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The attorney general on Wednesday called for an investigative audit of the Department of Education under Ryan Walters, who left public office Tuesday for a job in the private sector.

In his audit request, Gentner Drummond said current and previous Department of Education staff raised concerns about the agency’s spending practices under Walters. The letter also noted Walters’ history of mismanaging tax dollars under a pandemic recovery program as well as new and ongoing allegations of misspending.

The audit will cover from Jan. 9, 2023, to Sept. 30, 2025.

An investigative audit, also known as a forensic audit, is a deep dive into an entity’s finances, often to identify evidence of fraud or embezzlement.

Read more about Walters’ departure and where many of his controversial proposals stand in our latest story Dozens of Lawsuits and Hundreds of TV Appearances: A Look Back at Superintendent Walters’ Tenure. Questions, comments, story ideas? Please reach out via email.

— Jennifer Palmer

Recommended Reading

  • The retired superintendent of El Reno schools announced he’s running for state superintendent as a Democrat. [El Reno Tribune] [The Oklahoman]
  • The Texas Education Agency investigation into teachers’ social media comments after Charlie Kirk’s killing has legal experts and public education advocates troubled by what they say amounts to a “witch hunt” that shows a lack of regard for educators’ free speech rights. [Texas Tribune]
  • Restrictions on books in public schools have become “rampant and common,” according to a new report by the free speech organization PEN America, so frequent in some states that they are now considered “routine and expected part of school operations.” [The New York Times]

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