Navigating HB1775

Be Proactive. Be Intentional.

By William D. Parker, OASSP/OMLEA Executive Director

A middle school principal talked with a parent who was upset about what she perceived was Critical Race Theory being taught in the school. The parent was fearful of what political messages the school may be sending, but wasn’t fully aware of what lessons were actually taught in the classroom.

The principal shared that it is not the school’s job to take a position on politics, but instead to teach respect for the dignity of others, specifically through the Oklahoma Academic Standards (OAS).

CCOSA created the School Leadership Guide to the OAS, which includes a summary of HB1775, the Emergency Rules issues from the Oklahoma State Board of Education and a guide to the OAS with practical suggestions. Access the guide here: https://tinyurl.com/4ajsd2c6.

These include the following considerations (abbreviated here):

1. Know the OAS, particularly in Social Studies.

2. Share links to the OAS so that everyone has access to the standards.

3. Share the focus on positive citizenship promoted in the standards within your building’s grade levels. For example, PK-2 emphasizes pride in country, its people and its symbols — the flag, the Pledge of Allegiance, and the national anthem.

4. Emphasize the positive. OAS in Social Studies teach children the principles that unite, inspire, and honor all Americans. This includes lessons on the Revolutionary War (5th and 8th grades), the Declaration of Independence (5th, 8th, and US History — 11th grades), and the Constitutional Convention (5th and 8th grades). Educators should teach with intellectual honesty and accuracy so that students learn to embrace and preserve the successes of previous generations while also identifying and avoiding their mistakes.

5. Be prepared and know standards that may create questions. Acknowledge that the standards, at appropriate grade levels, do include painful, difficult, and uncomfortable parts of our history. However, these subjects are included alongside topics that generate pride in our country by recognizing entrepreneurship (OKH.5.4) and American contributions during World War II (OKH.5.9).

6. Make sure that any supplemental instructional materials align with the OAS. Avoid teaching by Pinterest or the latest cool thing on YouTube or TikTok. Be intentional when choosing supplemental materials.

7. Ensure that your teachers are intentional about choosing their instructional activities and that the content clearly aligns with and supports the OAS and does not teach or promote any of the eight prohibited concepts identified both in law and in Rules.

CCOSA’s School Leadership Guide to OAS includes an article by Alicia L. Moore and Molly Deshaies on Ten Tips for Facilitating Classroom Discussions on Sensitive Topics. Ensuring your teachers are prepared to lead productive, well facilitated conversations is essential to good teaching. Moore and Deshaies explain ten areas in their article, including:

1. Set the stage.

2. Know yourself.

3. Recognize the diversity of your students.

4. Set a framework and objective for the discussion.

5. Provide a common base for understanding.

6. Be an active facilitator.

7. Foster civility.

8. Be prepared to deal with tense or emotional moments.

9. Summarize.

10. Reflect.

As Moore and Deshaies note, “Every teacher will inevitably face a moment in the classroom when a sensitive topic, situation or event arises. You can never be sure of when these topics will come up, but you can prepare yourself.” Managing feedback and concerns from students, teachers and parents can be challenging in the face of these new rules, but CCOSA is here to help in applying these practical suggestions in your schools. Reach out to Dr. Jeanene Barnett at barnett@ccosa.org with questions. ■