Bill Empowering Science Denial in Classroom Introduced in Oklahoma

On January 21, 2021, bills (SB613 is known as ‘Academic Freedom Act’) and (SB662 is known as ‘Oklahoma Science Education Act’) were introduced to the Oklahoma legislature that would, if enacted, require [students / teachers] “understand, analyze, critique[,] and review in an objective manner the scientific strengths and scientific weaknesses of existing scientific theories covered in the course being taught." Science education groups have expressed concern that this could undermine science education by forcing teachers to present proven scientific theories (e.g., evolution and climate change) as disputed or controversial.