Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE)

Nearly $78 million in funding for Oklahoma schools is being withheld by the Trump administration as part of a nationwide block of federal education funding.

This year's legislative session did not see the budget fireworks of 2024 or the historic education funding of 2023, but lawmakers still managed to add $25 million into the state funding formula, along with new programs and regulations.

Oklahoma lawmakers have entered the final three weeks of the 60th regular legislative session. Hundreds of bills have been sent to Gov. Kevin Stitt, and he’s already acted on some. Still looming: budget negotiations.

Former Oklahoma Attorney General Mike Hunter is suing the State Board of Education on behalf of half a dozen plaintiffs. Hunter is questioning the board's approval of the latest proposed academic standards.

Republican lawmakers have suggested rejecting a controversial proposal to have Oklahoma public schools ask for proof of U.S. citizenship during enrollment.

Oklahoma lawmakers are allowing a set of newly proposed social studies education standards to take effect without any action. Opposed by a bipartisan group of lawmakers, the rules are criticized for focusing on 2020 election denialism and could have been rejected with a resolution. Democrats call the inaction a failure.

Despite bipartisan calls for a resolution to reject controversial proposed social studies standards, the legislature let Tuesday's deadline pass without a floor hearing.

The resolution states “questions exist regarding the transparency of the subject matter standard adoption process.”

Lawmakers are aiming to bolster their influence over proposed state agency administrative rules. The efforts come amidst public uproar about the education department’s most recent slate of proposed rule changes.

In a litigious week for Oklahoma’s top education official, state Superintendent Ryan Walters has both sued and been sued by advocacy groups.