Oklahoma is considering a new law to make the role of school district superintendent an elected position. This move comes as a response to a series of controversial incidents involving school leaders across the state. These incidents range from debates over removing certain books from school libraries to the handling of misconduct allegations against school staff.

Recent controversies have highlighted tensions between school officials and state leadership. For example, Governor Kevin Stitt previously criticized the dismissal of teachers who refused to comply with mask mandates during the COVID-19 pandemic, arguing that such actions violated state law. More recently, State Superintendent Ryan Walters, an elected official himself, clashed with Edmond schools over the presence of specific books in high school libraries, a situation he characterized as a "subversion of accountability."

Other incidents contributing to the push for elected superintendents include a controversial student fundraiser at Deer Creek High School that drew criticism from officials like Senator Ted Cruz, and the resignation of a superintendent in Muldrow following a drunk driving incident involving a school vehicle. Walters also cited a case involving a school's response to alleged misconduct by an athletic director as further justification for the proposed change.

Superintendent Walters argues that making superintendent positions elected would increase accountability and better align school leadership with the will of the voters. He believes this change is crucial to improving educational outcomes and protecting children. This proposed legislation follows other initiatives by Walters, such as securing funding to provide Bibles to Oklahoma schools, a move he framed as a countermeasure to "woke curricula."