We hope this issue of Charter Connect finds you well and that your school is readying for state testing and the final stretch of the 2025-2026 school year! There were just a few things we wished to bring to your attention amid this busy time of the year:

Our 2026 annual conference is scheduled, and we encourage you to get your board members and key staff registered before the summer months begin. Registration and the room block for the conference is now open. VISIT THE CONFERENCE WEB PAGE for more details.
We will be sending out a call for proposals for conference presentations this month and we hope you and/or your staff will submit proposals to present. We learn best from one another and want you to share at the conference any unique endeavors or strategies at your school that are producing results for students. Please watch your inbox for a link to submit a proposal, likely late next week!
Take advantage of free professional development opportunities we are offering your staff and school board members each month. We are also partnering with organizations such as Fuel OKC (see a great opportunity below for your board members on April 24!) to ensure your board has access to high-quality training that is state-approved.

Until next time, our best wishes for a smooth and productive testing season as this school year winds down!

Dr. Rebecca Wilkinson, Executive Director

April 23 Lunch & Learn

Board Approved Budgeting Simplified!

All charter schools should have board-approved annual budgets that clearly delineate for both the Board being asked to approve them and the public viewing them what revenues the school anticipates having and exactly where the school is to be spending those funds. While many schools rely on the Estimate of Needs (EON), the EON is not a budget. This session will break down the basics that all school board members should know in working with their school leader to approve a budget, and it will be led by Dr. Tom Deighan, a seasoned Oklahoma superintendent, consultant and assistant professor at East Central University who also is currently serving as interim superintendent for Western Gateway Charter School. Dr. Deighan has supported charter schools across Oklahoma and is a bright mind in the area of school finance with a knack for drilling it down for others to easily understand. While all of our Lunch and Learns are approved for training credit for school board members, this session also is approved for encumbrance clerks & treasurers. Do not miss it and secure your seat today!

Fuel OKC - Bellwether Opportunity

Charter Board Governance Academy!

Join board governance experts from Bellwether the morning of April 24 from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. for an "OKC Charter Board Governance Academy." Underwritten and hosted by Fuel OKC at the Verge in Oklahoma City, this session is state approved for three hours of training credit in Ethics, and is designed for current and prospective board members and school leaders who:

Are interested in serving on a charter school board
Want to be stronger, more effective board members
Want to better understand their role and gain practical tools to lead and support their schools
Care about helping students succeed

This training is free and will include breakfast and refreshments. For more information, email foluke@fuelokc.org or simply register at the link below!

May Lunch & Learn

Insights from the Annual Charter Schools Report!

This session will highlight key findings from the interactive 2025 Annual Report of Oklahoma Charter Schools - to be released April 13 -- giving participants a clear snapshot of performance, operations, and outcomes across the sector. It also will take a strategic look back over the past three years to identify meaningful trends, celebrate areas of strength, and zero in on opportunities for continued growth and improvement. Whether you are a board member, school leader, or policymaker, this session will not disappoint. The SCSB is getting a lot of attention from the nation charter sector for this interactive annual report, and we are excited to present it to our local stakeholders and gather ideas for adding even more features for the 2026 data!

June 18 Lunch & Learn

2026 Legislative Review for Charter Schools & Boards

The 2026 legislative session is nearing completion and, on June 18, Barry Schmelzenbach, the executive director of the Oklahoma Charter Schools Association, will break it all down for us! This one-hour, live webinar beginning at noon CST, will focus on legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor during 2026 that will impact charter schools during the 2026-2027 school year. This training also will forecast issues impacting charter schools that could potentially be raised or re-raised during the 2027 legislative session. Get this on your calendars now and sign up below!

Gain Momentum at the 2026 Annual Conference