Audit clears Hofmeister but slams Walters, legislators for 2021 finances

State auditor finds no wrongdoing under former state superintendent, but says education secretary and lawmakers failed to follow the law.

Published on Feb. 24, 2026

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An audit on the Oklahoma State Department of Education requested by Gov. Kevin Stitt did not find wrongdoing under the leadership of then-state superintendent Joy Hofmeister, but State Auditor & Inspector Cindy Byrd said then-education secretary Ryan Walters did not follow the law. The audit also criticized the state legislature for a $1 million deal with a math education vendor that bypassed the competitive bidding process.

Why it matters

The audit findings come amid a contentious political climate in Oklahoma around education policy, with Hofmeister challenging Stitt for the governorship after previously serving as state superintendent. The audit raises questions about oversight and transparency in how education funds are spent at both the state and local levels.

The details

The audit found that while no wrongdoing was discovered at the state department level under Hofmeister, the secretary of education, Ryan Walters, failed to properly analyze education expenditures and oversight as required by law. It also criticized the state legislature for a $1 million deal with a math education vendor that bypassed the competitive bidding process.

  • The audit was requested by Gov. Kevin Stitt in September 2021.
  • The audit findings were released on February 18, 2026.

The players

Joy Hofmeister

The former state superintendent of Oklahoma, who was cleared of wrongdoing in the audit. Hofmeister later announced a run for governor against Stitt.

Ryan Walters

The former education secretary of Oklahoma, who the audit found did not follow the law in his oversight responsibilities.

Cindy Byrd

The Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector who released the findings of the audit on the state department of education.

Kevin Stitt

The governor of Oklahoma who requested the audit on the state department of education.

Gentner Drummond

The Attorney General of Oklahoma, whose office was asked to look into the audit's findings regarding Walters.

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What they’re saying

“What we audited at OSDE was the 0.21%. That is all we had the authority to audit.”

— Cindy Byrd, Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector (kjrh.com)

“The secretary also oversees the Office of Educational Equality and Accountability, or OEQA, which is directed by law to review all school finance matters. However, OEQA in 2021 failed to meet regularly and comply with those requirements.”

— Cindy Byrd, Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector (kjrh.com)

“OCAS is not providing taxpayers with transparency, and the state does not have any mechanism to catch financial wrongdoing at the local level.”

— Cindy Byrd, Oklahoma State Auditor & Inspector (kjrh.com)

“Oklahoma taxpayers deserve to know exactly where their education dollars are going. This audit focuses on less than two percent at the State Department of Education, but more than 98% flows directly to local districts and the Oklahoma Cost Accounting System (OCAS) is not giving parents and taxpayers the transparency they deserve. It's time to modernize OCAS and put every public school's checkbook online in one central location so Oklahomans can truly follow the money.”

— Kevin Stitt, Governor of Oklahoma (kjrh.com)

What’s next

The office of Attorney General Gentner Drummond will look into the audit's findings regarding Ryan Walters' failure to follow the law in his oversight responsibilities as education secretary.

The takeaway

This audit highlights the need for greater transparency and accountability in how education funds are spent in Oklahoma, both at the state and local levels. It raises concerns about oversight and potential misuse of taxpayer dollars, underscoring the importance of rigorous financial controls and reporting requirements for school districts.