Superintendent Ryan Walters: Protecting Oklahoma Children is Our Top Priority

Oklahoma City, OK – Following yesterday’s tragic school shooting in Minnesota, State Superintendent Ryan Walters reaffirmed that protecting Oklahoma’s children remains his top priority and emphasized the bold steps Oklahoma has taken to lead the nation in school safety.

In partnership with the legislature, Oklahoma parents, and schools the Walters’ administration has delivered significant results, including historic investment in school resource officers, implementation of Alyssa’s law, and statewide training and resources. More than 120 safety training sessions have reaching 5,800 school staff on threat assessments, crisis response, and prevention. The office has completed over 70 risk and vulnerability assessments to help schools strengthen campus security, deployment of mobile panic button protocols, and ongoing support for emergency drills. In addition, OSDE has provided guidance to first-year superintendents and assisted more than 50 schools in developing or refining their Emergency Operations Plans, ensuring that districts are equipped with clear, actionable strategies to keep students safe.

“Protecting Oklahoma’s children is my top priority,” said Superintendent Walters. “From training teachers, to ensuring schools have the right tools in place for emergencies, we are setting a national standard for how school safety should be done. Parents can know with certainty that Oklahoma is leading the way in safeguarding our classrooms and their children.”

The bottom line is simple: parents deserve peace of mind knowing their children are safe and protected. We remain committed to driving strong outcomes that secure students, educators, and Oklahoma’s schools for generations to come.