December 18, 2025

Oklahoma Supreme Court Blocks New Social Studies Standards

Oklahoma City, December 18, 2025

The Oklahoma Supreme Court has permanently blocked the 2025 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies, stating that the State Board of Education violated the Open Meeting Act during their approval process. This ruling ensures that the 2019 standards remain in effect while new standards that comply with legal requirements are developed. The 2025 standards attracted controversy due to their references to Christianity and claims regarding the 2020 presidential election and the origins of COVID-19, leading to legal challenges from various stakeholders.

Oklahoma City – The Oklahoma Supreme Court has permanently blocked the implementation of the 2025 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies, ruling that the State Board of Education violated the Open Meeting Act during the approval process. As a result, the 2019 standards will remain in effect until new standards are properly adopted and approved.

The court determined that the version of the standards approved in February 2025 differed significantly from the version presented in December 2024, and that the public and board members were not given adequate notice of these changes. Specifically, the court found that the agenda for the February meeting did not sufficiently inform the public of the substantive standards being considered for adoption, violating the Open Meeting Act’s requirement for proper notice.

In response to the court’s decision, the Oklahoma State Department of Education announced that the 2019 standards will continue to be used in classrooms. The department emphasized its commitment to transparency and adherence to the Open Meeting Act in the development of new standards.

The 2025 standards had been controversial, incorporating references to Christianity and claims about the 2020 presidential election and the origins of COVID-19. These elements had sparked legal challenges from parents, teachers, and faith leaders who argued that the standards violated constitutional principles and lacked proper public notice.

With the court’s ruling, the State Board of Education is now tasked with creating new social studies standards that comply with legal requirements and address the concerns raised by various stakeholders.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What did the Oklahoma Supreme Court rule regarding the 2025 social studies standards?

The Oklahoma Supreme Court ruled that the State Board of Education violated the Open Meeting Act during the approval process of the 2025 Oklahoma Academic Standards for Social Studies. As a result, the 2025 standards cannot be enforced, and the 2019 standards will remain in effect until new standards are properly adopted and approved.

Why were the 2025 social studies standards controversial?

The 2025 standards were controversial because they included references to Christianity and claims about the 2020 presidential election and the origins of COVID-19. These elements sparked legal challenges from parents, teachers, and faith leaders who argued that the standards violated constitutional principles and lacked proper public notice.

What is the next step after the court’s decision?

Following the court’s decision, the Oklahoma State Board of Education is responsible for creating new social studies standards that comply with legal requirements and address the concerns raised by various stakeholders.

Key Features of the 2025 Social Studies Standards Controversy

Feature	Description
Legal Challenge	Parents, teachers, and faith leaders filed a lawsuit against the State Board of Education, arguing that the 2025 standards violated constitutional principles and lacked proper public notice.
Open Meeting Act Violation	The Oklahoma Supreme Court found that the State Board of Education violated the Open Meeting Act by approving standards that differed from the version presented in December 2024 without providing adequate notice to the public and board members.
Content of the Standards	The 2025 standards included references to Christianity and claims about the 2020 presidential election and the origins of COVID-19, which were points of contention among stakeholders.
Current Status	The 2019 social studies standards remain in effect, and the State Board of Education is tasked with developing new standards that comply with legal requirements and address the concerns raised by various stakeholders.