Oklahoma State Superintendent Lindel Fields announced Wednesday he will reverse several initiatives launched by former Superintendent Ryan Walters, including a Bible distribution plan now tied up in court.
Fields said his immediate plan includes filing a motion to dismiss an ongoing lawsuit and halting Walters’ proposal to “distribute Bibles or a Biblical character education curriculum in classrooms,” according to the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
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The mandate previously faced a lawsuit filed by a group of Oklahomans, who argued it imposes upon students’ religious liberty.
RELATED: Okla. Families, Teachers, & Faith Leaders File Lawsuit Against Ryan Walters’ Bible-Education Mandate
That lawsuit was filed against Walters and five State Board of Education members, none of whom still hold their positions.
The Oklahoma Supreme Court ordered Fields to determine whether the classroom Bible mandate would continue under his leadership, setting an Oct. 28 deadline.
SEE ALSO: Oklahoma Supreme Court says State Superintendent must decide fate of school Bible mandate
State law requires that when a public officer named in a lawsuit leaves office, the case transfers to their successor — in this case, Fields. Fields’ statement also mentioned that the timing aligns with a broader fiscal audit underway at the department, noting “the timing is fortunate, since the team and I are currently reviewing the budget.”
The statement ends with addressing the possible resources which could be left to be allocated, to which Supt. Fields mentions how “the timing is fortunate, since the team and I are currently reviewing the budget.”
Oklahoma State Department of Education Interim Communications Director Tara Thompson confirmed the agency will move to dismiss the lawsuit and that Fields has no plans to distribute Bibles or biblical materials in classrooms. She said OSDE will issue guidance to districts on how to proceed.
Thompson said the Supreme Court ordered an update by Oct. 28 since the previous respondents left office and the matter now legally transfers to their successor.
Other updates from Thompson:
- The board’s top priority is a full budget review, including how previous mandates affect costs.
- OSDE is reviewing all prior mandates and plans to restore district communication and autonomy, with state testing next on the agenda.
- The department found no record of a PragerU contract and is uncertain whether any agreement existed verbally or otherwise.
Related: Ryan Walters, OSDE partner with PragerU to vet teachers with ‘America First’ test
- Two employees have departed since the leadership transition.
- The Bible mandate remains blocked by a court order, and Fields has no plans to reinstate it.
- OSDE plans to seek dismissal of the social studies standards lawsuit. If necessary, Thompson said, reverting to the 2019 standards would be the simplest approach.
