Oklahoma high school standards push 2020 election misinformation
NBCMAY 18
Oklahoma High Schools to Teach 2020 Election Fraud Claims
Above: A supporter holds a sign outside the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, D.C., on April 30, 2025. Image copyright: Alex Wong/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Spin
Republican narrative
The new standards represent a necessary return to truthful, comprehensive education and empower students to think critically about significant historical events. These reforms will eliminate left-wing indoctrination from classrooms and ensure students receive an unapologetically pro-American education that examines legitimate concerns raised by millions of Americans about the 2020 election, free from liberal bias.
Democratic narrative
These politically motivated standards inject conspiracy theories into the classroom, weaken academic integrity and historical accuracy, and undermine election integrity by promoting debunked claims about voter fraud. Rather than fostering critical thinking, these requirements force teachers to present discredited claims as legitimate study topics, potentially damaging students' understanding of democratic processes.