OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma’s top education official, Superintendent Ryan Walters, is pushing forward with plans to place Bibles in every public school classroom by fall — even though the state Legislature has declined to fund his $3 million request to purchase the books.
During a May 16 news conference, Walters said his agency has been exploring multiple ways to obtain copies of the Bible despite the budget impasse. “The Legislature can put the money there or not. We’re going to have a Bible in every classroom this fall. So that’s going to happen,” he said.
A Broader Push to Infuse Religion into Schools
Walters’ efforts are part of a wider conservative movement to introduce religious teachings into public education. Across the country, some states have enacted or proposed laws requiring religious displays or Bible-based curricula. For instance, Louisiana’s law mandating the Ten Commandments in classrooms was blocked by a federal judge in 2024, and Texas recently proposed Bible teachings in schools.
Local School Districts Push Back
Since Walters announced the Bible mandate in June 2024, many large Oklahoma school districts have largely ignored it during the 2024-25 school year. Walters also sought to spend millions on “Trump Bibles,” endorsed by former President Donald Trump, though legislative resistance has curtailed those plans. The department purchased 532 copies for under $25,000, he confirmed.
Walters insists the Bible is foundational to American history. “It’s something I will continue to fight for until every kid understands the history of America includes the Bible and biblical principles,” he said.
Legal Battles Ahead
Walters’ Bible mandate and Bible purchases face a pending lawsuit before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, which temporarily halted his recent efforts to fund the Bible purchase. In response, Walters launched a nationwide campaign with country singer Lee Greenwood, asking for Bible donations to Oklahoma schools. He claims the campaign has brought in “quite a few” donations but did not specify numbers.
Religious Themes in New Academic Standards
Walters has also embedded numerous references to the Bible and Christian faith into Oklahoma’s new social studies academic standards, which took effect earlier this month. The state legislature declined to reject these standards despite opposition.
However, a group of Oklahoma taxpayers, led by former state Attorney General Mike Hunter, has filed a lawsuit challenging how Walters pushed the standards through, alleging that last-minute changes were made without adequate notice to board members or the public. The plaintiffs also claim Walters misled board members about legislative deadlines to force a rushed vote.
Upcoming Court Hearing
Oklahoma County District Judge Brent Dishman is scheduled to hear a request for a temporary restraining order on May 22 that could halt the standards’ implementation. Due to the hearing, the state Board of Education moved its monthly meeting from May 22 to May 21, with the agenda to be posted in advance.
**This article was written by [Marcel Galligan]. AI was used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.**
