Stories

News Story  |  January 20, 2021

The state of Oklahoma launched a program last summer to help low-income families keep their students in private schools. The Stay in School Fund tuition assistance program, launched by Governor Kevin Stitt in July, is said to have exceeded expectations in ensuring low-income families who suffered a COVID-19 related job loss or demonstrated financial challenges could keep their child in their learning environment.

"Our Stay in School program has successfully supported more low-income children and their families than officials predicted for a fraction of the cost,” said Gov. Stitt. “By ensuring these children could remain within their educational support system amidst a global pandemic, we have provided critical stability for families who need it most.”

The governor's office provided a press release about the program, which included personal testimonies from three Oklahoma families about how the program impacted them. Those statements are included below.

The Stay in School Fund program used $10 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, provided through the federal CARES Act, to help stabilize Oklahoma’s education system and reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences by providing temporary funds to students currently attending private schools whose continued attendance was threatened by the financial fallout of COVID-19.

Read more about the new program keeping low-income Oklahoma students in private school.

News Story  |  January 20, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – Oklahoma’s Stay in School Fund tuition assistance program surpassed expectations in ensuring low income private school students have educational stability after their families either lost jobs or struggled financially because of the COVID-19 pandemic, according to Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office.

Stitt launched the program in July 2020.

“Our Stay in School program has successfully supported more low-income children and their families than officials predicted for a fraction of the cost,” Stitt said. “By ensuring these children could remain within their educational support system amidst a global pandemic, we have provided critical stability for families who need it most.”

The news release states that $10 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief Fund, provided through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, went to the Stay in School Fund program to help stabilize the state’s education system and provide temporary funds to students attending private schools whose continued attendance was threatened by the financial hardship caused by COVID-19.

The program largely helps low-income families, according to the news release.

“More than one out of every five children benefitting from the program came from a home with income at 100% of the federal poverty level (FPL) or lower, which equates to a family of four with $26,200 or less in annual income. Nearly 60% of recipients were from families with incomes at 185% of the FPL or less, or $48,470 for a family of four,” the news release states.

Read more about the Stay in School Fund tuition assistance.

Press Release  |  January 20, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY (January 20, 2021)— The Stay in School Fund tuition assistance program, launched by Governor Kevin Stitt in July 2020, has exceeded expectations in ensuring low-income families who suffered a COVID-19-related job loss or demonstrated financial challenges could maintain consistency in their child’s learning environment.

"Our Stay in School program has successfully supported more low-income children and their families than officials predicted for a fraction of the cost,” said Gov. Stitt. “By ensuring these children could remain within their educational support system amidst a global pandemic, we have provided critical stability for families who need it most.”

“I am a single mother of two who attend a Christian school. As is, I struggle to send them there, but I make the sacrifices necessary because I think Christian education is important. I work two jobs, which both have been very much affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. With everything that’s happened I knew I couldn’t afford tuition. I am more than grateful to have been given the opportunity for my kids to stay in their school and have some sense of normalcy." – Josephine Shaw, mother of Stay in School Fund students

“Without Governor Stitt’s support and the generosity of the ‘Stay in School fund’ program, my daughter would have not been able to continue her education within the private school sector. Due to a recent terminal diagnosis, my family has had a sudden shift in all areas, but thanks to Governor Stitt and his God-fearing heart, my daughter did not have to take a sudden shift in her education, teachers, and friends. No amount of gratitude can suffice.” – Teresa Ponce, mother of a Stay in School Fund student

“Our family came here to Oklahoma due to business opportunities, but COVID lent to further difficulty as we, like many, had to close one business and I lost one of my two part-time jobs. Your grant program came at just the right time for our family. We were so thankful to have been given the opportunity to apply. When we learned we had been approved, it lifted a huge weight. We truly appreciate Governor Stitt for advocating for our kids. From a full heart, we can’t say ‘thank you’ enough!” – Dawn Hughes, mother of a Stay in School Fund student

The Stay in School Fund program used $10 million from the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief(GEER) Fund, provided through the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act, to help stabilize Oklahoma’s education system and reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) by providing temporary funds to students currently attending private schools whose continued attendance was threatened by the financial fallout of COVID-19.

Read more about the Stay in School Fund supporting students and families.

News Story  |  January 16, 2021

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) – The digital learning initiative Learn Anywhere Oklahoma is reopening the window for PreK-12th grade schools to claim credits for free digital learning resources to support educational needs during the pandemic.

Learn Anywhere Oklahoma was launched by Gov. Kevin Stitt in August 2020 and has “provided flexibility to districts to expand course options and provide virtual learning tools to meet individual student needs all while keeping them enrolled and engaged in the district,” according to a news release issued by the Governor’s Office.

“Programs like Learn Anywhere Oklahoma that provide quality resources to our students while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources are exactly what Oklahoma needs,” Stitt said. “We went into the fall semester unsure of what learning was going to look like. The Oklahoma Supplemental Online Course Program partnered with the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center to put together a program that has given our brick-and-mortar public schools flexibility and nimbleness to enhance their local education plans and to keep schools open and serving all students well and seamlessly.”

Read more about Oklahoma school districts claiming credits.

Learn Anywhere Oklahoma has provided flexibility to districts to expand course options and provide virtual learning tools to meet individual student needs all while keeping them enrolled and engaged in the district.

Roughly $1.2 million in unclaimed credits are available to all school districts until funds are depleted on a first come, first served basis. School districts can claim these credits by visiting https://www.learnanywhereok.org or calling the help desk at (405) 645-7750.

“I have been thrilled to witness the success of Learn Anywhere Oklahoma in bridging the gap in education resources and courses no matter where a student lives or chooses to attend school in our state,” said Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters. “Partnerships between virtual education entities and brick-and-mortar schools have never been in higher demand, and we must continue to cultivate these collaborations to empower Oklahoma students, parents, and educators with expanded access to quality education well into the future.”

The virtual curriculum provider Edmentum has also agreed to return early $900,000 in unclaimed program funds for reallocation through the Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) fund.

“Programs like Learn Anywhere Oklahoma that provide quality resources to our students while being responsible stewards of taxpayer resources are exactly what Oklahoma needs,” said Gov. Stitt. “We went into the fall semester unsure of what learning was going to look like. The Oklahoma Supplemental Online Course Program partnered with the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center to put together a program that has given our brick-and-mortar public schools flexibility and nimbleness to enhance their local education plans and to keep schools open and serving all students well and seamlessly.”

Read more about Learn Anywhere Oklahoma reopening.

News Story  |  January 11, 2021

The Payne County Budget Board approved the fifth and sixth disbursements of CARES Act funds Monday. County Clerk Glenna Craig advised the board that Payne County has received $1.445 million from CARES Act funds.

Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act in March of 2020. The Act approved over $2 trillion of economic relief from the COVID-19 virus pandemic. Oklahoma received $1.2 billion of CARES Act funds. The act established a coronavirus relief fund for local governments to obtain reimbursement for necessary expenditures incurred due to COVID-19 from March 1 to Dec. 30.

Kyla McCombs, purchasing agent for the Payne County Clerk’s office, has been submitting expenses for reimbursement through a computer portal approved by a CARES FORWARD team created in May by Gov. Kevin Stitt to provide oversight and maximize the distribution of federal funds to cities and counties.

The first requests for reimbursement dealt with reimbursement for expenditures for cleaning supplies and personal protective equipment. McCombs developed a spread sheet with 17 qualifying categories to submit for reimbursement.

Read more about Payne County receiving $1.44 million in COVID relief.