Justices of the Oklahoma Supreme Court stand before entering the House chamber in the Oklahoma State Capitol for the governor’s State of the State Address on Feb. 5, 2024. (Photo by Kyle Phillips/For Oklahoma Voice)
OKLAHOMA CITY — The Oklahoma Supreme Court has temporarily blocked controversial new academic standards for social studies education while a lawsuit challenging their constitutionality is pending.
Oklahoma public schools must revert to the previous version of the social studies standards approved in 2019, the Court ruled in a 5-2 decision issued Monday. The justices decided the state cannot enforce nor spend funds to implement the 2025 social studies standards until the Court issues another order in the case.
A group of 33 Oklahoma parents, teachers and faith leaders filed the case with the state Supreme Court on July 1, contending the new standards unconstitutionally impose Christian beliefs on public school students.
The plaintiffs also contend the Oklahoma State Department of Education and the state Board of Education failed to uphold state laws and regulations, including the Oklahoma Open Meeting Act, when approving the new standards in February.
Half of the board’s sitting members said they were unaware the version of the standards they approved contained significant differences from the original draft the Education Department released in December. Key differences include disputed claims that there were “discrepancies” in 2020 presidential election results and that the origin of COVID-19 was a Chinese lab.
The Education Department waited weeks after the vote to publicly share the version of the standards with the new content included. Neither the board’s meeting agenda nor state agency staff acknowledged the changes before the vote.
Academic standards are a lengthy list of topics that Oklahoma public schools must teach to students at certain grade levels.
The plaintiffs contend the new social studies standards would violate students’ religious liberties by requiring schools to teach from the Bible.
Under the new standards, elementary students have to learn Bible stories and Jesus’ teachings “that influenced the American colonists, founders and culture.” In fifth and eighth grades, students must be taught the Judeo-Christian values that influenced America’s founders.
Attorneys from the national organization Americans United for Separation of Church and State and the local Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law and Justice are representing the plaintiffs.
“Public school classrooms may not be used to endorse religious doctrine — no matter what the religion is or how many people follow it,” said Brent Rowland, Oklahoma Appleseed’s legal director. “Blocking these standards means Oklahoma students can learn history and civics in a way that respects every family’s beliefs while inspiring them to think critically, ask questions, and engage as informed members of our democracy. This ruling moves us toward the open, rigorous, and inclusive public education our students deserve.”
The state Department of Education did not immediately comment on the Court ruling
Justices James Winchester, James Edmondson, Douglas Combs, Noma Gurich and Richard Darby concurred in the decision.
Chief Justice Dustin Rowe and Justice John Kane IV dissented. Two justices, Dana Kuehn and Travis Jett, recused.
Kane issued a single quote in dissent, stating he would prefer the case first go through a trial court.
Rowe wrote a full dissenting opinion, stating a trial court rather than the Supreme Court is meant to review the allegations of an Open Meeting Act violation.
“The 2025-2026 school year is well underway with the 2025 Standards in effect in school districts across the state,” Rowe wrote. “To issue an injunction at this point — months after the alleged Open Meeting Act violation and after the 2025-2026 academic has commenced-would be contrary to our legal precedent and disruptive to school curriculum statewide.”
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