Oklahoma’s new social studies standards require high school U.S. history students to identify “discrepancies” in the 2020 election results. These standards, approved last month, have sparked debate due to their content and the expedited process through which they were enacted.
The standards reference aspects such as the halting of vote counting in certain cities, risks associated with mail-in voting, an unexpected surge in voter turnout, and “bellwether county” trends. These guidelines were championed by Ryan Walters, the state superintendent of public instruction, who presented them just hours before a February State Board of Education meeting, claiming they needed immediate approval to meet legislative deadlines.
The approval process drew criticism from some Republican lawmakers who argued that there was insufficient time to properly review the changes. Nevertheless, in April, the state Legislature chose not to block the standards, despite requests for them to be returned to the board for further review.
Supporters of the standards claim they encourage critical thinking among students by examining key aspects of the 2020 election. However, critics like Anton Schulzki from the National Council for the Social Studies and Tammy Patrick from the Election Center warn that the standards present certain unfounded claims as facts, which could cause confusion among students.
Despite the controversy, the standards are set to take effect next school year, though a lawsuit filed by a former Oklahoma attorney general could delay their implementation.
