A $40,000-per-Year AI School With No Teachers Is Opening in Oklahoma This August - Oklahoma Watch

Alpha School, a billionaire-backed private school chain that replaces teachers with AI tutors and charges $40,000 a year in tuition, is opening campuses in Edmond and Tulsa in August. The model, which...

oklahomawatch.org

Can Oklahoma make public education ‘normal’ again?

A new state superintendent seeks to divorce schools from politics. June’s primary election could bring a return to culture-wars-style leadership

hechingerreport.org

A Crude Ad About a Banana — and a Primary That Could Tell Us Where the Republican Party is Headed - Oklahoma Watch

Oklahoma's June Republican gubernatorial primary has become an unexpected test case for the future of GOP politics. Attorney General Gentner Drummond is betting voters want pragmatic leadership on edu...

oklahomawatch.org

Birth Rates, School Choice Contribute to Falling Enrollment - Oklahoma Watch

There were 10,000 fewer students enrolled in Oklahoma public schools this year compared to last year, a dip of 1.5%. Observers say falling birth rates are the main culprit.

oklahomawatch.org

Jobs at Oklahoma Watch - Oklahoma Watch

We do not have any staff positions available at this time, but freelance investigative journalists are welcome to submit story pitches to tstreuli@oklahomawatch.org. We are interested in investigative...

oklahomawatch.org

From Surplus to Crisis: Epic Charter's Budget Collapse Prompts Forensic Investigation - Oklahoma Watch

Records obtained by Oklahoma Watch, including emails and text messages, offer a window into the chaotic months before Epic Charter Schools, the state’s largest online school, shed hundreds of jobs, ma...

oklahomawatch.org

Domestic Violence Board Chairman Resigns in Protest - Oklahoma Watch

A decision by the state’s domestic violence board exposed a rift over how a mandatory protective tool is to be used and led chairman and domestic violence advocate Brandon Pasley to resign.

oklahomawatch.org

Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances: A Look Back at Superintendent Walters Tenure - Oklahoma Watch

Ryan Walters grabbed headlines throughout his tenure as the state schools chief, racking up dozens of lawsuits over his controversial policies.

oklahomawatch.org

Split Decision Halts Oklahoma’s Plan to Open Religious Charter School - Oklahoma Watch

The U.S. Supreme Court deadlocked on St. Isidore, the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school, letting the state supreme court’s decision stand.

oklahomawatch.org

Oklahoma Public School Enrollment: What the Latest Data Tells Us - Oklahoma Watch

There were 697,358 students counted on Oct. 1, 2024, according to the Oklahoma Department of Education. That’s down 0.2% from 2023, and 0.9% lower than the all-time high of 703,650 set in 2019, before...

oklahomawatch.org

Governor appoints retired Edmond teacher to Oklahoma State Board of Education • Oklahoma Voice

Gov. Kevin Stitt's appointee, if confirmed by the Senate, would fill a board seat that has been vacant for two years.

oklahomavoice.com

Walters’ New Hires Steeped in Politics, Not Education - Oklahoma Watch

Is Superintendent Ryan Walters building a campaign team on his agency’s payroll? The Department of Education’s latest hires have resumes stacked with experience in political consulting.

oklahomawatch.org

Oklahoma federal judge tosses former teacher’s lawsuit against Walters • Oklahoma Voice

An Oklahoma City federal judge threw out a defamation lawsuit filed against state Superintendent Ryan Walters.

oklahomavoice.com

NAEP, the Nation's Report Card, was supposed to be safe. It's not

Funding pauses, layoffs and looming budget cuts threaten a critical test

hechingerreport.org

Free Speech in Crisis - Oklahoma Watch

Two Oklahomans were recently jailed in separate cases for posting untrue statements about someone who took exception. Both used an archaic state law that makes libel a crime.

oklahomawatch.org

Education Department Seeks to Buy Bible Lessons for Elementary Kids - Oklahoma Watch

The Oklahoma Department of Education initiated a new vendor search to purchase materials containing Bible-infused character lessons for elementary-aged students.

oklahomawatch.org

New Book Says There’s More to Holding Students’ Attention Than Silencing Phones

From the myth of multitasking to ‘attention contagion,’ high school teacher Blake Havard hopes to arm educators with the tools of cognitive science.

the74million.org

Stuck at the Bottom: Oklahoma Reading and Math Scores Stagnate - Oklahoma Watch

Oklahoma students’ scores in reading and math stagnated in 2024 and remained well below the U.S. average, according to national test results released this week.

oklahomawatch.org

Oklahoma Plan to Check Parents’ Citizenship Could Keep Kids from Going to School

The move comes as State Superintendent Ryan Walters sued two Biden administration officials Tuesday over border policies.

the74million.org

Governor’s office pushes back on reporting of high school graduation requirement change idea

Gov. Kevin Stitt’s office is pushing back on comments it says were taken out of context from an Oklahoma City news station story about changes to high school graduation requirements.

kgou.org

The Tiny Oklahoma School Trying to Bring Religion Back to Classrooms (Gift Article)

Officials in Oklahoma are laying the groundwork to push Christianity into public schools.

nytimes.com

Trump picks Linda McMahon to lead, and possibly dismantle, Education Department - The Hechinger Report

This story was produced by Chalkbeat and reprinted with permission. Former professional wrestling executive and billionaire Linda McMahon is President-elect Donald Trump’s pick to lead the U.S. Depart...

hechingerreport.org