30+ Individuals and Organizations Join Interfaith Letter Opposing Proposed Oklahoma Social Studies Standards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Media Contacts
Sikh Coalition: media@sikhcoalition.org;
Interfaith Alliance: interfaithalliance@westendstrategy.com   

 

30+ Individuals and Organizations Join Interfaith Letter Opposing Proposed Oklahoma Social Studies Standards

February 26, 2025 (Tulsa, Oklahoma) — Today, a coalition of more than 30 Oklahoma-based religious, spiritual, ethical, and nonreligious organizations, houses of worship, communities, and individual community leaders, as well as member organizations of the Coalition for Religious Freedom in Public Schools and their partners, joined a letter expressing opposition to Oklahoma’s proposed social studies standards.

The letter, which centers on how the standards privilege and elevate Christianity at the expense of Oklahoma’s diverse student population and communities, reads in part as follows:

“[The] favoring of one faith tradition in public education violates Oklahomans’ right to religious freedom, which is protected by both the U.S. and Oklahoma Constitutions. We implore the Oklahoma State Board of Education to reject these proposed standards and instruct the Oklahoma Department of Education to further review and amend the standards to eliminate the biased prioritization of Christianity and its portrayal as the only religious tradition that has impacted American history and civic life … [W]e hold grave concerns about the quality of education that children will receive if the current proposed standards are approved.”

Read the full text of the letter and see the signatories here. 

These proposed social studies standards were announced in December 2024 and characterized as an “overhaul” by Superintendent Ryan Walters. The Oklahoma State Board of Education will meet to consider the standards, and public comments received on them, on Thursday, February 27, 2025.

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