Oklahoma

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond is pictured Wednesday, Feb. 1, 2023, during an interview in Oklahoma City.
Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond withdrew his predecessor's opinion that had fueled hopes the state might approve religious charter schools.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
School Choice & Charters A Major Reversal on Religious Charter Schools in Oklahoma
The attorney general withdrew his predecessor's opinion that religious groups could not be excluded from the state charter school program.
Mark Walsh, February 24, 2023
4 min read
Black woman lying on a large stack of books and reading a book.
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Social Studies 5 Things We Learned From 2 Teachers Piloting AP African American Studies
Shekinah Hall and Darren Williams teach at the only high school offering two separate classes of AP African American Studies this school year.
Eesha Pendharkar, February 17, 2023
3 min read
Shekinah Hall in her classroom at McLain High School in Tulsa, Okla.
Shekinah Hall, a teacher at McLain High School in Tulsa, Okla., is one of two teachers in Tulsa who are teaching a pilot course of Advanced Placement African American Studies this school year.
Courtesy of Tulsa Public Schools
Social Studies What Two Teachers Piloting the AP African American Studies Course Have to Say About It
The AP African American Studies course offers students representation like never before, two teachers piloting the course in Oklahoma said.
Eesha Pendharkar, February 16, 2023
8 min read
Oklahoma Attorney General John O'Connor speaks during a bill signing ceremony for a bill making it a felony to perform an abortion, punishable by up to 10 years in prison, Tuesday, April 12, 2022, in Oklahoma City.
Then-Oklahoma Attorney General John M. O'Connor, shown last year in Oklahoma City, issued an advisory opinion last December that bolstered the prospects of charter schools sponsored by religious institutions.
Sue Ogrocki/AP
School Choice & Charters A Proposed Catholic Charter School Is New Test for Religion and Public Education
With a favorable state attorney general's opinion in hand, Catholic officials are set to ask for approval of the first religious charter.
Mark Walsh, February 9, 2023
10 min read
A large black dog in a halter that says "therapy dog" looks at the camera while students gather around him and pet his fur.
Shadow, a therapy dog at Morris Elementary School in Morris, Okla., greets students after an assembly Jan. 17.
Michael Noble Jr. for Education Week
Student Well-Being Gone to the Dogs? Schools Use Therapy Animals to Boost Mental Health, Academics
Some schools incorporate therapy dogs into their COVID recovery plans to address student mental health and classroom engagement.
Evie Blad, January 23, 2023
9 min read
Equity & Diversity Video A Native American Elder Reflects on His Boarding School Experience
Dwight Howe’s Native boarding school experience in the 1970s was mostly positive. Fifty years earlier, it would have been a different story.
Kaylee Domzalski, December 8, 2022
3:41
Special education teacher assisting a diverse group of elementary students in art class.
E+/Getty
Special Education States Are Desperate for Special Ed. Teachers. But They Can't Cut Corners to Get Them
The Education Department warns states not to lower standards, even as districts frantically search for skilled special educators.
Madeline Will, October 25, 2022
8 min read
Image of a gavel
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Law & Courts Legal Challenges to 'Divisive Concepts' Laws: an Update
Since last year, four states have seen eight lawsuits challenging "divisive concepts" laws.
Eesha Pendharkar, October 17, 2022
6 min read
Books packed up in a cardboard box.
Patrick Daxenbichler/iStock/Getty
Teaching Profession Q&A A Teacher Who 'Refused to Be Party to Censorship' Tells Her Story
The teacher was targeted for sharing links to online libraries with students amid district book challenges.
Ileana Najarro, September 14, 2022
8 min read
Superintendent Deborah Gist speaks during a Tulsa Public Schools board meeting in Tulsa, Okla. on March 5, 2018.
Superintendent Deborah Gist speaks during a Tulsa Public Schools board meeting in Tulsa, Okla., in March 2018.<br/>
Joey Johnson/Tulsa World via AP
Equity & Diversity Two Okla. Districts Get Downgraded Accreditations for Violating State's Anti-CRT Law
The Tulsa and Mustang public school systems are the first to feel the sting of a state law that restricts discussion of race and racism in schools.
Eesha Pendharkar, August 2, 2022
8 min read
Three hands, each holding a certificate against a caution (yellow and black) striped background.
Collage by Gina Tomko/Education Week and Getty
Recruitment & Retention Emergency Certified Teachers: Are They a Viable Solution to Shortages?
Emergency teachers are in bigger demand than ever. Can states and districts make smarter use of them?
Elizabeth Heubeck, June 29, 2022
6 min read
Students pass through the halls in between classes at Millwood High School on April 20, 2022 in Oklahoma City.
Students change classes at Millwood High School this spring in Oklahoma City.
Brett Deering for Education Week
Equity & Diversity A School Openly Discusses Race in a State That Bans It
At Millwood High School, discussions on race are everywhere, and students say the lessons are essential.
Eesha Pendharkar, May 19, 2022
7 min read
Illustration of empty teacher desk.
Nadezhda Deineka/Getty
Recruitment & Retention The Pool of Future Teachers Is Dwindling. Can It Be Refilled?
A look at Oklahoma's efforts to replenish its teacher pipeline.
Elizabeth Heubeck, May 3, 2022
5 min read
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest in the hall outside of the Blue Room as Governor Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams at the Capitol Wednesday, March 30, 2022 in Oklahoma City, Oka. The bill, which easily passed the Republican-led House and Senate mostly along party lines, took effect immediately with the governor's signature. It applies to female sports teams in both high school and college.
Kara Klever holds a sign in protest as Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt signs a bill into law that prevents transgender girls and women from competing on female sports teams.
Doug Hoke/The Oklahoman via AP
States Beyond 'Don't Say Gay': Other States Seek to Limit LGBTQ Youth, Teaching
Legislators want to ban lessons on LGBTQ communities and require teachers to tell parents when students want their pronouns changed.
Stephen Sawchuk, April 6, 2022
9 min read