Oklahoma Board Members Alarmed as WalletHub Ranks State Last in Education

Oklahoma school board members are voicing concern after new rankings placed the state 50th in education nationwide. The WalletHub report cited low spending, poor test scores, and high dropout rates, with particular focus on the growing reliance on emergency certified teachers. Superintendent Ryan Walters dismissed the rankings as meaningless, pointing instead to the 4,000 teachers hired this year. Board members argue the overuse of uncertified staff is hurting classroom quality, especially in rural areas. Some are calling for limits on how long emergency certifications can be used.