Supreme Court Blocks Social Studies Standards Permanently

Legal Dispute Over Social Studies Standards Escalates

In Oklahoma City, state lawmakers have expressed frustration over the legal battle surrounding former State Superintendent Ryan Walters’ social studies standards. They argue that the issue should never have reached the Oklahoma Supreme Court, as legislative leaders failed to act despite concerns raised across party lines.

The Oklahoma Supreme Court recently ruled that the State Board of Education violated the Open Meeting Act in March when it approved new social studies standards. These standards were quietly altered by Walters, who added requirements to teach 2020 “stolen election” theories and stories from the Bible. This change was not disclosed to board members before the vote.

Walters presented a different version of the standards to the board, omitting the controversial additions. He did not inform the board members about these changes in the hours leading up to the meeting. As a result, the board approved the standards and sent them to the state Legislature for further action.

Legislative Response and Challenges

State Rep. Melissa Provenzano, a Democrat from Tulsa, highlighted the efforts made by certain state legislators to address the issue. She mentioned that both the House and Senate Democrats filed resolutions calling for the repeal of the new standards. Provenzano also noted that Senator Pugh, a Republican from Edmond, had submitted a similar resolution.

However, these resolutions could only proceed if House and Senate leadership agreed to consider them. Unfortunately, none of the proposed bills were heard, as Republican leaders chose not to move forward with them. Without a legislative vote to reject the standards, they automatically went into effect.

This led to a lawsuit that eventually reached the Oklahoma Supreme Court. In a 5–4 decision, four justices dissented, arguing that the Legislature has final authority and that the standards should remain in place since lawmakers did not object. The majority, however, focused on the Open Meeting Act violation, stating that the standards were never valid due to last-minute changes to the meeting agenda.

A Technicality That Changed Everything

Provenzano described the ruling as a "fascinating technicality" that saved the situation. She argued that the issue should not have escalated to the Supreme Court and that legislative leaders should have allowed a vote to check the superintendent’s power.

“I think there is in our country a fear of political retribution,” Provenzano said. “And it’s silly to me that here in the state of Oklahoma that we would worry about maintaining power.”

News 4 attempted to reach out to Senate President Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, but his office stated he was unavailable for comment. In a statement, a spokesperson for House Speaker Kyle Hilbert told News 4:

“We respect the Supreme Court decision and will consider new standards when they are sent to us by the State Board of Education for consideration.”

Ongoing Implications

The ruling means that the 2019 social studies standards will remain in place for now. However, the debate over the new standards continues, with lawmakers and educators closely watching how the State Board of Education will respond.

The case highlights the importance of transparency and accountability in the educational policy-making process. It also raises questions about the role of legislative leaders in ensuring that policies reflect the best interests of students and the broader community.

As the situation unfolds, the focus remains on how the standards will be revised and what steps will be taken to prevent similar issues in the future. For now, the outcome of this legal battle serves as a reminder of the delicate balance between administrative authority and legislative oversight in shaping educational standards.