Oklahoma Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters has ordered school district leaders across the state to refuse to comply with the U.S. Department of Education's updated Title IX rule finalized last week. The rule clarifies the scope of nondiscrimination protections for LGBTQ students while also empowering sexual assault survivors, a move imperative to the enhanced safety & protection of our LGBTQ students. Cathryn Oakley, HRC Senior Director of Legal Policy stated, “Yet again, Ryan Walters is choosing theatrics & extremism over protecting & furthering the needs of the students & schools he was elected to serve. Refusing to comply with Title IX could have damaging consequences for Oklahoma schools, including significant loss in funding on the order of hundreds of millions of dollars in a state that currently ranks 49th in academic achievement. It is clear that his only priority is himself & his own political profile–not Oklahoma students.” Refusing to comply with Title IX could put federal funding for Oklahoma school districts at risk. in 2021-22 Oklahoma received more than $800 million in school funding from the federal government or about 10% of its total revenue. According to the Oklahoma State Report card an average of $1,850.68 is spent per pupil in Oklahoma from federal funds which makes up 17.5% of the total $10,574.08 per-pupil expenditure. Ryan Walters has come under fire previously for his misuse of federal grant money. A whistleblower came forward earlier this month reporting that Walter’s incompetent leadership cost Oklahoma schools at least several million dollars. Friday I participated in a virtual press briefing with LGBTQ leaders, legal experts, civil rights leaders & student advocates about the new Title IX rule.
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