The Oklahoma State Supreme Court, the state’shighest civil court, has directed the Department of Education to halt the implementationnew social studies academic standards that are the subject of debatethat ask students to study Christianity and address false allegations regarding election fraud and COVID-19.
The court’s ruling was issued in the legal case referred to asRandall v. Walters, one of two legal cases regarding the standards currently under consideration by the court. The standards have been advocated for by Republican state schools Superintendent Ryan Walters.
The individuals who initiated the legal action assert that the approval of the standards breached the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act and other procedural rules, as Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education did not inform the public—or even the members of the state Board of Education—that the version of the standards presented to the board for voting was significantly different from the one that had been made available to the public.
What action did the Oklahoma Supreme Court take?
The Oklahoma Supreme Court issued the temporary stayOn Monday, September 15, it was stated that the policy will stay in effect as the court reviews a legal challenge against the social studies curriculum. The court’s decision prohibits the state from using any funds to enforce or apply the standards during the ongoing case.
The court also recognized “original jurisdiction” in this case, indicating that the lawsuit will not go through the usual process of being submitted to and decided by a district court before reaching the Supreme Court.
Five of the nine justices on the court agreed with the decision: James Winchester, James Edmondson, Douglas Combs, Noma Gurich, and Richard Darby. Chief Justice Dustin Rowe and Justice M. John Kane IV expressed their disagreement, arguing that the case should have initially been submitted to a district court rather than the Supreme Court.
Two additional justices, Dana Kuehn and Travis Jett, had each previously recused themselves from the case without providing an explanation.
What is the current status of the new social studies standards?
The guidelines, which became effective for the current school year, can no longer be taught, and no funds can be used to put them into practice in Oklahoma schools, halting the process. The court has mandated the use of social studies standards that were approved in 2019 and will remain in place through the 2024-25 school year.
Although the new standards were officially implemented this fall, the previous standards continued to be taught in Oklahoma classrooms throughout this school year whilecurriculum was being developedfor the updated guidelines. Monday’s decision halts that curriculum development process, pending the outcome of the case.
The traditional benchmarks were considered among the top in the country by theThomas B. Fordham Institutea right-leaning non-profit educational policy institute.
What areas are included in the social studies curriculum?
The new standardsgained widespread recognition due to their repeated references to the impact of Christianity in the United States, as well as2020 election-denial languagethat promotes a theory that has been largely rejected.
Walters has promoted the new standards as “some of the most robust in the nation: supportive of America, American exceptionalism, and enhancing civics and constitutional studies at all grade levels.”
The “executive review committee” assembled by Walters to create the standards featured the co-founder of the conservative organization PragerU, a representative from the conservative American Enterprise Institute, and the president of another conservative group, the Heritage Foundation, as well as several other right-leaning individuals. Just three members of the executive committee have ever resided in Oklahoma.
No Oklahoma public-school teachers or administrators were members of the executive committee, even though approximately 75 of them were involved in revising the standards.
What must students focus on learning today?
The 2019 guidelines will remain in effect within Oklahoma schools until the legal matter is settled.
A 2021 study by the Fordham Institute ranked Oklahoma as tied for seventh in the country for its state standards in civics and U.S. history. These standards are currently being implemented in Oklahoma schools. Regarding the standards, the Fordham Institute stated, “Oklahoma’s civics and U.S. History standards are very strong. Along with thorough content and well-structured organization, they show a commendable dedication to presenting the story of Native Americans.”
Walters was part of the executive committee responsible for the creation of the 2019 standards and, at that time, expressed his approval: “In my view, these standards, as they are currently proposed, will enable students to move past a history class focused solely on memorizing names and dates, and instead encourage a passion for history through an engaging approach to its presentation.”
What comes next in the lawsuit contesting the regulations?
Each party has submitted several documents since the lawsuit was initiated in July. Now that the Oklahoma Supreme Court has officially taken the case, its judges will determine the timeline for additional legal submissions and possible oral presentations.
The court’s ruling released on Monday provided no indications regarding the schedule for the case.
This piece first was published on Oklahoman:What has changed, and what remains the same, now that Oklahoma’s social studies standards are on hold
