The Oklahoma Supreme Court has halted the rollout of the state’s newly approved 2025 social studies standards, which critics argue promote a “Christian Nationalist” agenda. In a ruling issued Monday, the court barred the State Department and State Board of Education from enforcing the standards while a lawsuit filed by parents makes its way through the legal system. The parents allege that the standards—containing multiple references to the Bible and Christianity—were pushed through in violation of the Open Meeting Act, as the public was not given proper notice before their adoption. They also contend the curriculum breaches state requirements for accuracy, age appropriateness, and constitutional protections for religious freedom.

As a result, Oklahoma schools will continue using the 2019 social studies standards for now. Advocacy groups such as Americans United for Separation of Church and State celebrated the ruling, warning that the 2025 standards would blur the line between public education and religious instruction. Their statement condemned the standards for presenting one version of Christianity in public classrooms, with President Rachel Laser declaring that “public schools are not Sunday schools.” Notably, the contested standards included lessons for second graders directing them to study how stories from Christianity—particularly the teachings of Jesus—shaped America’s founders and cultural heritage.

SOURCE: Christian Post