Oklahoma FOIA Documents
Oklahoma
The Oklahoma emails, like those from some of the other states, contain the Foundation for Excellence in Education's national plans. A notable omission in the Oklahoma emails is Supt. Barresi's acknowledgement of an email from FEE CEO Patricia Levesque urging to Barresi and others to encourage teachers in their states to use SendHub, a product Jeb Bush had invested in. Barresi's response to Levesque was included in public records provided by Rhode Island because officials in that state were cc'd on the emails.The Oklahoma emails reveal some facts specific to the state's education policymaking:
- Superintendent Barresi being introduced to Scott Laband, the vice president of Colorado Succeeds, for a forum with Stand for Children Colorado.
- Superintendent Barresi as a guest of Louis A. Piconi--Founder & SVP Strategic Activities, Apangea Learning Inc., a distance learning company--to an event he hosted for Tony Bennett and Jeb Bush.
- Regulatory drafting and revisions being performed by the Foundation for the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
- Superintendent Barresi asking for Foundation assistance in drafting its ESEA flexibility request to the federal Department of Education.
Connections to other Education Reformers and Education CompaniesIn a June 7, 2011 email, the Foundation’s Patricia Levesque introduced Superintendent Barresi to a Colorado education reformer, Scott Laband of Colorado Succeeds, in the hopes of getting the Superintendent to a forum co-hosted by Stand for Children Colorado on a test based promotion policy in 3rd grade. Also, in an October 7, 2011, email the Superintendent accepted an invitation from the founder of a digital learning company to be his guest at an event he hosted for Tony Bennett and Jeb Bush. Waiver Assistance from the Foundation On August 12, 2011 Superintendent Barresi wrote to the Foundation and the Chiefs:Good afternoon: I was asked by my Governor to compose this letter that would go out to Duncan next week. The internal politics of this is that Gov. Fallin does not want our waiver request to appear to be skirting the work of Congress r chairman Klein. I agree with that. This is why we are asking for a three year waiver with an option to go an additional year. Please note that I am sending you a draft that will be a work in progress with the governor next week. Comments?
Superintendent Barresi leaned on the Foundation for assistance with the Department of Education. On August 10, 2011, she wrote Levesque:
Finally, in October 2011, the Superintendent’s staff received an email about waiver assistance from the Foundation:
Regulatory Assistance from the Foundation
The Department of Education relied on the Foundation for regulatory drafting assistance. A Department of Education staffer emailed the Foundation on August 22, 2011:
Attorneys at the state Department of Education sought input from Foundation staff on regulations they were drafting. On February 8, 2012, an assistant general counsel of the Department emailed the Foundation:
