Oklahoma
News, analysis, and opinion about K-12 education in Oklahoma
Student Well-Being
Death of Nonbinary Teen Nex Benedict After School Fight Is Ruled a Suicide, Medical Examiner Says
A summary autopsy report was released more than a month after the death of 16-year-old Nex Benedict.
Teaching Profession
The State of Teaching
What One Record-Setting Teacher Shortage Can Tell Us About the Profession
Oklahoma struggles mightily with the widespread perception that teaching is a low-wage, high-stress, low-respect profession.
Teaching Profession
The State of Teaching
The 'Difficult, Beautiful' Work of Teaching
From sunup to sundown, America's teachers grapple with countless decisions, interruptions, joys, and frustrations.
Law & Courts
Oklahoma Nonbinary Student's Death Shines a Light on Families' Legal Recourse for Bullying
Students facing bullying and harassment from their peers face legal roadblocks in suing districts, but settlements appear to be on the rise
Equity & Diversity
District Under Federal Investigation Following Death of Nonbinary Student Nex Benedict
A federal investigation into the Owasso, Okla., district follows the death of a nonbinary student last month.
Teaching Profession
Bilingual Teachers Are in Short Supply. How 3 Districts Solved That Problem
Helping bilingual paraprofessionals obtain bachelor's degrees and teaching credentials leads to more bilingual teachers, districts found.
Privacy & Security
Q&A
Why One Tech Leader Prioritizes Explaining Student Data Privacy to Teachers
Jun Kim, the director of technology for an Oklahoma school district, helped build a statewide database of vetted learning platforms.
IT Infrastructure & Management
Leader To Learn From
Through Wars, Tornadoes, and Cyberattacks, He's a Guardian of Student Privacy
Jun Kim, the technology director in Moore, Okla., works to make the most of innovations—without endangering student data.
Recruitment & Retention
This State Is Giving New Teachers Up to $20K to Stay on the Job. But There’s a Catch
Oklahoma's scholarship program is designed to keep fully trained teachers on the job longer.
Social Studies
'Killers of the Flower Moon' Covers Painful History. Can Oklahoma Teachers Teach It?
The crime epic illuminates hard history in Oklahoma. State restrictions could complicate teachers' efforts to draw on it in class.
Reading & Literacy
With Moms for Liberty Endorsement, ‘Science of Reading’ Faces More Political Controversy
The endorsement from the conservative organization known for challenging books raises some thorny issues for the bipartisan movement.
School & District Management
Tulsa Maintains Accreditation, Averting State Control—For Now
But the district's school board president issued an unusual rebuke to Oklahoma's top education official.
School & District Management
With a State Takeover on the Table, the Leader of Oklahoma’s Largest District Resigns
Gist cited her desire to avert state control—even as the looming vote has spurred teachers and students to activism.
Law & Courts
Lawsuit Challenges First Religious Charter School in Oklahoma
The suit argues that the Catholic virtual school violates a state constitutional requirement that public schools not be "sectarian."