Audit of Oklahoma virtual school reveals numerous problems

(AP) Oklahoma’s state auditor has released a scathing audit of Epic Charter Schools, an online public school that has become the largest in the state. Auditor Cindy Byrd said Thursday Epic used a “remarkably complex” infrastructure to divert tens of millions of taxpayer dollars into a for-profit business controlled by the school’s two founders and its chief financial officer. The 120-page audit reviewed the school’s finances from 2015-2020. Epic spokeswoman Shelly Hickman says officials haven’t reviewed the entire audit, but described Byrd’s press conference as “political theatrics” and says that they dispute many of the findings.