The Oklahoma Senate's failure to reject proposed social studies standards has sparked significant controversy. These standards, approved by the state board of education, include language that denies the results of the 2020 presidential election. Concerns have been raised about Superintendent Ryan Walters' allegedly deceptive tactics in their adoption, including last-minute additions and misleading information given to board members.
Despite calls for reconsideration from Governor Kevin Stitt and some board members, Republican leadership in the Senate, influenced by lobbying from Superintendent Walters and Moms for Liberty, chose not to act on a resolution to reject the standards. Moms for Liberty threatened to oppose any GOP lawmaker voting to reject the standards.
The standards require high school students to analyze alleged “discrepancies” in the 2020 election, focusing on issues such as ballot counting halts, mail-in voting security, and vote dumps. Superintendent Walters defended his decisions, while new board members expressed dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency and alleged deception.
Democrats staged protests within the Senate, attempting to delay the process, but were unsuccessful. Failure to act on the resolution resulted in the standards being deemed approved. Critics, including the Oklahoma Rural Schools Coalition, express disappointment, arguing the standards do not reflect input from educators or the community and prioritize political expediency over transparency.