The number of cases and deaths continues to rise in the state, and schools had been postponed until at least April 6 across Oklahoma.The Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association has a teleconference board meeting Thursday to discuss a multitude of topics, including the situation with the postponement of the state basketball tournaments. The Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday approved back-to-school guidelines as recommendations, not requirements, for districts based on a COVID-19 Alert Levels chart. But we are in the midst of a global pandemic with COVID-19 cases sharply rising in our state. Now that the board has made its decision, we strongly urge districts across the state to do the right thing and demonstrate the ‘Oklahoma Standard’ by masking up and following social distancing guidelines. The Oklahoma State Department of Health said there are a reported 28,802 cases and 477 deaths. The actual number of positive cases is likely much higher since many people haven’t been tested and some who get the disease don’t show symptoms.OKLAHOMA CITY (July 23, 2020) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister made the following remarks after the State Board of Education, on a 4-3 vote, disapproved the “requirements” contained in the Oklahoma School Safety Protocols in favor of making them “recommendations.” The proposal would have required face masks for all adults and students in public school buildings in counties where community spread of COVID-19 is occurring as designated by an Oklahoma State Department of Health color-coded map designating COVID-19 risk levels.“Today’s vote is very disappointing and one that likely will stoke more concerns for teachers, parents and families with a new school year only weeks away. "For a lot of people, that's a once-in-a-lifetime accomplishment. Oklahoma high school sports are finished for the 2019-20 school year.The state's department of education announced Wednesday it was closing school buildings for the remainder of the academic year, along with a multitude of other moves, including the cancellation of in-person instruction and extracurricular activities.No Classes 6A-2A state basketball tournaments. The State Board of Education is having an emergency meeting Monday to discuss possible action concerning the coronavirus (COVID-19). Jackson said a statement will be released following the meeting's conclusion. Oklahoma’s public school students will shift into a variety of distance learning models for the remainder of 2019-20 because of the COVID-19 pandemic, the state Board of Education decided Wednesday. The Oklahoma State Board of Education approved a COVID-19 response plan on Thursday, July 23, 2020, for actions local districts should take to slow the spread of coronavirus, but narrowly voted to make the plan optional instead of mandatory. "We have got to make health and safety a priority for our students," Jackson said. Prioritizing the safety and health of the school community, the State Board of Education has suspended all in-school activities for the remainder of the school year in order to contain community spread of COVID-19. The Oklahoma State Board of Education on Thursday approved back-to-school guidelines as recommendations, not requirements, for districts based on a COVID-19 Alert Levels chart. But we are in the midst of a global pandemic with COVID-19 cases sharply rising in our state. ... Hofmeister comments on State Board rejection of COVID-19 … Beginning April 6, 2020, districts and schools are to establish distance delivery methods for learning until the end of the school year. Oklahoma City Public Schools Board of Education voted Tuesday to delay the school year.