Small: Session will reap benefit for years

Session will reap benefit for years

By Jonathan Small

Academic outcomes in Oklahoma’s public school system have been among the worst in the nation for years. But this year’s legislative session alters that trajectory and the full benefit will become apparent over time.

One of the most important actions taken this year was passage of Senate Bill 1778, which effectively requires that students read at least on a second-grade level before beginning the fourth grade, or face retention in the third grade. The new law also provides for intensive early intervention for struggling students in the first through third grades.

Based on state testing results, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders read at or above grade level, and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests show that only 23 percent of Oklahoma fourth-grade students scored at or above proficient in 2024. Only two states did worse.

AFP-OK celebrates legislative victories following end of the 2026 session

AFP-OK Celebrates Legislative Victories Following End of the 2026 Session 

OKLAHOMA CITY, OK (May 18th) - Americans for Prosperity-Oklahoma (AFP-OK) celebrated the end of a successful 2026 legislative session today, highlighting its victories and sharing its goals for next year. The chapter’s wins beneath the dome this year reflect its ongoing commitment to making the Sooner State the most prosperous state in the nation by advocating for the policies to make it happen, whether it’s expanding school options or strengthening free speech protections and agency transparency.  

AFP-OK's biggest legislative wins for 2026 include: 

With new law, Oklahomans can donate to scholarships under new federal Education Freedom Tax Credit

Crosswhite Hader Celebrates Federal Scholarship Tax Credit Becoming Law

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 30th) – Rep. Denise Crosswhite Hader, R-Piedmont, today is reminding Oklahomans they can opt-in on a federal income tax credit next year for individual contributions to scholarship granting organizations (SGOs). Funding is to be used for scholarships for elementary and secondary education expenses.

Crosswhite Hader is the House author of House Bill 3704, which recently was signed into law by the governor. She said the federal program is similar to the Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship program, a state tax-credit program that supports scholarship efforts in Oklahoma.

Small: Sweeping reading reform puts state on right path

Sweeping reading reform puts state on right path

By Jonathan Small

This week, surrounded by school children, Gov. Kevin Stitt signed a sweeping reform that will dramatically improve literacy outcomes.

Based on Spring 2025 state tests, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders read at or above grade level. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests show only 23 percent of fourth-grade students scored at or above proficient in 2024. Only two states did worse.

Oklahoma’s abysmal reading outcomes have occurred even as public schools’ per-pupil revenue has surged more than 50 percent since 2018. The problem was not money, but execution.

Fortunately, Mississippi provided a guide map.

Since the 2013 passage of Mississippi’s Literacy-Based Promotion Act (LBPA), Mississippi has climbed from 49th to ninth for fourth grade reading, according to NAEP. Mississippi is the only state where the bottom 10 percent of students scored better in 2024 than their 2013-2014 school-year counterparts.

Legislature passes bill to ban cell phones during school, awaits Governor's signature

House Sends Bill to Permanently Ban Cell Phones in Schools to Governor's Desk

OKLAHOMA CITY (April 28th) – Today the Oklahoma House sent a bill to the Governor's desk that requires school districts to permanently adopt a policy prohibiting students from using cell phones on campus during the school day.

“Bell to Bell, No Cell” was originally introduced as pilot legislation in 2025, requiring Oklahoma school boards to adopt policies prohibiting cell phone use on campus during the school day. Feedback from teachers, students and parents following the pilot program was overwhelmingly positive, prompting legislators to advance permanent legislation establishing the cell phone ban in state statute.

Legislature passes bill to enhance safety and security at Oklahoma Schools for the Blind and Deaf

Senator Frix Applauds Passage of School Safety Funding for Oklahoma School for the Blind

OKLAHOMA CITY – Senator Avery Frix, R-Muskogee, applauded the passage of House Bill 4067, which directs funding to enhance safety measures at the Oklahoma School for the Blind in Muskogee.

HB 4067 appropriates $93,000 to the Oklahoma Department of Rehabilitation Services for Fiscal Year 2027 to support the establishment and maintenance of a School Resource Officer (SRO) program or provide physical security improvements at the Oklahoma School for the Blind.

“At a time when school security is more important than ever, we must do everything we can to protect students in Oklahoma schools,” Frix said. “The Oklahoma School for the Blind is a valued part of the Muskogee community, and this funding will ensure they are equipped to maintain a safe and secure campus.”

Gov. Stitt orders comprehensive review of Oklahoma's public education spending

Governor Stitt Orders Transparency of Public School Spending

OKLAHOMA CITY (March 20, 2026) - Governor Kevin Stitt today signed an executive order requiring a comprehensive review of how Oklahoma’s public education funding is being spent.

Under the Governor’s leadership, state appropriations for Oklahoma’s public school system have increased more during the last seven years than in the past 25 years combined. Between local, state, and federal dollars, $9.6 billion is allocated to public education each year, representing the largest annual investment of taxpayer dollars.

Legislator files bill to increase daily physical activity for Oklahoma students

Roe Files Bill to Increase Daily Physical Activity for Oklahoma Students

OKLAHOMA CITY (Jan. 14th) – Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, has filed legislation to expand physical education requirements for students in full-day pre-K through 12th grade across Oklahoma.

House Bill 3288 would increase required physical activity to 30 or 45 minutes per school day, depending on grade level, reflecting research linking regular exercise to stronger academic performance, improved mental health and better long-term health outcomes.

"Students benefit when physical activity is built into their school day," Roe said. "This bill is about helping them learn better, feel better, and grow into healthier adults. Strong bodies support strong minds. Regular movement not only supports their health, but it also helps them focus, retain information, and perform better academically."

The bill would expand current physical education requirements to include full-day pre-K and raise weekly activity time for elementary students from a weekly average of 60 minutes to a minimum of 150 minutes, or about 30 minutes per school day. Recess would not count toward the required minutes.

Small: Time for leadership at OU

Time for leadership at OU

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma faces workforce challenges. Our college system should play a crucial role in addressing that challenge and fueling economic growth.

Instead, the University of Oklahoma is receiving national attention for devolving into academic self-parody.

Rather than gain renown for producing engineers and scientists, OU is under scrutiny for having a man who identifies as a woman teach students about psychology. And that instructor is under fire for alleged religious discrimination against a Christian student who believes, accurately, that there are only two sexes.

Small: Reading reform momentum grows

Reading reform momentum grows 

By Jonathan Small

 

Efforts to address Oklahoma’s literacy crisis gained further momentum this week as officials with the State Chamber called for lawmakers to adopt a Mississippi-style reading law. That will require early intervention for struggling readers and a mandate that children repeat the third grade if they do not meet basic literacy standards.

 

According to National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests, only 23 percent of Oklahoma fourth-grade students were proficient or advanced in reading in 2024. That ranks 49th in the nation.

 

In contrast, Mississippi ranks ninth.

OCPA calls to make State Superintendent an appointed position, not elected

OCPA: For accountability, make state superintendent appointed

OKLAHOMA CITY (October 2, 2025) — To bring greater accountability to the state school system and reduce dysfunction in state government, Oklahoma should make the position of state superintendent a gubernatorial appointee, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs President Jonathan Small said today.

“Every four years, candidates for Oklahoma governor campaign on education issues, but when they are elected, they have little direct oversight of the school system because the state superintendent is elected separately,” Small said. “Too often, we have seen an elected state superintendent work at cross-purposes to the governor. We saw that with former state Superintendent Joy Hofmeister, who oversaw the worst academic declines in decades even as school spending exploded and then ran for governor against Kevin Stitt on a platform of improving the education decline she helped create.

Gov. Stitt appoints Lindel Fields to finish Walters' term as State Superintendent

In his press conference at Eisenhower International School, Gov. Stitt called for the legislature to pass a constitutional amendment changing the State Superintendent of Public Instruction from an elected position to one appointed by the Governor, before announcing his selection of Lindel Fields, a former longtime Career Tech superintendent.

Stitt announced as part of the "turnaround team" the following individuals: Connie Riley (Office of Educational Quality and Accountability), Kristen Stevens, Romel Muex-Pullen, Megan Oftedal, former State Rep. Tom Newell, Tara Thompson, and current Secretary of Education Nellie Sanders.

Small: OSSAA abuses merit lawmakers’ response

OSSAA abuses merit lawmakers’ response

By Jonathan Small

Oklahoma law allows “open transfer,” meaning any student in Oklahoma can attend any public school with room. But the Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) too often prevents transfer students from playing sports, effectively undermining the open-transfer law. OSSAA board members, who are mostly school superintendents, often see “recruiting” whenever a competitor school might get transfers.

The OSSAA recently barred four teenage boys from playing basketball for Glencoe, alleging recruitment because the boys have long known new Glencoe basketball coach Garrett Schubert and his son, Maddox.

The OSSAA’s Board of Directors voted 12–0 to declare the four boys ineligible. The boys’ families filed a lawsuit on Aug. 14.

Speaker Hilbert: investigation into "bizarre accident" vindicates both Walters and board members

The latest turn of events in the the State Department of Education TV-Gate drama: House Speaker Kyle Hilbert thinks the bottom has been reached and the actual truth discovered, and it was all a bizarre accident.

House Speaker Comments on SDE Investigation

Oklahoma City (August 5th) - Statement from Speaker Kyle Hilbert Regarding Investigation into State Department of Education TV Incident:

"On Friday, July 25, two members of the State Board of Education made graphic allegations concerning what they say was visible on a television in the State Superintendent’s office during an executive session the previous day. Due to the serious and disturbing nature of these claims, I immediately called for an independent and transparent third-party review to determine exactly what occurred.

That weekend, I spoke directly with State Superintendent Ryan Walters. He assured me that he welcomed a thorough investigation and had requested the Office of Management and Enterprise Services (OMES) to come onsite to investigate. OMES confirmed with me that they would begin their work on Monday, July 28, which they did.

The bizarre case of the latest Walters drama - and why he's likely innocent here

As you might have heard in the news, some bizarre allegations surfaced after a State Board of Education meeting last week. Two recently appointed board members told members of the press that they saw "naked women" on a TV in State Superintendent Ryan Walters' office during an executive session last Thursday, reportedly interrupting the meeting to ask Walters to turn the TV off.

Sharp words and denials have flown back and forth, along with the commencement of investigations by OMES and the Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office. The more that comes out, however, the more unlikely the first report sounds, and the more it seems that this time, the drama around Walters is completely unfounded, an unfortunate and bizarre misunderstanding, and that Walters is innocent of any wrongdoing here. Let's look at what we know so far.

Small: On teacher pay, perception and reality often clash

On teacher pay, perception and reality often clash

By Jonathan Small

In a press release issued earlier this year, House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson of Oklahoma City declared that Oklahoma ranks “last in the region for teacher pay.”

That claim may align with longstanding stereotype, but not with reality. By any measure, Oklahoma teacher pay is not the last in the region nor anywhere near the bottom. And nationally, our average teacher pay is in the middle-tier of states.

It’s not “right wing” entities making that claim, but data from liberal entities including the National Education Association (NEA), a teachers’ union, and the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA), a lobbying entity employed by public schools.

OK House Education chair: Walters' school lunch mandate is "empty threat"

Education Chair Dismisses SDE Mandate as "Empty Threat"

OKLAHOMA CITY (July 9th) – Oklahoma House Education Committee Chair Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, reacted to the Monday announcement by State Superintendent Ryan Walters that he would require all school districts in the state to provide free lunches to all students at the cost of employee salaries. The Superintendent does not have the Constitutional or legal authority to direct how individual school districts allocate their budgets.

"This attempt to overstep the authority of Walters' office is a threat to the independent decision-making power of Oklahoma's school districts. Regardless, it is nothing more than an empty threat," said Lowe, a former ag teacher. 

State Sup't Walters: schools must fully fund student meals with existing state/fed dollars

Walters Demands End to Bureaucratic Bloat

Oklahoma Schools Must Fully Fund Student Meals

Oklahoma City, OK – Starting in the 2025/2026 school year, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) will mandate that every school district fully funds student meals using existing state and federal operational dollars. For too long, Oklahoma’s students and taxpayers have been fleeced by gross mismanagement and bloated bureaucracies that prioritize administrative paychecks over kids’ basic needs. This stops now.

Melissa Evon named 2025 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year

Melissa Evon named 2025 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year

Among 10 finalists, Evon of Elgin Public Schools will take home the award

Norman, OK (June 27th) – Tonight, OSDE is proud to announce that the 2025 Oklahoma State Teacher of the Year award went to Melissa Evon of Elgin Public Schools. She was joined by an esteemed group of nine other finalists who were also up for the award.

“Melissa represents the very best Oklahoma has to offer,” said Superintendent Walters. “She has the heart of a teacher and unmatched passion for her students and we are so proud to recognize her exemplary work tonight.” Each year, the Teacher of the Year award goes to a teacher who demonstrates excellence, hard work, and commitment to their students and peers.

State Sup't Walters attends launch of new White House Founders Museum

Superintendent Walters attends historic event at White House

New initiative launched by President Trump will bring reverence for American history to students and organizations nationwide

Washington, DC (June 18th) – Yesterday, State Superintendent Ryan Walters joined Second Lady, Usha Vance, and Secretary of Education, Linda McMahon at the White House for the historic launch of the White House Founders Museum. This launch by the Trump White House is an unprecedented, America-First initiative that will show students critical elements to the proud history of this great country.