The OKLAHOMA Supreme Court has issued a temporary stay on a mandate championed by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that requires public schools to teach students about conspiracy theories surrounding the 2020 election adn the claim that COVID-19 originated in a Chinese laboratory. The decision comes amid a lawsuit filed by parents and educators challenging the new standards.

The court’s order directs the State Department of Education to maintain the previous social studies standards while the case is being litigated. The lawsuit argues that the mandate, which was added at the last minute to a Board of Education vote, injects both conspiracy theories and religion into secular classrooms.

Brent Rowland, legal director of Oklahoma Appleseed, representing the plaintiffs, stated, “This is a victory for transparency, fairness, and the constitutional rights of all Oklahomans. The authority to govern comes with accountability for making decisions in the full view of the people the government serves.”

Walters Responds to Court Decision

“Christianity, American exceptionalism, and conservative values are under attack and the Oklahoma Supreme Court is leading the assault,”

In response to the court’s decision, Walters issued a statement calling the Supreme Court “embarrassing” and out of touch with Oklahomans. He further claimed that “Christianity, American exceptionalism, and conservative values are under attack and the Oklahoma supreme Court is leading the assault,” despite six of the nine justices being appointed by Republican governors.

The legal challenge and the court’s decision highlight the ongoing debate over curriculum content and the role of religion in public education within the state.