February 27, 2023
By News Director Jared Atha
State Rep. Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, along with Reps. Rhonda Baker, R-Yukon, and Mark McBride, R-Moore have publicly rubuked State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters comments he made during Thursday’s State Board of Education meeting regarding the state’s higher education system.
In a joint statement, the state legislators described his remarks as “disparaging toward the state’s higher education system.”
Walters announced at the start of the meeting that he has “great concerns about our state’s universities” being focused on ideology rather than setting up students for success in the workforce. He also questioned whether the state should be sending its students to Oklahoma colleges and universities.
In their joint statement, the three representatives said “It is clear the State Board of Education has no purview over Oklahoma’s system of universities and colleges, which are maintained by The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, a constitutional board. Even in his capacity as the governor’s appointed secretary of education, Walters has no true authority over the state’s system of higher learning,”
The statement went on to say:
“Data shows a college degree or Career Tech certification leads to better job opportunities and better salaries for young people,” their statement continues.
“At a time when building our workforce is more critical than ever in our state, the superintendent should refrain from discouraging any student from pursuing higher learning.
“We implore the state superintendent to focus on the job he was elected to do, which includes supporting increased outcomes for the children and the educators in our preK-12 classrooms.”
Moore chairs the House Higher Education and CareerTech Committee; Baker chairs the House Common Education Committee; and McBride chairs the House Appropriations and Budget Subcommittee for Education.
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