There were zero speakers at two public hearings held Friday regarding the Oklahoma State Department of Education's new proposed rules. The new rules would establish policies regarding diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and teacher conduct.
Public comment periods on state Department of Education proposed rules often end on the date a legally required public hearing is scheduled. The public also had the opportunity to comment on the proposed rule by email, regular mail, or other means.
Only nine people were in the Oliver Hodge Building boardroom during the morning public hearing on the proposed DEI rules: five state Department of Education employees and four members of the media. The proposed rules, announced by State Schools Superintendent Ryan Walters just before Christmas, received a lot of criticism and criticism. praise. Erin Smith, the agency's assistant general counsel, held the meeting for 20 minutes, but no one spoke.
During the afternoon session on the teacher action proposal, the same group except one member of the media was on hand, and Assistant General Counsel Nathan Downey did what Smith had done earlier in the morning.
Walters’ proposal on DEI is similar to Stitt’s mandate.
Walters said his proposal would ban the use of state funds for DEI programs in Oklahoma's K-12 schools and allow teachers and administrators to use what he called “sexually “Provocative acts” will be excluded,” he said.
The DEI proposal mirrors Governor Kevin Stitt's executive order issued in early December that required Oklahoma state agencies and institutions of higher education to review DEI positions, departments, activities, procedures, and programs. , and requests that the contents of the order be “excluded and dismissed.” Referred to as “non-essential personnel.”
Walters' proposal would prohibit public school districts from using funds, assets, or resources to create or support DEI positions or departments, and from requiring DEI education or training.
The second proposal would allow teachers in Oklahoma to be fired or refused employment if they are found to have engaged in sexual conduct or sexual conduct in the presence of minors or in a manner available to minors online. , or may be refused re-employment.” Applies to contemporary community standards; appeals to the public's perceived sexual interest in sex, or promotes excessive sexual orientation, taking into account the educational value of the material and the minimum age of students who may have access to the material; the act of doing. ”
The proposal comes after Walters had a public dispute with Western Heights Public Schools last year after it was revealed that the district's principal had been performing as a drag queen. It was done. The principal has since resigned, but Western Heights officials say the district spent about $65,000 on security and hiring staff after Walters highlighted the situation.
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Only one speaker attended Thursday afternoon's public hearing on another proposal in the Walters rule that would tie school accreditation to student academic performance.
Another public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday at 2 p.m. on several proposals, including a proposal to create the state's “Declaration of Fundamental Values and Principles of Public Education.”
The proposed rule, which was the subject of a public hearing, will likely be discussed at next Thursday's regular monthly meeting of the State Board of Education. If approved by the board, it would require review by both the Legislature and the governor before it goes into effect.
