Oklahoma Officials Eager for New Social Studies Standards

State lawmakers and education officials say they welcome a redo on academic standards after last year's controversial changes.

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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State lawmakers and education officials in Oklahoma say they are eager to develop new academic standards for social studies after last year's controversial changes were overturned in court. The state's former education leadership had added polarizing content at the last minute, including disputed claims about the 2020 election and the origin of COVID-19. The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the changes were made without proper notice. Education officials are now proposing a revised, more neutral version of the standards, which will go through a public review process before a final vote.

Why it matters

The social studies standards dictate what topics public schools in Oklahoma must teach. The controversy over last year's changes highlighted deep political divisions in the state and the influence of the former state superintendent. The new standards development process aims to restore objectivity and consensus around the curriculum.

The details

The Oklahoma State Department of Education has proposed a revised draft of the social studies standards that removes the controversial elements added last year, including language about the 2020 election and the origins of COVID-19. The new draft also leaves out references to Bible stories and the teachings of Jesus. Education officials say the changes were made at the insistence of the former state superintendent's executive team. The standards are now open for public input, and a final version is expected to go before the state Board of Education for a vote on March 26.

  • The Oklahoma Supreme Court overturned last year's version of the social studies standards in 2025.
  • The new draft standards are open for public input through February 18, 2026.
  • The state Board of Education is expected to vote on the final standards on March 26, 2026.

The players

Lonnie Paxton

Republican Senate President Pro Tem from Tuttle, Oklahoma, who co-wrote a resolution last year to reject the controversial social studies standards.

Sharon Morgan

Program director for the Office of Standards and Learning at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, who said the controversial elements of last year's standards were added at the insistence of the former state superintendent's executive team.

Brenda Beymer-Chapman

Project manager for social studies at the Oklahoma State Department of Education, who said the new standards aim to have teachers present topics in a neutral fashion to allow students to develop their own ideas.

Ryan Walters

Former Oklahoma state superintendent who was responsible for the controversial changes to the social studies standards that were later overturned.

Cyndi Munson

Democratic House Minority Leader in Oklahoma who said the former state superintendent had a strong influence over Republican lawmakers.

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What they’re saying

“Social studies standards should not be that controversial. I'm glad we're getting another bite of that apple.”

— Lonnie Paxton, Senate President Pro Tem (newsfromthestates.com)

“It's very important that teachers present those in neutral fashions to where the students are creating their own ideas about those topics.”

— Brenda Beymer-Chapman, Project Manager for Social Studies, Oklahoma State Department of Education (newsfromthestates.com)

“I think the former superintendent, Ryan Walters, just had a hold on the Republicans in this building. His influence was really, I think, weighing on those who are elected, and so they didn't want to fight him.”

— Cyndi Munson, House Minority Leader (newsfromthestates.com)

What’s next

If the state Board of Education approves the proposed draft of the new social studies standards, the standards will then go to the state Legislature for a final review. This would also allow the State Textbook Committee to begin preparations for adopting new social studies textbooks.

The takeaway

The development of new social studies standards in Oklahoma has been marked by political controversy, but the latest process aims to restore objectivity and consensus around the curriculum. The state's education leaders are eager to move past the divisive changes of the past and establish academic standards that serve students well.