ACLU of Oklahoma Files Lawsuit to Block OSDE Bible Mandate

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. – The American Civil Liberties Union of Oklahoma (ACLU) along with 32 plaintiffs have filed a lawsuit asking the Oklahoma Supreme Court to block a Bible mandate from the State Department of education.

The lawsuit argues that the mandate violates religious freedoms established in the Oklahoma Constitution. Specifically, the state Constitution prohibits the use of public money for religious purposes. 

Defendants in the case include State Superintendent Ryan Walters, the five members of the State Board of Education as well as the Oklahoma Office of Management and Enterprise Services.

State Bible Memorandum 

On June 27, Superintendent Walters set forth a new memorandum.
The rule requires all state public schools to incorporate the Bible, including the Ten Commandments into school curriculum.

Several districts have publicly denounced the decision and stated that they will not follow the mandate. “If there is no curricular standard that ties with that particular classroom, what would be the purpose of a Bible if not for pure indoctrination?” said Bixby Superintendent Rob Miller.

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In September, Walters announced a $3 million budget request to provide the Bible to all state classrooms. The decision has since been met with criticism from state leaders and constituents alike.

“There are major gaps in funding public education in Oklahoma, and yet the State Superintendent continues to abandon the needs of our public school districts to push for policies that do not benefit teachers, students, or families,” said House Democratic Leader Cyndi Munson. 

Lawsuit

Now, the ACLU has partnered with parents, public school teachers and faith leaders to ask the state Supreme Court to block the mandate. Additional legal representation includes Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation and Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice. 

“The state mandating that one particular religious text be taught in our schools violates the religious freedom of parents and children, teachers, and taxpayers,” said plaintiff Rev. Lori Walke. “The government has no business weighing in on such theological decisions. I’m proud to join this lawsuit because I believe Superintendent Walters’ plan to use taxpayer money to buy Bibles and force public schools to teach from them is illegal and unconstitutional.”

Executive Director of the ACLU of Oklahoma Tamya Cox-Touré stated, “By filing this lawsuit, Oklahomans have come together in a common fight to reject the State Board of Education’s use of religion as a cover for repression.” She continued, “All families and students should feel welcome in our public schools and we must protect the individual right of students and families to choose their own faith or no faith at all.”

Another topic the lawsuits aims to address is a potential violation of the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act. Typically, there are specific rules that state agencies must follow when implementing new policies and budget requests. The Office of Management and Enterprise Services must review and approve agency budget requests. Additionally, budget requests are due by October 1, or at least nine months before the next fiscal year begins.