Starting next school year, Oklahoma high school students learning U.S. history will study familiar topics like the Industrial Revolution, women’s suffrage, and America’s growing role in global affairs — and now, conspiracy theories related to the 2020 presidential election.
Under new K-12 social studies standards revised by Republican State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the curriculum now reflects his push to promote national pride and Biblical references while targeting what he calls “left-wing indoctrination.”
“The left has been pushing left-wing indoctrination in the classroom,” Walters said. “We’re moving it back to actually understanding history … and I’m unapologetic about that.”
The previous standard only asked students to “Examine issues related to the election of 2020 and its outcome.” The new version goes further, directing students to “Identify discrepancies in 2020 elections results by looking at graphs and other information, including the sudden halting of ballot-counting in select cities in key battleground states, the security risks of mail-in balloting, sudden batch dumps, an unforeseen record number of voters, and the unprecedented contradiction of ‘bellwether county’ trends.”
This new language sparked concern, including among some Republicans. Governor Kevin Stitt and lawmakers raised objections to last-minute additions — including claims about COVID-19 originating from a Chinese lab — that were inserted just hours before the vote.
A lawsuit filed by parents and educators says the process lacked proper review and accuses the standards of pushing a one-sided view of history.
Despite pushback from teachers and lawmakers, efforts to reject the standards failed. Pro-Trump groups like Moms for Liberty warned GOP legislators against opposing them, threatening political consequences.
“In the last few election cycles, grassroots conservative organizations have flipped seats across Oklahoma by holding weak Republicans accountable,” the group warned in a letter.
Ryan Walter speaks at a rallyWalters defended the changes, saying they “encourage critical thinking” and do not tell students what to believe. He argued they simply ask students to examine real events and reach their own conclusions.
Recounts, audits, and court rulings across contested states all upheld President Joe Biden’s 2020 victory. Dozens of legal challenges from former President Trump were dismissed.
Critics say the new standards use misleading language designed to push a certain viewpoint.
Democrats see the changes as political theater meant to raise Walters’ profile ahead of a possible run for governor.
“It’s harmful posturing and political theater that our kids do not need to be subjected to,” said Sen. Mark Mann, a Democrat from Oklahoma City.
Education experts warned that the changes could damage Oklahoma’s reputation for strong social studies education.
Brendan Gillis of the American Historical Association said Oklahoma’s previous standards were “quite good,” but the current version forces in too much Biblical content and misrepresents key parts of U.S. history.
David Griffith of the conservative Thomas B. Fordham Institute said he wasn’t aware of any other state inserting false claims about elections into their standards. He described the update as “unfortunate” and said pushing conspiracy theories is “inappropriate.”