By Linda Murphy

DEI- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion; CRT- Critical Race Theory; Queer Theory; and SEL- Social Emotional Learning are all part of “Transformational Education”

School Choice Options are not exempt from the infiltration of the radical agenda that many parents are trying to escape.

From Part 1: “This Radical transformation in education is aggressively supported and driven by the Federal government, State government agencies, outside organizations, elected officials, global corporations, billionaire philanthropists, social engineers, community organizers and other influencers, who with money and power are determined to force the radical changes they deem necessary for workforce training and global citizenship. This powerful alliance is exactly why great numbers of citizens must work together in a strong “grassroots” network to retain and/or regain our proper role in representative government, including local schools where we elect school boards.”

The goal of the social engineers is being realized through transformational programs and processes at a level we have not seen before. While many Oklahomans are rightfully concerned about what is taught in the local public school, they have not seen that this ideology is also being implemented in some Charter Schools.

CHARTER SCHOOLS

EPIC Charter School, for example, has undergone changes of management and governing structure following the State Auditors’ report. The new board and management have been seen by the public as a new beginning to change the way the school has operated financially. Yet, few people are aware of the progressive changes that are being made in the curriculum and education philosophy under the new board.

In the transition from EPIC’s founders to a new board and governing structure, a national non-profit organization, Education Board Partners (EBP) was hired to help. The EBP website says they “recruit board members for schools that need deeper skills, relevant experience, and more diversity. We engage deeply with boards around their goals, recruit talented and motivated people, train them in effective and equity-focused governance, and personally connect them with boards that need their skills and experience.” (Note - Charters do not have elected school boards so there is not direct representation of the public who pay the taxes to fund the schools.)

Once the “new” EPIC Charter School board was in place, changes in ideology, education philosophy and curriculum soon started, including:

The flag salute and a moment of silence at the board meetings were stopped.

A power point presentation was delivered to the board by EPIC’s Superintendent showing the focus and emphasis that would now be placed on “LGBTQ” rights and on creating “Diversity” in EPIC Charter Schools.

Parents started finding DEI ideology imbedded in EPIC’s curriculum.

The “new” EPIC partner, EBP, led by CEO, Carrie Irvin, and the new EPIC Chairman, Paul Campbell, whom she recommended, wasted no time in making the radical changes. The EBP website says: “We are especially proud of our leadership to help bring more diversity to boards and education leadership. Diversity, equity, and inclusiveness are top priorities for us in our work with boards and stakeholders and in our recruiting efforts, as well as with regard to our team. Diverse boards are stronger boards, and the boards of public schools must represent and reflect the students and communities they serve.”

CEO, Carrie Irvin also leads a sister organization, School Board Partners, which has been training public school boards around the nation with their stated goal of “building anti-racist school boards.” A report from inside the organization in November 2021 states; “Racial Equity Grantees, School Board Partners received a $1.5 million dollar grant from the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to further the goal of training 2,500 school board members across the U.S. over the next decade.”

From the article “Zuckerberg Awards Millions to Anti-White Education Groups”:

“Chan Zuckerberg Initiative has given millions as part of their expansive Racial Equity Grants initiative. The Racial Equity Grants are comprised of ‘a Five-Year, $500 Million Commitment’ to ‘advance racial equity, diversity, and inclusion.’”

“School Board Partners is ready to shift the representation gap between school board members and the communities in which they serve, as well as provide those school board members with racial equity training such that they’re able to lead long-term systemic change.”

These changes made at EPIC Charter Schools, the awarding of unapproved $8.6 million in bonuses to top management by the superintendent, and several reports of inappropriate behavior, were concerns for the EPIC Board Vice Chairman, Dr. Kathren Stehno who resigned and filed an official complaint. The State Department of Education, under State Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, reported in June that they investigated the complaint and she invited an EPIC board member to come to the podium and explain how they are clearing up any problems or concerns. Hofmeister has proven her dedication to pushing the agenda for social change and that she will not let anything get in the way of keeping the people she wants in place.

We must make sure that parents’ rights are upheld and work to provide education options that do not undermine their values and families. We must closely evaluate what the state funded choices are and look deeply into what is being taught to our children. The citizens of Oklahoma pay the taxes, which fund Charter Schools. Like regular public schools, Charter schools must be made more transparent and accountable to the people!

The first part of this article was in the Spring 2022 edition. That article will provide a fuller understanding of this issue and gives some examples of how it is affecting Oklahoma’s K-12 grade public schools. It is available online at: www.Oklahomaconstitution.com

Linda Murphy was Oklahoma Governor Keating’s Education Advisor, Deputy Commissioner of Labor for Workforce Education and Training, Administrator of the Eastern Oklahoma Department of Labor, Member of the State Job Training Coordinating Council, and the Governor’s School-to-Work Council. She was a candidate for State Superintendent of Public Instruction in 1994, 1998 and 2018. Murphy was appointed by Governor Keating as Secretary of Education, but was denied confirmation by the majority Democrat Education Committee, following her 49.5% statewide vote in 1994. She also served on the Governor’s Commission on the Status of Women. More recently, she has served as Chairman of the Oklahoma Republican Party’s Committee on Education. You may contact Linda at: lindalearn1@yahoo.com