State School Board Passes Rules Targeting Library Content, Disclosure Requirements

Posted Date: 03/24/2023

Tulsa World: Without discussion or debate, the Oklahoma State Board of Education unanimously approved a pair of rules Thursday afternoon targeting school library content and disclosure requirements for school employees.

“There are major misunderstandings out there in our schools,” state Superintendent Ryan Walters said. “Our job as an agency is laid out by state statute to set rules to help ensure that the laws are being followed. They’re obviously not … and we get all these complaints and concerns.

“This was in response to parents across the state that they’re obviously not being upheld.”

Both rules are subject to approval by the Oklahoma Legislature and Gov. Kevin Stitt before enactment.

Walters also used the superintendent’s report to criticize teachers’ unions and formally announce his agency’s intent to notify teachers statewide that they are not required to join a professional organization that collects membership dues, such as the Oklahoma Education Association or Professional Oklahoma Educators.

See Tulsa World story.

Response from Oklahoma Education Association.

In response to the State Department of Education meeting today. #oklaed pic.twitter.com/j3paPKDXJG

— OK Education Assoc. (@okea) March 23, 2023

Supt. Walters takes aim at teachers' union dues with administrative rulemaking. Meanwhile, OK AG says Dept. of Ed. may not have the authority to make rule changes without direction from the #okleg. https://t.co/aOP9Dr7WUG

— Oklahoma Policy Institute (@OKPolicy) March 24, 2023