A lawsuit aiming to overturn recently adopted academic standards for social studies in Oklahoma has been dismissed.
The legal challenge, brought forth by a group of parents, educators, and grandparents, questioned the legitimacy of the Oklahoma State Board of Education’s approval of these new standards.
Their argument centered on allegations that the process lacked transparency and failed to follow proper legal protocols.
Judge Rules Against Plaintiffs’ Claims
On Friday, District Judge Brent Dishman ruled that the plaintiffs did not successfully identify any law or regulation that had been violated when the Board endorsed the updated standards.
He emphasized that final oversight of Oklahoma public school academic standards lies with the state Legislature, which had already approved the new social studies curriculum. As such, the implementation was considered lawful.
Judge Dishman also noted that the lawsuit cited the Administrative Procedures Act, but determined that the cited section was not applicable to academic standards. The court found no grounds to support the claim that the Oklahoma State Department of Education had bypassed proper procedural or legal requirements.
Allegations of Lack of Transparency
The group of plaintiffs contended that the Education Department failed to ensure transparency when introducing the new content to the Board of Education.
They argued that the new standards were not only implemented without proper disclosure but also deviated from established best practices in social studies education. They alleged that the content presented a skewed and misleading narrative, particularly around historical and civic topics.
The plaintiffs sought to invalidate the new standards, claiming that the changes could negatively affect educational quality and distort historical understanding for students in Oklahoma public schools.
Intent to Appeal to the Oklahoma Supreme Court
Mike Hunter, the former Oklahoma Attorney General and legal representative for the plaintiffs, responded to the ruling by announcing plans to appeal the decision to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
Speaking on Monday, Hunter emphasized the significance of the case, stating that it impacts hundreds of thousands of Oklahoma students and therefore merits evaluation by the state’s highest judicial body.
“This is a matter that deserves the Oklahoma Supreme Court’s attention,” Hunter stated. “The stakes are high for public education, and we will seek a final ruling from the highest court in the state.”
Controversial Language Added Without Notification
The controversy deepened due to new language added to the standards without prior notice, which cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2020 presidential election.
The Oklahoma State Board of Education officially approved the revised standards on February 27, but several board members later expressed concern, claiming they were unaware of the additional content at the time of the vote.
The Oklahoma State Department of Education failed to disclose or publicly post this content until weeks after approval, raising questions about procedural integrity and transparency.
The dismissal of the lawsuit signals a legal victory for State Superintendent Ryan Walters and the Oklahoma State Department of Education, who have strongly defended the newly adopted social studies standards. However, the legal battle appears far from over, as plaintiffs prepare to take their case to the Oklahoma Supreme Court.
At the heart of the dispute lies a fundamental debate over educational transparency, academic integrity, and the role of state oversight in public school curricula. As the issue progresses through the legal system, it is poised to influence how academic content is developed and scrutinized in Oklahoma’s education system.