; State bears burden in legal proceedings challenging application of Act to ESPXXX
Section 6B; NO LIABILITY SHALL ARISE ON PART OF AGENCY, THE STATE, A PUBLIC SCHOOL DISTRICT/CHARTER/MAGNATE SCHOOL BASED ON AWARD OF OR USE OF AN ACCOUNTXXX
Section 6C; If the Act is challenged in court, parents are allowed to defend the Act against the challengeXXX
Section 6D; The Act provisions are severable so that if one is struck by the court, the rest of the Act survivesXXX
Section 7 (New Law); An additional $274,743,402 will be appropriated to the OSDE to support public schools X 
Section 7 (Section 8, SB822); Act effective July 1, 2023XXX
Section 8 (Section 9, SB822); Emergency clauseXXX

* Selected definitions:

            4. Education Service Provider (ESP) = person, business, public school district, public charter school, magnet school, institution with The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, or organization that receives payments from a parent directing an Account to provide educational goods and/or services to Account students.

            5. Eligible Student = resident of the state eligible to enroll in a public school in the state

            6. Account student = eligible student approved to participate in Account

            7. Qualified Expenses include: tuition/fees to PRIVATE school, NON-PUBLIC ONLINE school, services contracted for and provided by a PUBLIC DISTRICT or PUBLIC SCHOOL, instructional materials, computer/technology needs, tuition/fees for extracurricular activities, NATIONALLY STANDARDIZED ASSESSMENTS, tuition/fees for summer programs, tuition/fees to a technology center school, OCCUPATIONAL/BEHAVIORAL/PHYSICAL/SPEECH-LANGUAGE/AUDIOLOGY therapies, tuition/fees concurrent enrollment, transportation fees, ANY OTHER QUALIFIED EXPENSE APPROVED BY THE AGENCY

SB943 (Jett) includes the following definitions not found in the other bills. Though the definitions are included in SB943, there is not a single place in the bill that mentions either definition:

            9. “Reporting Agency” =

                        a. parent’s state representative or senator

                        b. the board of education for the resident district of the parent, as determined by Section 1-113 of Title 70 of the OK Statutes

                        c. the State Board of Education, or

                        d. the county sheriff for the county in which the parent resides

            10. “Trigger district” = a school district in this state where (a whole range of liberal/woke concepts/activities) have been tolerated:

                        a. example; obscene books, furries, sex ed, gender identity/sexual orientation instruction

1

Did A Boy Identifying As A Girl Severely Injure A Girl In An Edmond Memorial High School Girls’ Bathroom?  What Does The Police Report Say?

October 26th of this year, at 8:14 am police were called to Edmond Memorial High School after an incident in a girls’ bathroom that left a student with an, “injury to ( ) eye, face and head with possible concussion” according to page 5 of the police report filed with the Edmond Police Department embedded below.  [Ellipses ( ) indicate redacted information.]

In fact, the incident was so significant, the testimony of the school nurse as reported by the officer on scene states, “student’s left side of face is swollen, left eye lid swollen, complains of headache, dizziness, blurry vision, denies any nausea.  ( ) complains neck pain and ice pack applied and urge medical attention” (pg 5)

Recently, the police report for this incident was obtained by ROPE from the Edmond Police Department.  Filed police reports are available to the public at large, however in this case, names and gender information have been redacted – most probably because the victim and assailant are under the age of 18 – consequently, we are able to report only on the unredacted text from the officer’s filed narrative. 

The October 26th incident report includes six written statements: three from student witnesses and one each from the school nurse, Julie Drumm, Assistant Principal, Maryjel Cochrane and Principal Brandi Wheeler.

Why would we believe this to be a case of a boy using the girl’s bathroom?  Two specific reasons.

  1.  One witness statement says the following, “I was calming a friend down and I heard screaming so I stood up, went out of the stall so if I could jump in I could they were screaming, ( ) told ( ) to leave her alone and to stop looking at ( ) and then they started screaming at each other and then ( ) throug the first hit then basically jumped on ( ) started swinging to save ( ) live cuz ( ) is a man then I tried to jump in ( ) also hit ( ) from what I saw kicked ( ) in the head and the back 2 times and then we pulled ( ) up and ( ) collapsed and then the principal walked in.” (pg 4)
  2. The officer of record writes the following: “Some of the students involved informed me that they speculated that ( ) was a ( ) but did not know for sure. ( ) is enrolled as a ( ). I asked the registrar secretary for the ( ) birth certificate, but the certificate of birth did not identify ( ) gender. Another document in the file (Paternity Affidavit) had a section where ( ) was marked as being ( ). I informed the principal W-Brandi Wheeler about the discrepancy in A-( ) school record.  W-Brandi asked her to clarify.  P-( ) stated that ( ) was born ( ) but identifies as a ( ).  P-( ) stated that ( ) has suffered a lot of emotional and mental abuse in the past and they moved here to start anew.” 

Again, with pertinent information redacted, it is impossible to be sure of anything regarding the incident except that there was a fight in a bathroom that caused one person to sustain severe injury.  We can assume it’s a girls’ bathroom, however, simply because most boys do not go into a bathroom in a group, or escape there to ‘calm down a friend’.  Additionally, we can assume there is an issue with gender aspect to the incident as one witness does appear to identify the assailant as a man and the officer narrative includes a statement from the Principal that the assailant was born one sex BUT identifies as another.

The Edmond Memorial parents who spoke to us about this say they were not made aware of this severe assault – an important incident which should have been disclosed to parents no matter who was involved.  Moreover, if this was a boy in the girls’ bathroom – an issue that ROPE does not support in any way – PARENTS HAVE A RIGHT TO KNOW.

Though there are poor souls who don’t wish to understand the concept of nature and biological fact – most men are much stronger than women (women boxers box each other, not other men, for example) – and that includes young men.

Girls/women deserve to be safe in their persons from rape or assault and to their personal PRIVACY while using bathrooms for girls/women – particularly at public schools and universities.  The example described by this police report could illustrate that fact perfectly.  Is this why this incident has not been publicly reported?  No matter the circumstances, schools should be absolutely transparent with parents about student safety. 

Apparently, Edmond Memorial, isn’t.

4

The Prison We Don’t Know We Are In

Let’s get to the root of the problem. When school personnel or school boards disrespect parents, they are teaching children to disrespect their parents. That goes against the very nature of mankind. It is destroying the health of our society physically, mentally, emotionally, socially, spiritually, financially… The ONLY reason for schools to exist is so parents have people they approve of to come alongside to assist them in educating their children. Everything educators from outside the home do should be at the request and under supervision of the parents. What we have going on now completely goes against nature and nature’s God.

Marxism is a religion that intends to destroy families so that people can be oppressed into slavery. Schools are collecting data on your family to control people. It has NOTHING to do with education. Do not submit. It is way past time to turn the tables. You collect information on them. Ask personally intrusive questions about everyone in your child’s circle from the producers of the curriculum and library books, to everyone in administration, to every person in your child’s building.

They work you for you! Would you hire them to mentor your children?

Whenever you look to government to solve a family issue, you are participating in Marxism. Marxists naturally disrespect parents. Currently, government schools want to educate, give spiritual guidance, transport, feed, entertain, counsel, and provide health care to your child. Then if you have an issue, there will be parent training available. You are surrendering your inalienable rights and the rights of your future generations. You are confining yourself to prison.

We all have different life stories and a plethora of life situations. Don’t focus on the obstacles; focus on the solutions. If something has been done before, that proves it can be done. If something has never been done before but you’re thinking about it, it may be you who breaks that glass ceiling. So consider only HOW to solve the problem for your family or for several families. It isn’t going to be by bowing before the school boards to beg them to stop abusing your children. If that’s who they are, they will never be good for your child’s education.

We often hear that there is no solution for working parents. We also hear from other working parents – single or married – that make private school or home school work. One of those who made the leap may have a solution for you. Let’s open up communication for an exchange of ideas! There are some great teachers out there now who recently retired because they see what we see as unacceptable. Churches should be concerned enough to open their doors. Let’s work on that one.

Bottom line, public schools as we know them must become obsolete. Government sponsored education is spiraling downward and the disrespect for parents and downright indecency is through the roof. Public school children are intentionally being confused and confounded. Counselors are being trained to divide children from parents. Some children even come to school dressed as animals. That has been going on for years IN OKLAHOMA! Mental illness is being promoted. The plug has been pulled; it is going down the drain. Pull your children out of the vortex. God first, family second, government…well, take a hike. Stay tuned for ideas and solutions and connections for greater possibilities for real education!

Julia Seay

2

ROPE/Chaffin Lawsuit Against Stillwater Public Schools – Request For Summary Judgement Heard Today

This beautiful October morning, Attorney Maria Seidler argued for Summary Judgement in the case of Brice Chaffin and ROPE v Stillwater Public Schools.

Yet another hurdle in the case of Brice Chaffin and ROPE against Stillwater Public Schools was met this morning (10.21.22).  

Back in July, we updated readers about our ongoing lawsuit against SPS filed on behalf of Brice Chaffin, a member of the district who had been removed from the podium during his public comment regarding the policy of SPS to allow boys in the girl’s bathrooms.  At that time, we were happy to report that Judge Kistler (Payne County Court) refused to dismiss our lawsuit against SPS, setting a further court date for today.

Don’t forget – all ROPE and Chaffin are asking for is a PUBLIC APOLOGY from SPS for their mistreatment of Chaffin.  We chose a motion of Summary Judgement (asking Judge Kistler to decide the case) to prevent further taxing the legal system, not because we didn’t believe we could win a jury trial.  Certainly we all believe we could.

This morning, Attorney, Maria Seidler, argued for the Judge to decide for our case, while SPS’s attorneys obviously argued for their side.  

We were hoping the judge would rule from the bench this morning, however, he chose to review the video of the meeting a further time before rendering a written judgement that will be sent to the attorneys representing the parties.

This was disappointing of course, as we would have liked to know the outcome of the case sooner rather than later, but Maria was eloquent in her arguments for our side and the SPS’s attorneys argument that Mr. Chaffin was an interruption to the School Board meeting that required removal action from the Board in order to proceed, rang inevitably hollow.  

Beginning to comment at 30 seconds into his 3 minute comment time, continuing to further interrupt Chaffin additional times and then having him escorted from the room via police escort couldn’t POSSIBLY have been any less of an interruption to Board business than simply letting Mr. Chaffin – who was fully civil and under his own self-possession – finish his 3 minute statement.

Certainly, as soon as we get word from the Judge regarding his decision, we will pass the information onto you.

In the meantime (and again), continue to think on these two things:

Taxpayers paid for TWO ATTORNEYS to deal with a lawsuit that could have been resolved via a PUBLIC APOLOGY for mistreatment of a parent and community member by SPS Board Members during one of their regularly scheduled open meetings.

How much money will it cost taxpayers – and how much will the ATTORNEYS MAKE OFF TAXPAYERS – to fight a suit in which SPS is clearly in the wrong and over a simple public apology?

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ROPE Endorses Dr. John Cox for State Superintendent

Every election since 2010, ROPE has announced support for a State Superintendent candidate.  We believe this position to be of paramount importance in the direction of education in our state.  This year is no different.

Four Republican candidates are vying for the State Superintendent’s chair:  Bill Crozier, April Grace, Dr. John Cox and Secretary of Education Ryan Walters.  ROPE held a candidate forum at Randall University on May 9th.  Mr. Crozier was unable to attend and April Grace backed out of her original commitment to appear.

WHY ROPE DOES NOT SUPPORT DR. APRIL GRACE

April Grace, Superintendent of Shawnee Public Schools, is under fire for allowing an alleged sexual predator to stay on the SPS staff.  In addition, her ethics filings find that her campaign is supported by American Fidelity Corp PAC, CCOSA administration, Former State Board Member Leo Baxter and Mid-Del Superintendent Rick Cobb, to name a few.  These are EXTREMELY concerning. 

Let’s not forget that American Fidelity, CCOSA and others were accused of conspiring with current Superintendent Joy Hoffmeister on a dark money PAC for her initial election.  Baxter and other State School Board members sued to stop the repeal of Common Core and, during the Oklahoma Standards re-write, spent significant time online lobbing verbal fireballs at any of us who dared to review the standards negatively.  In fact, there was an entire group of educators – including Rick Cobb – who fought any criticism of the standards during the re-write.  Anyone supported by a group of people so dedicated to the status quo and so hateful to others, need not be elected to statewide office.

BILL CROZIER

Bill is a very nice man – and a very interesting person – but, unfortunately, ROPE did not see him as a viable candidate in this race.

OUR TOP TWO CANDIDATES – Secretary Walters and Dr. Cox – WHY WE ENDORSED DR. COX

The ROPE Board interviewed both Secretary Ryan Walters and Dr. John Cox  several weeks after our Superintendent Forum.  They were very kind to take time with us – Dr. Cox via internet and Secretary Walters in person.

From our interviews and Superintendent’s forum, it’s abundantly clear both candidates love kids and are committed to pushing back against the educational status quo that so often inhibits parents from educating their children the way they see fit, but there are some divisions. 

ROPE has numerous concerns about the expansion of a voucher system in our state and fought vigorously to defeat SB1647 (2022) – the bill creating a voucher system for private schools.  Dr. Cox does not agree with implementation of a voucher system in Oklahoma.  Secretary Walters does.    

Though we also agree with Secretary Walters on many policy issues, he does not yet have the experience Dr. Cox has accumulated.  As Superintendent of Pegs School district for 28 years, Dr. Cox understands the difficulties imposed on educators – and superintendents – by unwieldy and burdensome state laws and federal programming, many of which negatively impact parental rights.

Recently, Dr. Cox stood up for the innocence of his students by telling a health official he would only give the CDC’s incredibly invasive, Youth Risk Behavioral Survey if he could send it home for parents to read.  He never received a return phone call asking the survey be administered.

History also plays a part.  Many of our Board remember Dr. Cox standing in solidarity with us and parents against Common Core – one of very few Superintendents who did.  We have witnessed him standing with parents and expect him to continue to do so. 

We appreciate Secretary Walters very much for running and we hope – no matter who wins the State Superintendent Chair – to work with both candidates in whatever capacity they find themselves.

Jenni White, ROPE President

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Press Statements and Filed Overwatch Petition Against Stillwater Public Schools on Behalf of Stillwater Community Member Brice Chaffin

Picture: Stillwater News Press

Brice Chaffin, a husband and father and member of the Stillwater, Oklahoma community, attended a Stillwater Public Schools (SPS) Board meeting, April 12th, to comment on the policy of SPS to allow transgender boys in the girl’s bathrooms. During the course of his comments, in which he referred to Biblical scripture, he was told he had violated Board policy and was removed from the podium by an armed member of the Stillwater police force. ROPE Overwatch filed a lawsuit against Stillwater Public Schools and SPS Board members in their official capacities.

Brice Chaffin’s statement to the press about the incident, given May 4th, 2022:

President of ROPE, Jenni White’s comments to the press about the lawsuit being filed by ROPE Overwatch May 4th, 2022:

Timeline of events during Brice Chaffin’s comments to the Board April 12th:

Copy of the petition filed in Payne County Court, May 4th, 2022:

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The Frontier Newspaper Blasts Oklahoma’s Every Kid Counts For Not Disclosing Its Donors, But There’s More

https://www.readfrontier.org/stories/billionaire-philanthropists-pushing-charter-schools-and-school-vouchers-also-fund-oklahomas-secretary-of-educations-six-figure-salary/

Though The Frontier blasts Every Kid Counts Oklahoma (EKCO) for not disclosing their donors, the real story here appears to be that an Oklahoma non-profit embroiled in controversy on several levels has no publicly-filed 990 since 2019.  Though there are Republicans who might dismiss information ferreted out by The Frontier as ‘biased’ or ‘ax-grinding’, the research I’ve been doing independently for some time, supports most reports made by The Frontier.

Here’s what I have found – including as always – screen shots and URL locations where you can find this information for yourself and not take my word, or the word of an ‘independent’ newspaper supported by funds from enormous leftist Tulsa donors, including Kaiser and Schusterman. 

ECKO – BEGINNINGS

{All information listed is from documents filed with the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s Office unless otherwise mentioned.}

12.6.2016 – The beginning of ECKO lies with a non-profit organization founded in December of 2016 called Upward Oklahoma, Inc.  It’s purpose was to engage in “various charitable, educational, and scientific activities in the state of Oklahoma”.  

Secretary of State filings show that the Registered Agent was Brett Farley (now Executive Director of the Catholic Conference) addressed from a post office box at the Post Office on Covell in Edmond.

The principle Incorporators were Brett Farley, Cordon DeKock (former Vice-President of Political Affairs for the Oklahoma State Chamber), addressed at 330 NE 10th Street (the address for the Oklahoma State Chamber) and Jason Reese (former General Counsel to Governor Stitt) addressed at 100 Park Avenue Suite 500.  Upward Oklahoma’s Directors are listed as the same three men.

2.10.2017 – February 10th, 2017, An Amended and Restated Certificate of Incorporation of Upward Oklahoma Inc. was made, describing it as a 501(c)(3) entity officing from the 10th Floor of Two Leadership Square and the Registered Agent as McAfee & Taft A Professional Corporation.  At that time, Jennifer Carter (former Chief of Staff to former State Superintendent Janet Barresi and Senior Advisor for American Federation for Children Oklahoma) and Kyle Beauregard (a tax manager from Oklahoma) were added to the list of incorporators.

3.30.2020 – Upward Oklahoma is re-named ECKO (Every Kid Counts Oklahoma, Inc.).

Interestingly, the Scissortail Community Development Corporation, a non-profit organization that houses the Choice Matters school choice program headed, until recently, by Robert Ruiz (now the Executive Director of External Affairs At Oklahoma City Community College) and funded in large part by grants from the Walton Foundation, filed for trade name reports for ECKO and Every Kid Counts Oklahoma, January 14th, 2020.  March 30, 2020, both were withdrawn.

Under the March 30 filing, the business is described as being located at 16212 Sonoma Park Drive in Edmond (a building housing Atlas Construction) and Trent Smith (Governor Stitt appointee to the Oklahoma State School Board) is listed as ‘President’.  Smith’s LinkdIn account also verifies that he carried this title.  AJ Griffin (former state Senator and Director of Government and Community Affairs for PayCom) is listed as the Secretary of ECKO.

12.3.2021 – Finally, in December of 2021, the address for ECKO is changed to 309 NW 13th Street, Suite 103, OKC (the site of the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center) and the President is listed as Jake Yunker (former Policy Director for Governor Mary Fallin and the President of the Board of ECKO) and the Treasurer listed as Cory Christofferson (Vice-President of Corporate Banking at Bank of Oklahoma and ECKO Board Member)

ECKO – TAX FILING

From 2016 to 2019, it appears that Brett Farley dutifully posted 990-N postcards for the non-profit Upward Oklahoma from the post office box on Covell.

But after that – filing stops.  The IRS has no record of anything filed after 2019.

ECKO – TAXES AND TIMELINE

From 2016 until March of 2020 when Upward Oklahoma is re-named Every Kid Counts Oklahoma, little seems to have happened in the life of the organization.  In fact, it looks like the State Chamber and friends were considering a new school choice venture at some point and secured a non-profit filing with the Secretary of State toward that end.  In fact, a June 26, 2020, press release verifies that “Oklahoma Achieves Transitions To [a] New Reform Initiative” called “Every Kid Counts”.

No harm, no foul – lots of people create organizations, even changing names and personnel along the way.  

The State Chamber ran the initiative, Oklahoma Achieves, from 2013 to 2020 – fighting FOR the Common Core State Standards along the way – and hiring Secretary of Education Ryan Walters in May of 2019.  Walters then became CEO of the transition initiative ECKO. 

There is no line item on the Oklahoma Achieves 990 filing for 2019 for a ‘Ryan Walters’ salary and the IRS has no public 2020 990 filing for Oklahoma Achieves at all.  Walters worked for Achieves until he was named CEO of ECKO in the summer of 2020.

This is also the case with ECKO – there are no public IRS filings for 2020 or 2021 for an organization that – today – reports having six employees, (though according to their LinkdIn profiles, it appears 2 may be contract employees and 3 were hired in 2021 – April, August and December) and CEO – Ryan Walters – who makes over $100,000 dollars per year. 

According to The Frontier, Every Kid Counts produced ‘tax forms’ (there was no specific information provided as to what kind or for what year) after a month of asking.  They also report these ‘tax forms’ showed that ECKO raised just under $140,000 in 2020 – nothing is reported for 2021.  Of interest on those ‘tax forms’ should be the salaries and expenses of ECKO compared to the $140,000 raised.  Where’s that information?

ECKO – DONORS

I’m going to make this very clear:  I don’t fault any non-profit for raising funds – that’s what a non-profit does to advance their mission statement.  I do think, however, that the public should know who the largest donors of non-profits are, as that provides an idea of that organization’s political lean.  

Our organization also believes that if Ryan Walters is directing education policy as the Governor Stitt-appointed Secretary of Education, his work for an education non-profit (501(c)(3)) where there is a LOT of crossover, should be 100% transparent because of the ethics concerns this type of situation generates – how easy is to push the agenda of ECKO through legislative policy when the CEO of ECKO is a legislative liaison?  

The Frontier has reported that some of ECKO’s funds come from The Walton Foundation.  This I cannot corroborate.  The Walton Foundation has a very transparent search tool in their grant database that identifies the organizations to which they donate and no search ever returned a grant for “Every Kid Counts” or “ECKO”.  The Walton Foundation filed an extension on their 2020 990’s and don’t have a publicly filed 2021 990 via the IRS, so there was no way to corroborate via that method either.  

The Walton Foundation DID provide a total donation of $500,000 for Oklahoma Achieves over three years (2017, 2019, 2020), however, under the name Oklahoma Education Excellence Initiative.  If the Walton grant was given to ECKO under a different name, I didn’t find that either. 

I did locate a $10,000 donation to ECKO from the Koch/Walton start-up non-profit, Yes. Every kid, for 2020.

It is of interest that the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center – the building in which ECKO offices, has received MILLIONS of dollars from The Walton Foundation over the years, but then OPSCR is very transparent that it is funded via “annual membership fees [and] 4 foundations that fund the OPSRC: The George Kaiser Family Foundation, The Inasmuch Foundation, The Charles & Lynn Schusterman Foundation, & The Walton Family Foundation.”  According to the filed 990 for 2020, OPSCR collected 3.7 million dollars in funding.  It also had a payroll of 1.3 million and gave grants to schools in excess of 2.6 million dollars.

Suffice it to say, ECKO has a long, interesting history and discovering exactly how ECKO has supported Ryan Walter’s $100,000 + salary and numerous employees on the $140,000 reported by The Frontier, has raised more questions for yet another blog.  

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PRESS RELEASE – NOTICE OF AVAILABILITY 5.2.22

RECLAIM OKLAHOMA PARENT EMPOWERMENT (ROPE)

Contact: Jenni White, President . 405-473-8801 . jenni@ROPE2.org

STILLWATER PARENTS, PASTORS AND GOP MEMBERS – ROPE BOARD MEMBERS AND ROPE LEGAL OVERWATCH ATTORNEY – WILL COMMENT ON LEGAL ACTION TO BE TAKEN AGAINST STILLWATER PUBLIC SCHOOLS WITH AVAILABILITY FOR QUESTIONS.

Wednesday, May 4th, 2022 – 4:00pm – World Harvest Church, 1718 West Lakeview Drive, Stillwater

A gathering of Stillwater community members and parents will be available for comments and questions regarding legal action to be taken by a Stillwater parent and ROPE against Stillwater Public Schools Board of Education members relating to the Stillwater Public Schools regular Board of Education meeting, April 12th, 2022.

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