Oklahoma

News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Oklahoma
The United States Capitol building as a bookcase filled with red, white, and blue policy books in a Washington DC landscape.
Luca D'Urbino for Education Week
Teaching Profession Opinion A New Test for Some Would-Be Teachers Might Just Be a Political Move
The goal of an assessment shouldn't be performative politics.
Rick Hess, September 30, 2025
•
8 min read
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks during a campaign rally, Oct. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas.
Turning Point USA Founder Charlie Kirk speaks during a campaign rally, Oct. 24, 2024, in Las Vegas. Following Kirk's assassination, Republican leaders are propelling Turning Point USA into K-12 schools.
John Locher/AP
States How Charlie Kirk's Turning Point USA Is Expanding Its Reach to K-12 Schools
The organization has more than 1,000 chapters in high schools across the country.
Brooke Schultz, September 25, 2025
•
6 min read
State Superintendent Ryan Walters leaves the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting on April 25, 2024 in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters leaves a state board of education meeting on April 25, 2024 in Oklahoma City. Walters, a conservative firebrand who was constantly in the news during his three years in office, will run an organization that encourages teachers to leave their unions.
Nick Oxford/Human Rights Campaign via AP
States Ryan Walters, Okla.’s Fiery Education Chief, to Step Down
Oklahoma state superintendent announces his resignation after nearly three years of near-constant controversy.
Andrea Eger, Tulsa World, September 25, 2025
•
3 min read
A teacher at Audrey H. Lawson Middle School in Houston, Texas, marks a grade on a class worksheet on Sept. 6, 2023.
A teacher at Audrey H. Lawson Middle School in Houston marks a grade on a worksheet on Sept. 6, 2023. Texas lawmakers have passed a bill that would drop the state's once-a-year STAAR test in favor of a model in which students are tested three times a year.
Yi-Chin Lee/Houston Chronicle via AP
States The Future of Annual State Testing Is in the Trump Admin.’s Hands
The Ed. Dept. has invited states to request waivers from accountability requirements.
Brooke Schultz, September 8, 2025
•
7 min read
Illustration of two people arguing and teenager plugging his ears.
Education Week + Getty
Student Well-Being & Movement Opinion My Generation Is Sick of Your Culture Wars. Here's What Students Really Need
Both liberals and conservatives have disappointed me with their alienating rhetoric and failure to listen, writes a high school graduate.
Joshua Cheng, July 18, 2025
•
5 min read
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters holds his hand over his heart during the National Anthem at inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 9, 2023, in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters holds his hand over his heart during the National Anthem at inauguration ceremonies on Jan. 9, 2023, in Oklahoma City. Walters announced plans for a new test to screen teachers from states considered “woke.”
Sue Ogrocki/AP
Teaching Profession Want to Teach in Oklahoma? You May Have to Prove You're Not 'Woke'
The state is partnering with PragerU to develop an assessment for incoming educators.
Sarah D. Sparks, July 10, 2025
•
3 min read
Cafeteria workers serve student lunches at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood, Calif. on Wednesday, April 3, 2024.
Cafeteria workers serve student lunches at Firebaugh High School in Lynwood, Calif. on April 3, 2024. Demand for school lunches has increased after California guaranteed free meals to all students regardless of their family's income. Now, in Oklahoma, state Superintendent Ryan Walters is mandating that districts provide free meals to all students, although no state law requiring them has passed and the state hasn't set aside additional money.
Richard Vogel/AP
Student Well-Being & Movement A State Chief's Order to Schools: Provide Free Meals for All—With No New Funding
Oklahoma's state superintendent told districts to fully cover student meal costs. Districts say the mandate is costly and unenforceable.
Evie Blad, July 10, 2025
•
6 min read
Enrichment specialist Ally Audas works with 2nd graders Ansleigh Keeler and Liora Ward in the John Rex Charter School's garden lab in Oklahoma City.
Enrichment specialist Ally Audas works with 2nd graders Ansleigh Keeler and Liora Ward in the John Rex Charter School's garden lab in Oklahoma City.
Courtesy of Anna Shaffer
Teaching How School Gardens Can Teach Students Valuable Skills for a Tech-Heavy World
There are many ways to integrate technology into school gardening experiences.
Arianna Prothero, July 3, 2025
•
4 min read
State Superintendent Ryan Walters, right, listens during public comment at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Oklahoma City.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters, right, listens during public comment at the Oklahoma State Board of Education meeting on Thursday, April 25, 2024 in Oklahoma City.
Nick Oxford/AP Images for Human Rights Campaign
States What Happened to Oklahoma's Effort to Count Undocumented Students?
State leaders ended the possibility of a rule change that would have required proof of citizenship in school enrollment.
Ileana Najarro, May 27, 2025
•
3 min read
Supporters of charter schools rally outside of the Supreme Court on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, in Washington.
Supporters of religious charter schools rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 30 as the justices weighed Oklahoma's approval of such a charter. On May 22, the court tied 4-4, leaving in place an Oklahoma Supreme Court ruling that said such religious charters were unconstitutional.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Law & Courts Religious Charter School Blocked After Supreme Court Deadlock
The U.S. Supreme Court's 4-4 split over a religious charter school affirms a lower court ruling against the school but sets no precedent.
Mark Walsh, May 22, 2025
•
6 min read
Supporters of charter schools rally outside of the Supreme Court on April 30, 2025, in Washington.
Supporters of religious charter schools rally outside of the U.S. Supreme Court on April 30, 2025, in Washington.
Mark Schiefelbein/AP
Law & Courts Supreme Court Appears Open to Religious Charter School
The U.S. Supreme Court grappled with whether charter schools are public schools and whether the Constitution permits a religious charter.
Mark Walsh, April 30, 2025
•
7 min read
Supreme Court 25091823131249
The U.S. Supreme Court is seen in Washington on April 1, 2025. The court on April 30 will take up a much-debated case about whether a state must allow a religious charter school.
Law & Courts Supreme Court Case Could Reshape Landscape for Charter and Religious Schools
The U.S. Supreme Court on April 30 will take up the much-debated case of a Roman Catholic charter school in Oklahoma.
Mark Walsh, April 28, 2025
•
9 min read
Ryan Walters, Republican state superintendent candidate, speaks, June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters is pictured on June 28, 2022, in Oklahoma City when he was a candidate for the position he now holds. Walters this week told districts he would halt federal funding beginning Friday, April 25, if they don't certify they're not using diversity, equity, and inclusion programming in schools.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
States Oklahoma Will Cut Funding to Districts That Don't Sign Trump's Anti-DEI Pledge
The state says it will withhold federal funds from districts that don't sign a Trump administration DEI pledge.
Brooke Schultz, April 23, 2025
•
8 min read
State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks to members of the State Board of Education during a meeting, Aug. 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla.
State Superintendent Ryan Walters speaks to members of the State Board of Education during a meeting, Aug. 24, 2023, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Walters has submitted a request to the U.S. Department of Education seeking to consolidate its federal funds into a block grant, testing the legal bounds of Education Secretary Linda McMahon's waiver authority.
Daniel Shular/Tulsa World via AP
States Oklahoma Asks Trump for Sweeping Flexibility in How It Spends School Funding
The request is one of several already made or in the works that will test the flexibility of the Trump administration.
Brooke Schultz, March 26, 2025
•
5 min read
Load More ▼