Articles
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Education, Law & Principles
School-board election reform nears governor’s desk
Legislation that would shift school-board general elections to a November ballot may now be just one vote away from Gov. Kevin Stitt’s desk.Ray Carter | April 19, 2022
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Education
Oklahoma’s confusing bathroom policy: context and legal background
Stillwater Public Schools has been in the news recently for a policy that permits transgender students to use the restroom that aligns with their gender identity.Ryan Haynie & Kimberly M. Richey | April 19, 2022
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Education, Culture & the Family
Mothers urge change to Stillwater bathroom policy
During the public-comment portion of the April 12 meeting of the Stillwater Board of Education, many parents urged the district to change its policy allowing transgender students—males who identify as female—to use the girls’ bathrooms.Ray Carter | April 13, 2022
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Education
Competition drives improvement in public schools
The overwhelming evidence shows that when public schools cease to be monopolies, they improve.Byron Schlomach, Ph.D. | April 13, 2022
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Education
AG O’Connor: School transgender bathroom policy not mandated
There is no legal requirement forcing Oklahoma public schools to allow transgender individuals—biological males who identify as female—to have unfettered access to girls’ bathrooms, according to Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor.Ray Carter | April 11, 2022
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Education
State official criticizes Stillwater school bathroom policy
In a letter sent to the Stillwater Board of Education, Oklahoma Secretary of Education Ryan Walters said the board has adopted an “incorrect interpretation” of its requirements under federal Title IX law by declaring that students must be allowed to choose bathroom facilities based on self-identified gender identity rather than biology.Ray Carter | April 8, 2022
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Education
Hofmeister: School transgender bathroom policies mandatory
A spokesperson for State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister says Oklahoma public schools must allow students to use the bathroom of their choice, based on the student’s self-professed gender identity, and cannot restrict bathroom access based on biological gender.Ray Carter | April 7, 2022
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Education
Stillwater transgender-bathroom policy in place ‘for years’
Amidst pushback from parents about Stillwater Public Schools’ policy of allowing students to choose the bathroom facility that aligns with their self-proclaimed gender identity and not biology, the school’s superintendent recently announced that policy has been in place “for many years.”Ray Carter | April 7, 2022
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Education
Grand jury investigation sought for Shawnee schools
State Sen. Shane Jett has asked Oklahoma Attorney General John O’Connor to conduct a multi-county grand jury investigation into the Shawnee Public Schools district following citizen reports of a “systemic pattern” of school officials ignoring and covering up alleged student abuse by former coach Ron Arthur.Ray Carter | April 7, 2022
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Education
Let parents, not the state, decide on pre-K
It’s time to empower parents through school choice programs—including for pre-K—to make the right decision for their own children.Greg Forster, Ph.D. | April 5, 2022