As a new school year gets underway, I know firsthand the unique mix of excitement and intensity this season brings. Students are returning, new families are being welcomed, staff are settling into routines, and school leaders and governing boards are once again balancing the many responsibilities that come with serving students well.

At the Oklahoma Statewide Charter School Board, we want you to know that we are here not only to provide oversight, but also to provide support, direction and clarity as you navigate those responsibilities.

While many of you were taking well-deserved breaks this summer, our team was also working on several initiatives that will shape our work with charter schools in the months ahead. We began the process of revising agency rules related to charter applications, performance frameworks and contracts. We also convened a steering committee to help guide the development of rules implementing House Bill 3372, which created the Revolving Loan Fund Program for Charter School Capital Expenditures.

In each of these areas, we believe the strongest policies are informed by the experiences of those doing the work every day. We have sought, and will continue to seek, feedback from Oklahoma’s charter community in this rulemaking progresses. You can expect us to share additional information in the weeks and months ahead.

We will also be sharing informing next week about the establishment of an Oklahoma Charter School Hall of Fame. After a period of accepting nominations, we will convene an independent selection committee to select inaugural inductee(s) and announce the selection(s) in November at Momentum: the 2026 Annual Oklahoma Charter Schools Conference. So, be checking your inboxes next week for details!

Speaking of Momentum, we know many school leaders and educators were focused on summer priorities when registration opened, so if you have not yet registered, please do so now. It will be an important opportunity for our charter community to connect, learn and look together toward what comes next. A link to registration and more information is below at the end of this newsletter.

As the school year begins, please know how much we value the work you are doing for Oklahoma students and we stand ready to support you throughout the year!

Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson, Executive Director

Open meetings and records requirements can feel like a legal minefield, but they do not have to. Join Assistant Attorney General Thomas Schneider for a practical, plain-English walkthrough of Oklahoma’s Open Meeting and Open Records Acts and recent updates.

This session is essential for charter school leaders and board members who want to govern confidently, transparently and within the law. It is free and approved for one-hour training credit for school board members. As with all of our monthly Lunch & Learns, the format for this training is a live webinar from noon to 1 p.m.

September 24: Demystifying Oklahoma's School Report Cards: How Data Literacy Drives School Success

Data is only powerful when you know how to read and act on it. This session will demystify oklaschools.com, showing one how to navigate the Oklahoma State Department of Education's public accountability dashboard and school report cards and the vast amount of student assessment data. Participants will leave the session better prepared to ask the right questions, communicate results clearly to families, and use data not just for compliance, but as a practical tool for school improvement. REGISTER

October 22: Breaking Through Noise: What Parents Want & Need from School Communication

Your school may be communicating constantly but are families actually hearing you? Drawing on SchoolCEO research, Jamie Ronck of Little Rock-based Apptegy, which works with schools across the country, will reveal which channels parents prefer, which school voices they trust the most, and why sending more messages is not the same as communicating effectively. Learn how to audit your communication practices, align messaging districtwide, and employ an intentional strategy that builds stronger family trust. REGISTER