The Republican nomination for Oklahoma state superintendent will go to one of two longtime educators — either an experienced school administrator who decries political partisanship or a high school teacher and Christian minister who says his insight from the classroom could benefit schools statewide. Robert Franklin and James Taylor advanced to the Aug. 25 runoff election as […]
Nuria Martinez-Keel, Oklahoma Voice
Posted inNews
Oklahoma governor candidates funnel $22 million in personal money to campaigns
OKLAHOMA CITY — Candidate self-funding has soared past $22 million in the Republican primary race for Oklahoma governor, with a Trump-endorsed candidate alone pouring almost $10.9 million into his campaign. Four Republican gubernatorial candidates have loaned millions of their own money to their campaigns ahead of Tuesday’s primary election, according to Oklahoma Ethics Commission reports […]
Posted inNews
Veto override to save OETA fails in Oklahoma Senate
OKLAHOMA CITY — An attempt to override a governor’s veto of the Oklahoma Educational Television Authority has failed, putting the state’s public broadcaster on track to close. The state Senate fell short of the necessary 32 votes for a veto override on Thursday, the final day of the 2026 Legislative Session, with 18 Republicans voting […]
Posted inNews
Senate kills Stitt-backed proposal to make state superintendent appointed role
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 […]
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.
Posted inEducation
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. […]