OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — State Superintendent Ryan Walters said he's unlikely to renew agreements with any organization "that pushes a woke agenda, supports indoctrination, opposes parental empowerment, and provides duplicative services within Oklahoma's education system."
In a press release on Jan. 10, Walters named three non-profit/not-for-profit organizations providing services to teachers, school boards, and administrators, which he said he's planning to cut ties with — the Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA), the Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA), and the Oklahoma Public School Resource Center (OPSRC).
“For years, these groups have pushed an anti-parent, woke agenda. They have actively attacked parents, and they seek to keep kids in failed situations. That ends now,” Walters said.
The release began by saying the Oklahoma State Board of Education is "ending association" with these groups. The release ends by saying OSDE will review the relationship with OSSBA and the informal agreements with CCOSA and OPSRC and that the contracts are "unlikely to be renewed."
"Moving forward, OSDE will function as more of a “one-stop shop” to provide training, development, and services in ways that maximize efficiencies for taxpayers while providing high-quality resources for our schools," the press release said.
Walters also said the OSDE will review "any other ongoing partnerships with groups or organizations that have questionable content and practices that don't align with what is best for Oklahoma's students."
2 News took a look into the organizations Walters mentioned to see what they do for Oklahoma education. We've also reached out to each organization for comment. One representative was unaware of Walters' comments.
Oklahoma State School Boards Association (OSSBA)
- Provides training and information services to the state's approximately 2,500 locally elected school board members
- Founded in 1944
- Governed by a 32-member board of directors
- Directors are elected by members and serve two-year terms
- Non-profit
- Cost: Partnership opportunities range from $1,000 - $20,000 per year per district.
Mission statement: The Oklahoma State School Boards Association offers services that support, safeguard and advocate for Boards of Education in order to improve public education.
Executive Director, Dr. Shawn Hime, responded to 2 News' request for comment. Here is that response:
OSSBA is governed by locally elected school board members, and we’re proud of the work we do to support students through the education and services we provide to the state’s 2,500 school board members and their school districts. We strongly believe that students are best served when parents, families, communities, educators, and education leaders partner together. We know that every day matters for students. They are counting on us all to work in their best interest, and we are committed to continuing to establish and strengthen collaborative relationships centered on student success.
Click here to learn more about OSSBA.
Cooperative Council for Oklahoma School Administration
- Helps establish communication between educators, taxpayers and legislators to improve effectiveness of professional school administrators and to communicate the needs of the schools
- Founded in 1974
- Umbrella organization for five other groups: the Oklahoma Association of School Administrators (OASA), the Oklahoma Association of Secondary School Principals (OASSP), the Oklahoma Association of Elementary School Principals (OAESP), the Oklahoma Middle Level Education Association (OMLEA), and the Oklahoma Directors of Special Services (ODSS)
- 3,000 administrators in Oklahoma are members
- Cost: Members serving in an admin role $265-$425 per year, members not serving an admin role $50-150 per year.
Mission statement: To promote quality administrative leadership for Oklahoma schools through professional development, legislation, and member services.
CCOSA responded to 2 News' request for comment:
For the past five decades, the Cooperative Council of Oklahoma School Administration (CCOSA) – an individual membership organization - has served Oklahoma students by providing resources, professional development and public policy updates to superintendents, principals, special education directors and other school leaders throughout Oklahoma. Last year, over 5,400 educators attended CCOSA’s professional development events to serve those members, focusing on topics such as school finance, special education law and teacher evaluations.
These resources have been made available to educators in coordination and collaboration with the State Department of Education for the benefit of Oklahoma's 700,000 public school students. CCOSA has desired for continued partnership with the new administration.
As lifelong educators, we continue to encourage Supt. Walters and leaders at all levels to move beyond politics and prioritize public education with impactful investments and other support for Oklahoma students to succeed.
Click here to learn more about CCOSA.
Oklahoma Public School Resource Center
- Provide experts to assist member districts in the areas of teaching and learning, school finance, education law, communications, and instructional technology
- Founded in 2013
- Provides some resources to public schools regardless of membership: Superintendent Search Service, Education Technology series, Data Portal, and digital product comparison site, Learn Anywhere Oklahoma
- Cost: $2,500 per district ($1,500 for districts with less than 300 students) with some discounts available
Mission statement: Envisioning a quality public education for every child in Oklahoma. Our mission is to drive transformation and increased academic achievement within Oklahoma's public education system.
Representative John Waldron, D-Tulsa, denies Superintendent Walters' accusations that these organizations are "anti-parent."
"I don't think that's anything anybody has seen. Who elects school board members? Mostly, parents," said Rep. Waldron. "It's another smoke screen as to the superintendent can distract us from the big questions."
Rep. Waldron also pushed back against OSDE's claim that the partners are "union-led," according to its press release.
"There's no connection at all between unions and the State School Board Association, which represents elected school board members or school administrators," said Rep. Waldron.
OSSBA also told 2 News that it is not led by a union.
Click here to learn more about OPSRC.
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