Walters proposes going ‘Back to Basics’ for math and reading 

Natalie Bailey 

Contributing Writer

Oklahoma State Superintendent for Public Instruction Ryan Walters unveiled a new “Back to Basics” plan after visiting the panhandle earlier this month. Walters toured both Guymon and Woodward during his visit to the state’s northwest, where he spoke to Guymon’s Chamber of Commerce. 

Walters also released a press release on Monday, which he also discussed with leaders when he was in Guymon. 

In the press release, Walters details that his Back to Basics plan is, “obligating 9.2 million [dollars] in immediate funding that…connects students with a network of highly trained teachers and tutors.” 

With this additional funding, Oklahoma students will have access to an additional 140,000 hours of one-on-one support for both math and reading for this school year. 

In the press release, he discussed the details of this plan with those in the panhandle because they are the, “very center of the Oklahoma economy and their schools face unique challenges.” 

Walters said that this new plan is meant to build off of his latest Teacher Signing Bonus Plan, which granted over 500 teachers from across the state with signing bonuses. 

He did not detail how the Back to Basics plan will directly benefit smaller, rural school districts like those in the panhandle aside from allocating funds for tutoring.