Oklahoma has begun distributing hundreds of Bibles to classrooms statewide, appearing to be the same version endorsed earlier this year by former President Donald Trump: the “God Bless the USA Bible.”
The initiative is part of a long-running effort by State Superintendent of Public Instruction Ryan Walters to reintegrate the Bible into public education. Walters announced on social media Thursday that Oklahoma had purchased over 500 Bibles to be placed in Advanced Placement (AP) government classrooms across the state.
In a video posted to X (formerly Twitter), Walters explained, “I’m excited to announce today that Oklahoma is the first state to bring the Bible back to the classroom. Today we purchased over 500 Bibles that will be put in AP government classrooms across the state.”
He went on to hold up a copy of the Bible, which resembles the version promoted by Trump in March. This special edition, priced at $59.99, includes not only the Bible but also key U.S. historical documents: the U.S. Constitution, the Bill of Rights, the Declaration of Independence, and the Pledge of Allegiance.
Walters emphasized the importance of teaching students about the role the Bible has played in shaping American history. “We have the Bible, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights—these are foundational documents in our nation’s history. Our kids have to understand the role the Bible played in influencing American history,” he said.
The state’s move is a direct response to what Walters sees as the “radical left” driving the Bible out of classrooms. He continued, “It’s very clear that the radical left has driven the Bible out of the classroom, which leads to a lack of understanding of American history—we will not stop until we’ve brought the Bible back to every classroom in the state.”
This recent purchase of over 500 Bibles follows an earlier, larger request from the Oklahoma Department of Education for 55,000 Bibles. Walters confirmed the 500 Bibles were part of a separate purchase aimed specifically at AP government classes.
The state’s original Request for Proposal (RFP) for these Bibles included a stipulation that they must contain both the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence, and be bound in durable leather or leather-like material. These requirements closely align with the specifications of the “God Bless the USA” Bible.
However, a spokesperson for the Oklahoma Department of Education, Dan Isett, denied that the RFP was tailored to a single publisher. “There are hundreds of Bible publishers, and we expect a robust competition for this proposal,” Isett said in October.
Since then, the department has amended its RFP to remove the requirement that the Bible contain these historical documents. The revised proposal allows for the inclusion of these documents either within the Bible or separately. The deadline for bids was also extended, from October 14 to October 21.
Despite these changes, Walters remains committed to his goal of ensuring that every classroom in Oklahoma has a Bible, stating, “We are focused on ensuring we get Bibles available in every classroom in our state as quickly as we can. I will take every step possible to ensure Oklahoma students have the resources they need to fully understand American history.”
Walters argues that Oklahoma is leading the nation in a renewed focus on academic excellence, providing students with critical historical, cultural, and literary context—rooted in the Bible—as part of their education.
“We are not going to change our history, and the Bible is a major part of that,” he declared.
Watch the clip below:
The Bible is back in Oklahomas classrooms. We are getting our kids back on track. pic.twitter.com/6dTjZKQ4pp
— Superintendent Ryan Walters (@RyanWaltersSupt) November 14, 2024
