U.S. Dept. of Ed. investigating whether OSDE is misusing federal money for substitute teaching program

OKLAHOMA CITY (KFOR) — More than a dozen Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) employees are being tasked with substitute teaching in Tulsa Public Schools, but how they're being paid has been brought into light and now has the U.S. Department of Education asking questions.

Tulsa Public Schools has confirmed with KFOR that 16 OSDE employees are scheduled to support a spring pilot of the Oklahoma Teacher Empowerment Program in the district March 25-April 12.

"Their support was offered by OSDE to help facilitate rapid implementation of an OTEP pilot in TPS. OTEP teachers in TPS who qualified and applied for the 'Advanced' designation will be placed in specific, designated schools and classrooms for portions of 1-2 days each week to deliver small-group ELA instruction in advance of the April administration of the OSTP. Meanwhile, OSDE employees will support by covering the OTEP teachers' regularly assigned classes, ensuring that these classes and students continue receiving high-quality instruction from certified educators," stated a Tulsa Public Schools spokesperson.

One of the OSDE employees subbing in Tulsa confirmed they're being paid through federal dollars, even raising questions prior to the pilot program kicking off.

Sources tell News 4 one of the OSDE employees subbing in Tulsa is paid through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act grant.

"I would say that would not be under the purview [of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act] unless that class was a class of students with disabilities. If it's a regular classroom, then no, that would not be under the purview of allow-ability for that grant funding," said Grissom. "The only thing that I could see is if Tulsa Public Schools could prove that one of the students in that classroom had an IEP, then that would allow that person to serve as a substitute teacher under the IDEA grant."

Tulsa Public Schools said none of the 16 OSDE employees slated to cover classes in the district are currently scheduled for special education classes.

Additionally, Tulsa Public Schools has confirmed there is no contract between OSDE and the district for substitute teachers.

"I'm just a very firm believer in following the rules and doing what's allowable and what's not instead of when you try to start finding loopholes, that's what gets you into trouble with the federal government," said former OSDE Director of Grant Development, Terri Grissom.

Grissom resigned from the agency in 2023 citing a toxic work environment under State Superintendent Ryan Walters.

She said looking from the outside in, the "toxicity" has only gotten worse and fears the potential misuse of federal dollars could lead the department down the wrong path.

"I'm sure use of these funds in trying to figure out how to make them allowable is the result of the toxicity and being threatened, if you will, with 'you better improve Tulsa or else' kind of a threat. There's lots of those going around. Even when I was there," said Grissom. "I feel for my colleagues that are still working in the agency because I know that can push them to do things that they probably wouldn't normally do. [They're] just trying to keep their job and trying to work within that toxicity is difficult."

News 4 reached out to OSDE Director of Communications Dan Isett Sunday night for answers.

After four follow up emails, Isett responded late Tuesday morning.

"This program is a significant step in helping TPS students get on track and learn to read. All OSDE employees participating in this key program will be paid from state funds for their time," stated Isett.

News 4 followed up with Isett after his statement and asked if those OSDE employees substitute teaching in Tulsa will be double paid with both federal and state dollars. Isett was also asked twice to provide the names of the 16 OSDE employees as well as their job titles.

Neither request was directly responded to.

News 4 looped the U.S. Department of Education in Sunday night as well.

A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson told News 4 the agency's Office of Special Education will reach out to OSDE's Office of Special Education to discuss the use of IDEA funds to pay substitute teachers.

Following that discussion, the U.S. Department of Education will follow-up with OSDE in a manner consistent with its system of general supervision.

A U.S. Department of Education spokesperson went on to say OSDE is the entity responsible for monitoring and ensuring Tulsa Public Schools' compliance with IDEA requirements.

"The person who is in charge of those funds - I'm surprised that individual would elect to go this route, but I'm not surprised in that the toxicity of the environment probably urges them to try to skirt the rules, if they could, to find a loophole," added Grissom.

If OSDE is violating federal rules, it's unclear if the agency will simply be told to come into compliance or if there will be repercussions. News 4 asked the U.S. Department of Education Tuesday afternoon, but have not heard back.

News 4 has filed an open records request with the Oklahoma State Department of Education for more details on the 16 employees requested to substitute teach in Tulsa.