Oklahoma Schools to Ask Students to 'Identify Discrepancies' in 2020 Presidential Election Data

Oklahoma public schools will now require students to examine supposed "discrepancies" in the 2020 presidential election, a move critics say promotes disinformation under the guise of civic education.

On May 1, Oklahoma's Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters—a vocal ally of Donald Trump—pushed through new social studies standards that revise how the 2020 election is taught in public schools, as reported by the Daily Beast.

The previous curriculum encouraged students to "examine issues" related to the election. The new version goes further, instructing students to study claims linked to right-wing conspiracy theories, including ballot-counting pauses, mail-in ballot security, and "bellwether county" outcomes—none of which have withstood scrutiny from audits, court rulings, or bipartisan election reviews.

The updated curriculum comes in light of broader efforts by Walters to align Oklahoma's public education system with conservative values. Walters has also advocated for Bible distribution in classrooms, sought to remove lessons about Black Lives Matter and the murder of George Floyd, and proposed using curriculum from PragerU and the Heritage Foundation.

Meanwhile, a lawsuit filed by parents and educators alleges the process violated transparency laws and reflects a politically biased agenda.

Although a legislative effort to reverse the standards failed due to pressure from pro-Trump groups like Moms for Liberty, teachers and school administrators continue to raise alarms about potential misuse of the new standards to promote partisan narratives.