Jennifer Palmer

Norman

Education Reporter at Oklahoma Watch

Education reporter @OklahomaWatch. Cut my teeth at @rgsun. She/her. Tips welcome: jpalmer at oklahomawatch dot org or jennifer palmer okc at proton dot me

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Articles

Divided Court Hears Oklahoma Religious Charter School Case

2 weeks ago | oklahomawatch.org | Jennifer Palmer

Oklahoma was in the national spotlight Wednesday as the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in a case over the state’s desire to create the nation’s first publicly funded religious charter school. The justices seemed split along predictable ideological lines, with Republican-appointed justices sympathetic to the school and Democratic-appointed ones skeptical.
Walters’ New Hires Steeped in Politics, Not Education

3 weeks ago | okgazette.com | Jennifer Palmer

Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, who some pollsters predict is eyeing a run for governor in 2026, now has a team on the state’s payroll who have built their resumes managing political campaigns. One recent hire is Matt Mohler, a political strategist from Florida. Another is Chad Gallagher, who founded a consulting company and is a longtime advisor to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
Walters’ New Hires Steeped in Politics, Not Education

3 weeks ago | oklahomawatch.org | Jennifer Palmer

Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, who some pollsters predict is eyeing a run for governor in 2026, now has a team on the state’s payroll who have built their resumes managing political campaigns. One recent hire is Matt Mohler, a political strategist from Florida. Another is Chad Gallagher, who founded a consulting company and is a longtime advisor to former Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee.
Walters Awarded Staff Nearly $600,000 in Bonuses

1 month ago | oklahomawatch.org | Jennifer Palmer

Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters awarded nearly $600,000 in end-of-year bonuses to Department of Education staff in 2024. Most employees received an amount equal to 2.5% of their annual salary, an average of $1,700. A few received significantly higher amounts, payroll data shows. They include the department’s chief academic officer, Walters’ executive assistant, the director of social studies and the open records coordinator.
Education Watch: Sports families squeezed by stay-to-play

2 months ago | oklahomawatch.org | Jennifer Palmer

This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox. Competitive youth sports are already expensive, costing families thousands of dollars a year. Travel is the most expensive part. And these days, most tournaments use what’s known as stay-to-play. The tournaments direct teams to certain hotels and require rooms to be booked. Teams face steep fees or disqualification if they don’t comply.
Forced Housing, Hidden Kickbacks: How Stay-to-Play Squeezes Sports Parents

2 months ago | oklahomawatch.org | Jennifer Palmer

The deal is taking place all over the country, in volleyball and softball and hockey and soccer: Travel to our tournament and, unless you stay in one of our partner hotels, your kid doesn’t play. They know parents are already shelling out big bucks for their child’s sport. But if you want to find a cheaper hotel, drive your RV, stay with family or use hotel points, forget it. It’s against the rules. That’s because hidden in the hotel bill are kickbacks to the tournament.
Court Blocks Superintendent Walters’ Bible Purchase, For Now

2 months ago | swoknews.com | Jennifer Palmer

The Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked the state from purchasing Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms. A court order issued Monday bars Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, the Department of Education, the Board of Education and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from further implementing or enforcing Walters’ Bible mandate until a lawsuit over the Bibles is resolved. kAm%96 @C56C 2AA=:6D E@ E96 dd[___ z:?8 y2>6D q:3=6D D@F89E 3J E96 DE2E6 =2DE J62C 2D H6== 2D 2?
Court Blocks Superintendent Walters’ Bible Purchase, For Now

2 months ago | okgazette.com | Jennifer Palmer

[{ "name": "Ad - RectangleUpper - 1", "insertPoint": "4", "component": "12650428", "requiredCountToDisplay": "1" },{ "name": "Ad - RectangleMiddle - 1", "component": "12650429", "insertPoint": "8", "requiredCountToDisplay": "7" }] The Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked the state from purchasing Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms.
Court Blocks Superintendent Walters’ Bible Purchase, For Now

2 months ago | oklahomawatch.org | Jennifer Palmer

The Oklahoma Supreme Court temporarily blocked the state from purchasing Bibles for Oklahoma classrooms. A court order issued Monday bars Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters, the Department of Education, the Board of Education and the Office of Management and Enterprise Services from further implementing or enforcing Walters’ Bible mandate until a lawsuit over the Bibles is resolved.
Education Watch: Bill Will Allow Board of Education Members to Add Agenda Items

2 months ago | oklahomawatch.org | Jennifer Palmer

This article was originally delivered to subscribers of our Education Watch newsletter. Sign up now to receive Education Watch directly in your inbox. Legislation backed by the governor and leaders of the House and Senate would give Board of Education members the power to add items to meeting agendas. An amendment to House Bill 1492 by Rep. Ronny Johns, R-Ada, allows a member of the board to place an item on the board agenda if requested in writing by at least two members of the board.