[This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox.]

A high school senior says Harding Charter Preparatory High School denied her the opportunity to take college classes next semester through concurrent enrollment. School leaders say she didn’t ask in time, and adding college classes to her schedule now may jeopardize her ability to graduate.

The Harding Independence school board denied her appeal Monday. So the student, whose name is Anne Daniel according to public documents, emailed members of the state Board of Education, who discussed her dilemma at its meeting Thursday.

Under state law, schools can’t prohibit a student who meets the requirements for concurrent enrollment from participating. One of the requirements is that students have a signed form from the school district no later than the spring of their senior year.

But Harding’s policy says seniors must get the letter from their principal in the spring of their junior year. That’s because Harding (which routinely ranks among the state’s best schools) requires 28 credits for graduation, above the state minimum of 23.

“There is no wiggle room for errors,” superintendent Steven Stefanick told the state board, explaining that if students and staff can plan ahead for concurrent enrollment, they can ensure students meet the graduation requirements, too.

Other students have requested concurrent enrollment past the deadline, and they were denied, so it would be unfair to not follow the district’s policy, Stefanick wrote to the student on Oct. 26.

Daniel had told him her financial situation has changed since her junior year and even one semester of concurrent enrollment could save her thousands in tuition. “I love and appreciate my classes at Harding, however, I need to act in my best interest for financial stability in the future,” she wrote.

Though state board members did not take action Thursday, their comments leaned toward pressing the school to acquiesce.

“Is there some exception to this?” board member Sarah Lepak asked. “If you have people who didn’t meet the deadline junior year?”

“This makes no sense. You’re telling them what’s best for them,” board member Brian Bobek said. The board is expected to revisit the issue at its next meeting.

Have a comment or a story tip? I’d love to hear from you via email or direct message.

— Jennifer Palmer

Recommended Reading

  • By combining its two schools into a single, unified school system, Epic Charter Schools’ board says it has solved the vast majority of deficiencies found by oversight agencies. [Tulsa World]
  • On the first nationwide test since the pandemic, scores on the Nation’s Report Card plummeted to levels not seen in 20 years. What do the scores tell us about remote learning? [The Daily podcast]
  • Research shows play is essential for well-adjusted and resilient children. [The Hechinger Report]
  • A new, online portal to report problems in Oklahoma schools has received two dozen complaints since it launched in late October. A link to the portal, called Awareity, is linked on the state Education Department website. [KOSU]

Tweet Watch

New on Oklahoma Watch

Long Story Short: Straight Party Voting? Check

Paul Monies deconstructs the midterm election turnout. Keaton Ross examines voting rights and legislation. Jennifer Palmer details what the midterms mean for Oklahoma education. [Read more]

A Lawmaker Seeks to Make Oklahoma Top-10 State For Women, Omits Abortion From Study

Domestic violence and economic inequalities were among the topics discussed. Abortion, and the consequences of outlawing it in Oklahoma, was not. [Read more]

Interactive: Gubernatorial Precinct Map Shows Rural, Suburban Dominance For GOP 

Check out the interactive map to see gubernatorial results in your precinct. [Read more]

Help Us Make a Difference

Oklahoma needs high-quality investigative journalism. That is our mission at Oklahoma Watch. We produce stories that hold government and public officials accountable and that make transparent what some prefer to keep secret. We depend on financial support from readers like you to sustain our coverage. Help us make a difference.


Support our publication

Every day we strive to produce journalism that matters — stories that strengthen accountability and transparency, provide value and resonate with readers like you.

This work is essential to a better-informed community and a healthy democracy. But it isn’t possible without your support.

Creative Commons License

Republish our articles for free, online or in print, under a Creative Commons license.