EPIC Charter Schools Agrees to Pay Back More Than $9M to Oklahoma

OKLAHOMA CITY (KOKH) — EPIC Charter Schools has agreed to pay back more than $9 million to the state.

The move comes after an investigative audit found EPIC owners were taking 10 percent of every dollar EPIC received to provide “administration and management” to the school. That exceeds the five percent cap in state law.

The audit also found false invoices were used to siphon off millions in taxpayer dollars.

State auditor Cindy Byrd released a statement after the Department of Education approved receiving those funds from EPIC.

She says EPIC was a public school district funded 100 percent by taxpayers and her office had a duty to make sure they were spending the money properly.

She says she’s still waiting for legal action to hold the two owners accountable.