Oklahoma Education Crisis Deepens Amid Scandal and Decline

Oklahoma parents are returning their children to school this year amid a stark reality: the state now ranks 50th nationally in public education quality, with only New Mexico performing worse and the District of Columbia also included at the bottom. Leading this declining trajectory is State Superintendent Ryan Walters, a prominent conservative aligned with the MAGA movement, whose actions and controversies have drawn significant scrutiny. Recently, Walters faced allegations reported by The Oklahoman that two members of the State Board of Education observed images of nude women on Walters' office television during an executive session. The Oklahoma County Sheriff's Office has launched an investigation into these claims. Walters dismissed the allegations as "politically motivated attacks," accusing opponents of spreading "desperate lies" and accusing them of collusion with Governor Kevin Stitt, who appointed the board members. Walters also criticized teachers' unions and the media. In March 2023, Walters disregarded a state law prohibiting the sharing of sexually explicit content via government email by intentionally sending pornographic images to legislators, purportedly to demon...