Oklahoma Senate Bill SB935

Oklahoma 2023 Regular Session

• Introduced: 2/6/23
• Refer: 2/7/23

Caption

Schools; creating the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (Stop W.O.K.E.) Act. Effective date. Emergency.

Impact

The Stop W.O.K.E. Act significantly alters the landscape of public education by enforcing a stringent framework against concepts deemed as promoting racial or gender superiority and other beliefs associated with CRT. Under this bill, public schools may be scrutinized and held accountable for any adherence to CRT-related teachings. Individuals, including parents and taxpayers, are granted standing to sue if they believe such instruction has occurred, thereby potentially increasing legal actions against school districts. The act's enforcement provisions further allow for the dismissal of educators who knowingly engage in promoting CRT, raising concerns about academic freedom and teacher autonomy.

Summary

Senate Bill 935, known as the Stop the Wrongs to Our Kids and Employees (Stop W.O.K.E.) Act, seeks to prohibit the instruction of certain concepts related to critical race theory (CRT) within public school curricula in Oklahoma. The bill amends existing educational guidelines to exclude supplemental materials that endorse, favor, or promote CRT, defined within the act as a divisive ideology linked closely to secular humanism. This legislation aims to ensure compliance with constitutional provisions surrounding the separation of church and state, asserting that teaching CRT may violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.

Contention

Debates surrounding SB935 are likely to be contentious, centered on issues of academic freedom versus the implications of teaching race-related concepts in schools. Proponents argue that the bill protects children from indoctrination and promotes a unified educational approach, while opponents highlight fears that it stifles critical discussions about race and social justice. This bifurcation creates a division among educators, parents, and lawmakers about how best to approach such sensitive topics within an educational framework while adhering to constitutional mandates.