'We initiated major changes': Walters responds to USDOE report on federal grant management

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. (KOKH) — On Tuesday, Oklahoma State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters (R) responded to a U.S. Department of Education consolidated performance review report.

The document, dated Jul. 25, directed the Oklahoma State Department of Education to take action in 32 of the 52 areas examined in its findings for fiscal year 2024.

However, Supt. Walters told FOX 25 in an interview that OSDE has already addressed the issues surrounding the use of federal grants in Oklahoma schools.

"There's nothing here that... isn't already been done or was being completed here months ago," he noted.

Walters also replied to critics like Oklahoma State Senate candidate Erin Brewer (D) who argued the report is "proof of Ryan Walters's failure" on X.

"We've got a narrative that's been pushed by... the radical left here of how this is somehow about what we're doing now. This is from the 2022-2023 school year," Supt. Walters added.

He also asserted, "As we moved into office in January [2023]... I said very publicly... there's major issues here in federal programming. We initiated major changes and procedures."

The areas USDOE identified as requiring action included updating guidance on parental notification of opportunities for English instruction for English learners, explaining OSDE disbursing of Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief dollars, and providing a plan for internal controls ensuring state officials use federal funds properly.

"With the feds, a lot of times there is this major delay on when they respond to some of those things. So again, we're constantly updating them as we receive correspondence from them on things that were done... over a year ago," shared Supt. Walters.

Walters said the state Legislative Office of Fiscal Transparency reviewed OSDE's procedures and gave the agency a green light. At the time, however, State Rep. Melissa Provenzano (D-Tulsa) expressed concern she wasn't getting all the answers she wanted.

He shared that OSDE will have no trouble fulfilling USDOE's directives as outlined in the report.

Supt. Walters stated, "I don't know why this particular person at the federal Department of Education didn't have the information but again... these are things that you give to folks all the time from the federal Department of Education. So look, this is another request for it, so we're happy to fulfill it."