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School responses in Oklahoma to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic

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Responses by state

As students returned to school for the 2021-2022 school year, states set a variety of policies on education and the COVID-19 pandemic, including how schools should open to in-person instruction and whether students and staff would be required to wear masks. By the end of the 2020-2021 school year, about 66% of students nationwide were in states that left closure decisions to schools or districts, 33% were in states with state-ordered in-person instruction, and 1% were in states with state-ordered regional school closures.[1][2] All 50 states closed schools to in-person instruction at some point during the 2019-2020 school year in response to the coronavirus pandemic.

This article summarizes responses to the coronavirus in Oklahoma schools in the academic years ending in 2020, 2021, and 2022. You will find:

Ballotpedia’s coverage of COVID-19 includes how federal, state, and local governments are responding, and how those responses are influencing election rules and operations, political campaigns, the economy, schools, and more.

This page is updated monthly, but our email is always open. We encourage you to share updates from local officials, policymakers, and campaigns in your community at editor@ballotpedia.org.


Timeline by school year

Below is a list of major events involving schools in Oklahoma during the coronavirus pandemic between 2019 and 2022, including school closings and openings, mask requirements, and the release of statewide operating guidance. Know of something we missed? Click here to email us and let us know.

2021-2022 school year

  • Sept. 9, 2021: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio, a school data aggregator, reported sixty-three in-person schooling disruptions in Oklahoma.[3][4]
  • Sept. 1, 2021: ​​Oklahoma County District Court Judge Natalie Mai temporarily blocked the Oklahoma Department of Education from enforcing Senate Bill 658, which prohibited school mask requirements. Several Oklahoma parents and the Oklahoma State Medical Association sued to block enforcement of the law on Aug. 12.[5]


2020-2021 school year

  • June 29, 2021: At the end of the school year, Burbio reported most schools were in-person in Oklahoma .[6][7]
  • Sept. 10, 2020: At the beginning of the school year, Burbio reported about half of schools were in-person in Oklahoma .[8][9]
  • July 31, 2020: Gov. Kevin Stitt (R) announced a distribution system for school PPE and said that schools would reopen for in-person instruction in the fall.[10]
  • June 3, 2020: The Oklahoma Department of Education released guidelines for reopening schools for the 2020-2021 school year.[11]


2019-2020 school year

Mask and vaccine requirements in the 2021-2022 school year

Mask requirements in schools

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

As of August 1, 2022, no states had school mask requirements in effect. Forty-two states left mask requirements in schools up to local authorities. Seven states banned school mask requirements.

The table below shows statewide school mask requirement laws and orders in states with school mask requirements or school mask requirement bans in place at the end of the 2021-2022 school year.

Mask requirement orders
State Ban or requirement? Type of order Date lifted or altered
Arizona Ban Legislative action N/A
Arkansas Ban Legislative action Sept. 30, 2021 - Suspended by court action
California Requirement California Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Connecticut Requirement Executive order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Delaware Requirement Executive order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Florida Ban Executive order N/A[14]
Georgia Ban Legislative action N/A
Hawaii Requirement Executive order Aug. 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Illinois Requirement Illinois Department of Public Health order Feb. 4, 2022 - Suspended by court action[15]
Iowa Ban Legislative action May 16, 2022 - Reinstated by court action[16]
Kentucky Requirement Kentucky Board of Education order Sept. 9, 2021 - Suspended by state law
Louisiana Requirement Executive order Feb. 16, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[17]
Maryland Requirement Maryland State Board of Education order March 1, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[18]
Massachusetts Requirement Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education order Feb. 28, 2022 - Lifted by executive action[19]
Nevada Requirement Executive order Feb. 10, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Jersey Requirement Executive order March 7, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New Mexico Requirement New Mexico Public Education Department order Feb. 17, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
New York Requirement Executive order March 3, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Oklahoma Ban Executive order N/A
Oregon Requirement Oregon Health Authority and Department of Education order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
Pennsylvania Requirement Pennsylvania Department of Health order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Rhode Island Requirement Executive order March 4, 2022 - Lifted by executive action
South Carolina Ban Legislative action Sept. 28, 2021 - Temporarily suspended by court action
Tennessee Ban Executive order Dec. 10, 2021 - Suspended by court action
Texas Ban Executive order N/A[20]
Utah Ban Legislative action N/A
Virginia Ban Legislative action N/A
Washington Requirement Washington State Department of Public Health order March 12, 2022 - Lifted by executive action

School mask requirements over time

School mask bans over time


Teacher and school employee vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

Seven states had issued a statewide requirement for K-12 teachers and staff to be vaccinated against the coronavirus or receive regular coronavirus testing during the 2021-2022 school year. The table below shows teacher and staff vaccine requirement laws and orders in states that issued such policies during the 2021-2022 school year.

Vaccine requirement orders
State Testing instead of vaccination allowed? Type of order Date effective
California Yes California Department of Public Health order Oct. 15, 2021
Connecticut No Executive order Sept. 27, 2021
Delaware Yes Executive order Nov. 1, 2021
Illinois Yes Executive order Issued: Sept. 19, 2021
Suspended by court action on Feb. 4, 2022
New Jersey Yes Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
New York Yes Executive order Sept. 19, 2021
Oregon No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021
Washington No Executive order Oct. 18, 2021


Student vaccine requirements

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2021-2022 academic year

On Oct. 1, 2021, California was the first state to announce a vaccine requirement for eligible students. Louisiana also announced a vaccine requirement for eligible students on Dec. 14, but then announced the state would be removing the coronavirus vaccine from the list of required immunizations in schools on May 18, 2022.

School reopenings and closures (2020-2021 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2020-2021 academic year

Initial school year operating plan

See also: Documenting America's Path to Recovery: July 31, 2020

Oklahoma released an initial operating plan for the 2020-2021 school year on June 3, 2020. An analysis of this plan appeared in our Documenting America's Path to Recovery newsletter on July 31. The sections below include an analysis of the plan, the details of the plan, and reactions from officials to the plan.

The Oklahoma State Department of Education released its school reopening guidance on June 3. Superintendent Joy Hofmeister said, “It is not necessary to act on every consideration in this comprehensive framework. Rather, in keeping with the guidance we have received from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Oklahoma health officials, districts should take a layered approach to COVID-19 mitigation, adopting those policies and practices that are feasible, practical and acceptable within their school community.”

Oklahoma does not have an official date for public schools to reopen—individual districts can set their own timelines, depending on the virus’ effect on their community. According to EdWeek, public schools in Oklahoma traditionally start the academic year in mid-August, with the exact start date varying by district.

On March 16, the Oklahoma Department of Education closed schools from March 17 to April 6. The Department closed schools for the remainder of the school year on March 25.

Context

Oklahoma is a Republican trifecta. The governor is a Republican, and Republicans hold majorities in both chambers of the state legislature. The state became a Republican trifecta in 2011.

The following tables show public education statistics in Oklahoma, including a rank comparing it to the other 49 states. Rank one is the highest number of each figure, rank 50 is the lowest. All data comes from the Common Core of Data provided by the National Center for Education Statistics.

Oklahoma school metrics
Category Figure Rank
Per pupil spending (16-17) $8,977 48
Number of students (18-19) 698,800 26
Number of teachers (Fall 2016) 41,090 28
Number of public schools (18-19) 1,807 22
Student:teacher ratio (18-19) 16.5 16
Percent qualifying for free/reduced lunch (16-17) 62.5% 6


Oklahoma school revenue
Category Figure Rank
Total revenue $6,261,170,000 30
Federal revenue percent 11.5% 11
State revenue percent 49.4% 24
Local revenue percent 39.2% 28

Details

District reopening plans
School districts are encouraged to assemble a planning team to consider the recommendations put forth in the Return to Learn plan. Additionally, the document says districts should develop contingency plans in case schools need to close short-term or long-term and learning needs to be moved online.

In-person, hybrid, and online learning
The plan says school districts should plan to conduct most of the academic year on a traditional, in-person schedule. It also allows schools to conduct operations fully or partially online and encourages schools to develop online and hybrid options in case their community experiences a resurgence in coronavirus cases.

Mask requirements
The Department of Education allows school districts to develop their own policies on masks and other personal protective equipment. The plan notes that schools should encourage mask use when possible and says face coverings are especially recommended when social distancing cannot be practiced.

In-person health recommendations and requirements
The plan suggests school districts consider the following precautions to mitigate the spread of coronavirus and prepare for possible disruptions:

  • Adopt policies for screening staff, students and visitors prior to entry
  • Adopt policies for social distancing and gatherings
  • Develop a plan in the event that a positive case, or suspected case, is identified in the school
  • Create a tiered response for potential school closures
  • Promote a culture of good hygiene practices
  • Evaluate school cleaning practices
  • Review policies regarding school building use for non-school functions
  • Work with facilities manager to mitigate viral spread through ventilation systems
  • Adopt alternate school calendars
  • Consider staggering the days students are in school buildings
  • Adopt policies for virtual instruction
  • Consider adjusting routines to allow for social distancing in common areas
  • Consider reorganizing classrooms to maximize social distancing
  • Adjust attendance policies

For more information on each of the above points, click here (starting on page 11).

Transportation and busing requirements and restrictions
Oklahoma’s school reopening plan recommends districts implement social distancing to the greatest extent possible, stagger schedules, and refer to CDC guidance. The plan also encourages districts to:

  • Inspect buses that have not been thoroughly inspected since last fall.
  • Prior to transporting students, clean any school bus used for food distribution.
  • Require school bus drivers to attend in-service training before transporting students to ensure they understand new policies and procedures and how to effectively clean their buses.
  • Include cleaning of high-use areas – including steering wheel, handles and seat backs – in pre- and post-trip inspections.
  • Revise bus rider policies to reflect new district bus safety measures, which may include temperature checks before allowing a child to board, requiring passengers to wear a mask, marking seats off with tape to avoid children sitting too close to each other, etc.
  • Give transportation managers additional time to assign/reassign buses if social distancing requires using more buses in an effort to transport fewer students per bus.
  • Ensure transportation of students with disabilities or accommodations is in accordance with current Individualized Education Programs (IEP) and district policy.
  • Consider using a monitor (teacher’s aide or other staff) to ensure students practice social distancing.
  • Install a clear protective barrier behind or alongside the driver in accordance with applicable safety code.
  • Be mindful that transportation issues will change based on the evolving nature of the pandemic.

Map of school closures

The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2020-2021 academic year.

As of July 8, 2021, the status of school closures and reopenings was as follows:

  • Two states (Delaware, Hawaii) and Washington, D.C. had state-ordered regional school closures, required closures for certain grade levels, or allowed hybrid instruction only.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 410,896 students (0.81% of students nationwide)
  • Thirteen states had state-ordered in-person instruction.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 15,697,460 students (30.96% of students nationwide)
  • One state (Arizona) had state-ordered in-person instruction for certain grades.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 1,152,586 students (2.27% of students nationwide)
  • Thirty-four states left decisions to schools or districts.
    • 2019-20 enrollment: 33,449,499 students (65.96% of students nationwide)



School reopenings and closures (2019-2020 academic year)

See also: School responses to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic during the 2019-2020 academic year


The map below shows the status of school reopenings and closures at the end of the 2019-2020 academic year.

  • States closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 48
  • Number of public school students in states closed to in-person instruction for the remainder of the 2019-2020 school year: 50,261,464


The chart below shows the first date schools in a state were closed to in-person instruction during the 2019-2020 academic year, divided by the political party of the governor.

School responses by state

To read about school responses to the coronavirus pandemic in others states, click one of the following links below:

General resources

The chart below shows coronavirus statistics from countries across the world. The information is provided by Real Clear Politics.

Click the links below to explore official resources related to the coronavirus outbreak.


See also

Footnotes

  1. ↑ National Center for Education Statistics, "Number of operating public schools and districts, student membership, teachers, and pupil/teacher ratio, by state or jurisdiction: School year 2019–20," accessed September 10, 2021
  2. ↑ EducationWeek, "Map: Where Were Schools Required to Be Open for the 2020-21 School Year?," June 14, 2021
  3. ↑ To read more about Burbio's school disruption tracking, click here
  4. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed August 27, 2021
  5. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Oklahoma judge puts temporary hold on law banning mask mandates in schools," September 1, 2021
  6. ↑ Burbio rated Oklahoma's in-person index at 89.7. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  7. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  8. ↑ Burbio rated Oklahoma's in-person index between 40-60. To read more about Burbio's school opening tracker, click here. To read more about Burbio's methodology, click here.
  9. ↑ Burbio, "Burbio's K-12 School Opening Tracker," accessed Oct. 8, 2021
  10. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Stitt puts $10 million toward school PPE, promises teacher testing," July 31, 2020
  11. ↑ Oklahoma Department of Education, "State Department of Education releases school reopening framework," June 3, 2020
  12. ↑ The Oklahoman, "Coronavirus in Oklahoma: State Board of Education votes to keep school buildings closed, canceling remaining spring sports," March 25, 2020
  13. ↑ Tahlequah Daily Press, "Oklahoma schools to close until April 6," March 16, 2020
  14. ↑ On Sept. 2, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Sept. 10.
  15. ↑ Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) ended the statewide school mask requirement on Feb. 28, 2022.
  16. ↑ On Sept. 13, 2021 the ban was temporarily suspended by court action for all schools. On Jan. 25, 2022, the ban was partially reinstated.
  17. ↑ Oct. 26, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they followed CDC quarantine guidance
  18. ↑ Dec. 7, 2021 - School districts could be exempt from the school mask requirement if they met one of the three following criteria: 1) the county vaccination rate was 80% or higher, 2) 80% of school staff and students were vaccinated, or 3) COVID-19 transmission in the county was considered moderate or low for 14 straight days.
  19. ↑ Oct. 1 - Schools could become exempt from the school mask requirement when at least 80% of students were vaccinated
  20. ↑ On Nov. 10, 2021 the ban was suspended by court action. An appeals court upheld the ban on Dec. 1.
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