OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Oklahoma’s far-right State Superintendent Ryan Walters is once again facing legal pushback as parents, teachers, and faith leaders demand the state’s highest court block his latest attempt to force Bibles and Bible-based curriculum into public schools.

In a brief filed today with the Oklahoma Supreme Court, plaintiffs in the lawsuit Rev. Lori Walke v. Ryan Walters argued that Walters’ plan to use taxpayer dollars to purchase 55,000 Protestant Bibles and fund Bible-infused instructional materials violates the Oklahoma Constitution’s religious freedom protections.

This isn’t the first time Walters has pushed his Christian Nationalist agenda into state education. Last year, he mandated all public schools incorporate the Bible into their curriculum and attempted to spend $3 million in state funds to distribute Bibles in schools. That move was immediately met with legal challenges, and today’s filing makes it clear that opponents aren’t backing down.

Despite ongoing litigation, the Oklahoma State Department of Education (OSDE) recently submitted new requests for proposals (RFPs) in January and February—essentially doubling down on Walters’ Bible mandate.

The plaintiffs asked OSDE to pause these new RFPs until the Supreme Court rules on the case, but state officials refused.

Today’s brief lays out several legal arguments against Walters’ actions, including:

  • Unconstitutional Religious Favoritism – Using public funds to promote a specific religious text violates Oklahoma’s constitutional protections for religious freedom.
  • No Legislative Approval – Walters is spending taxpayer dollars without legislative authorization, sidestepping state budgeting procedures.
  • Illegal Policy Implementation – Walters’ mandate ignores state laws governing public school curriculum standards and the Oklahoma Administrative Procedures Act.

Pushback from Civil Rights and Religious Freedom Groups

The ACLU, Americans United for Separation of Church and State, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, and the Oklahoma Appleseed Center for Law & Justice are leading the charge against Walters’ plan, arguing that his actions represent a blatant power grab.

““This Bible mandate is a deliberate power grab that violates Oklahoma law and flouts the separation of church and state,” said Daniel Mach, director of the ACLU Program on Freedom of Religion and Belief. “Public-school students, families, and teachers – and the taxpayers who support them – deserve better.”

Faith leaders also criticized Walters’ attempt to use religion as a political weapon. Rachel Laser, president of Americans United, stated, “The separation of church and state guarantees that families and students—not politicians—decide how to engage with religion. Walters continues to abuse his power to impose his personal beliefs on other people’s children.”

Meanwhile, Colleen McCarty, executive director of Oklahoma Appleseed, emphasized the financial burden of Walters’ actions. “The costs of these outlandish actions by our State Superintendent continue to climb, and he shows no signs of slowing,” she said. “We’re facing a budget shortfall and Oklahomans simply cannot afford these stunts for much longer. Oklahomans need a leader who will maintain the rule of law and educate our kids.”

A Growing Fight Over Public Education

The lawsuit, filed in October 2024, represents 32 Oklahoma parents, teachers, and faith leaders from diverse religious backgrounds, including Baptists, Catholics, Presbyterians, atheists, agnostics, and Indigenous community members. Many plaintiffs expressed concerns about how Bible-based teaching could lead to discrimination, bullying, and exclusion—particularly for LGBTQ+ students and those with special educational needs.

While Walters continues to push his personal religious agenda, his opponents are making it clear: they won’t let him rewrite Oklahoma’s public education system to serve his extremist ideology. The fight is now in the hands of the Oklahoma Supreme Court, and the outcome could set a major precedent for the future of church and state in public schools.

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