Oklahoma Board Rejects Jewish Charter School, Braces for a Court Battle
The same board had supported opening a Catholic charter school in recent years, but a deadlocked U.S. Supreme Court allowed the state Court decision against it to stand.
Controversial Content Deleted in New Draft of Oklahoma Social Studies Standards
No references to Jesus, claims of ‘discrepancies’ in the 2020 elections, nor disputed allegations about the origin of COVID-19 were included in a new draft of academic standards for social studies courses in Oklahoma public schools.
New Oklahoma Schools Superintendent Rescinds Mandate for Bible Instruction in Schools
The directive last year from former Superintendent Ryan Walters drew immediate condemnation from civil rights groups and prompted a pending lawsuit from a group of parents, teachers, and religious leaders.
Ryan Walters Resigns As Oklahoma’s Top Public Schools Official to Lead Conservative Educators’ Group
The superintendent of public instruction, who recently pledged to put a Turning Point USA chapter in every high school to honor Charlie Kirk, will now ‘destroy the teachers unions’ from the private sector.
Summit Challenges Christian Nationalist Attacks on Public Schools
This issue of A Public Witness takes you to the heart of Texas to consider the promise of public education and church-state separation.
Oklahoma Catholic Leaders Scrap Religious Charter School Plans, Announce Private Online School
After their pursuit of taxpayer school funding failed to get approval from the U.S. Supreme Court, the plans to open St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School have been canceled.
New Lawsuit Claims Social Studies Standards Violate Oklahomans’ Religious Freedoms
A group of 33 parents, teachers, and faith leaders asked the state’s highest court to block the controversial new standards, which dictate what topics public schools must teach starting in the 2025-26 academic year.
Supreme Court Tie Vote Dooms Taxpayer Funded Catholic Charter School in Oklahoma
The case came to the court amid efforts, mainly in conservative-led states, to insert religion into public schools.
New Standards for Oklahoma High School Students Promote Misinformation About the 2020 Election
Oklahoma’s new social studies standards for K-12 public school students, already infused with references to the Bible, were revised at the direction of state School Superintendent Ryan Walters.
The Supreme Court Case That Could Dismantle Church-State Separation
This issue of A Public Witness looks at the dustup over St. Isidore of Seville Catholic Virtual School in Oklahoma and the religious freedom arguments before eight black-robed justices.