AG Orders Audit After Superintendent Ryan Walters Resigns

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond has ordered an investigative audit of the Oklahoma State Department of Education after State Superintendent Ryan Walters formally resigned amid credible concerns from current and former staff about spending under his leadership. The audit will cover Walters' tenure from Jan. 9, 2023, through Sept. 30, 2025, and Drummond cited a "documented history" of mismanaging tax dollars, including approvals that allowed families to buy non-educational items like Xboxes and refrigerators. Drummond referenced a 2023 audit that flagged $1.83 million in questionable expenses tied to the nonprofit Every Kid Counts Oklahoma, which prompted a multi-county grand jury review. Walters submitted his resignation on Sept. 30 and is moving to a new role as CEO of Teacher Freedom. Drummond is a Republican candidate for governor, and the State Auditor's office said the audit request was delivered via an unfamiliar email address, an unusual procedural detail.