Oklahoma Voice

How this small Oklahoma school district became one of the state’s top performers

Warner Public Schools rebuilt its academic culture through a cellphone ban, strict discipline and “bell-to-bell” instruction.

New state superintendent has ‘no plans to distribute Bibles’ in Oklahoma public schools

State Superintendent Lindel Fields, who was appointed to the position this month, indicated Wednesday he will not fight in court to defend Walters’ order that Oklahoma public schools teach from the Bible and keep a copy of it in every classroom.

New rule places requirements on Oklahoma school counselors’ work time

The rule requires school counselors to spend at least 80% of their work time on direct and indirect counseling services that have an impact on student growth in the areas of academic advisement, college and career, and life skills and wellness.

Oklahoma parents, faith leaders drop lawsuit over Catholic charter school

A group of parents and advocates have dropped a lawsuit against a proposed Catholic charter school in Oklahoma after the U.S. Supreme Court let stand a state ruling blocking the school from operating with public funds. The plaintiffs, represented by national civil liberties groups, declared victory following the Court’s 4-4 split.

Oklahoma superintendent orders all districts to offer free meals, threatens sanctions

ll public schools in Oklahoma must pay for free cafeteria meals for every student and exclude certain dyes and processed foods, the state’s top...

‘I don’t want my kids hearing that’: Oklahoma parents look to opt out of new social studies content

Frustrated with religious content and polarizing language added to Oklahoma academic standards, some parents say they plan to opt their children out of “ideologically charged” social studies lessons in public schools.

Oklahoma’s debate over state-funded religious school comes before U.S. Supreme Court

The case questions whether charter schools, long considered public, are truly an arm of the government and whether states should be able to deny a school access to taxpayer funding because it is religious.

Trump’s school choice push adds to momentum in statehouses

More than a dozen states in the past two years have launched or expanded programs that allow families to use taxpayer dollars to send their students to private schools. Now, President Donald Trump and Republicans in Congress want to supercharge those efforts.

Bixby superintendent files defamation lawsuit against Oklahoma state leader

Bixby schools chief Rob Miller filed the lawsuit against state Superintendent Ryan Walters, who called Miller a “liar,” a “clown” and a “true embarrassment.” The state superintendent also claimed the Bixby district has “all kinds of financial problems.”

Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters unveils guidelines for how to teach the Bible in schools

Grade-level specific guidelines apply to students in fifth through 12th grades. They require students to analyze literary elements of biblical stories and to identify how those have impacted Western culture.