Oklahoma Board Of Education Denies TPS, Mustang Accreditation Status Appeal

The State Board of Education said it will not change its ruling that lowered the accreditation status of Tulsa Public Schools.

For more than 45 minutes, school leaders and parents addressed the board's decision. One after another, they asked for reconsideration.

When it was time to vote, the board quickly turned them down.

Tulsa Public Schools Superintendent, Deborah Gist, spoke to the board publicly for the first time since its decision to downgrade the districts accreditation.

“Team Tulsa and I are here today to humbly ask that you reconsider our accreditation decision,” Dr. Gist said.

Gist was joined by several school leaders and parents who pleaded with the board to overturn its decision.

The decision was made in July when the district was found to be in violation of House Bill 1775. This is the law which regulates how race and gender are taught in schools.

"Your actions today can send a message to all Oklahoma educators that they are appreciated, valued, and most of all respected,” TPS Board President, Stacey Woolley said.

The rising concern among parents and teachers who spoke today is that educators are worried about doing their jobs.

Ashley Daily is a parent of a student in Tulsa Public Schools. She said the ruling creates a negative place for learning.

“It’s creating a very scary and sad environment and its not leaning towards, you know, a world that I want for any of us,” Daily said.

The board also denied Mustang Public Schools' appeal after it, too, received lowered accreditation status.

Superintendent Charles Bradley released a statement, saying in part: "We simply do not understand why a prior decision made in haste without context or facts would not be reconsidered."

Mustang Parent, Aaron Tiger, said he knows those in education are committed to the best for his kids and thousands of others.

“Many of us are not anxious about sending our kids to get indoctrinated. We are anxious about sending our kids to schools that have terrified teachers,” Tiger said.

The board will revisit the accreditation status for both districts next summer.