Oklahoma Social Studies Standards Spark Lawsuit, Opt-Outs

Oklahoma's revised social studies standards now require teaching not only about the 2020 election and the Bible, but also theories regarding COVID-19's origins, prompting backlash from parents and educators. Parent-led groups such as We’re Oklahoma Education (WOKE) have introduced opt-out forms grounded in state parental rights law, allowing parents to exempt their children from specific lessons they deem objectionable. State Superintendent Ryan Walters, who quietly added some disputed content, continues to defend the standards and labels the opt-out campaign partisan and unenforceable. Parents from both sides of the political spectrum have voiced concerns over the politicization of public education. A lawsuit seeking to block the standards is pending in court. The controversy underscores ongoing debates over parental rights and curriculum authority in Oklahoma.