A proposal that could make the state’s top education office an appointee of the governor, rather than an elected position, has failed in the state Senate. House Joint Resolution 1055, which would put the idea to a vote of the people, failed to receive a Senate committee hearing before a deadline last week, despite calls […]
Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Posted inNews
Oklahoma House proposal would add 7 school days for $175 million
House lawmakers proposed extending Oklahoma’s minimum school year by seven days and pledged $175 million to make it happen. House Bill 3151 passed off the House floor 62-28 Wednesday evening and heads to the Senate, where leadership has endorsed the measure. The bill is the first firm proposal from the House this session for increasing public […]
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Education Audit
A long-awaited special audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education found no misuse of taxpayer funds under former state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister. State Auditor and Inspector Cindy Byrd released the findings during a news conference Wednesday. Gov. Kevin Stitt requested the audit in 2021 while at odds with Hofmeister, who was term-limited in 2023. […]
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Oklahoma lawmakers to pursue permanent school cellphone ban
Under the current law, each school district will have the choice to continue the ban or make a change after the 2025-26 academic year.
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Stitt names new state superintendent, team to lead Oklahoma education ‘turnaround’
While announcing wholesale changes at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, Gov. Kevin Stitt appointed a retired CareerTech administrator to lead the agency along with a “turnaround team” of officials from across the state. Lindel Fields is Stitt’s choice to lead that turnaround as state superintendent, replacing Ryan Walters who resigned from the position on […]
Posted inState
Chronic absence
Well before he canceled and skipped meetings with the state’s top school board in recent weeks, state Superintendent Ryan Walters has been chronically absent from multiple state boards where he holds a seat, including one he’s supposed to lead. Public meeting records show poor attendance from Walters, particularly this year, on various governing boards whose […]
Posted inEducation
Oklahoma State Board of Education calls its own meeting after Walters ‘refused to schedule’
In a rare move, a majority of the Oklahoma State Board of Education has scheduled its own meeting without the consent of state Superintendent Ryan Walters, who board members say has refused to cooperate. The decision comes a day after Walters abruptly canceled a meeting with the board that was meant to take place Thursday. […]
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Walters’ ‘America First’ teacher test could overstep Oklahoma law, state agency leader says
The Oklahoma State Department of Education likely would contradict state law if it implements an ideological test for teachers coming from certain states, said the leader of another state agency that oversees teacher assessments. Requiring an “America First” assessment for teachers moving from progressive states like California and New York, as state Superintendent Ryan Walters […]
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Enforcement of Oklahoma immigration law blocked indefinitely
An Oklahoma City federal judge this week placed an indefinite ban on enforcement of a state law criminalizing undocumented immigrants living in Oklahoma. The decision from U.S. District Judge Bernard Jones extends the two-week hold he implemented for House Bill 4156 on May 20 to last until he makes a final ruling on a lawsuit […]
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SCOTUS tie ends Oklahoma plan to open nation’s first publicly funded Catholic charter school
An Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling striking down a religious charter school will stand after the nation’s highest court deadlocked on the issue. The U.S. Supreme Court announced Thursday its justices voted 4-4 with Justice Amy Coney Barrett recused. A tied vote affirms the lower court’s ruling. The Oklahoma Supreme Court decided last year that the concept […]