Oklahoma Superintendent Rescinds Bible Directive for Schools

Oklahoma's newly appointed State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Lindel Fields, has rescinded a directive that required public schools to incorporate the Bible into lesson plans for students in grades 5 through 12. This mandate, established by former Superintendent Ryan Walters in 2024, had faced immediate condemnation from civil rights groups and prompted a lawsuit alleging it violated the Oklahoma Constitution by promoting a specific religion using public funds.

Fields, who assumed office on October 2, 2025, following Walters' resignation, stated, "I have no plans to distribute Bibles or a Biblical character education curriculum in classrooms." He emphasized that decisions regarding the inclusion of the Bible in classroom instruction should be left to individual districts and that purchasing Bibles is not an appropriate use of taxpayer resources.

The original directive from Walters had mandated the placement of Bibles in classrooms and their integration into lesson plans, justifying the move by highlighting the Bible's significance as a historical document essential for understanding Western civilization and the foundation of the U.S. legal system. However, this policy was met with immediate backlash from civil rights organizations and educators, leading to a lawsuit from a coalition of parents, teachers, and religious leaders. The lawsuit, currently pending before the Oklahoma Supreme Court, asserts that the mandate promoted a specific religion using public funds, thereby infringing upon the Oklahoma Constitution.

Jacki Phelps, an attorney for the Oklahoma State Department of Education, indicated plans to notify the court of the agency's decision to rescind the mandate and to seek dismissal of the ongoing lawsuit. This move is likely to be welcomed by civil rights groups and educators who opposed the original directive.

Fields' decision reflects a broader national conversation about the role of religion in public education. Similar mandates in other states have sparked legal challenges and debates over the separation of church and state. For instance, Louisiana recently mandated the display of the Ten Commandments in all classrooms, a move that has also faced legal scrutiny.

Fields' reversal of the Bible mandate signifies a pivotal moment in Oklahoma's education policy, highlighting the ongoing debate over religious content in public schools. By prioritizing local control and fiscal responsibility, Fields aims to navigate the complex intersection of faith and education while addressing legal challenges and public concerns.