By majority vote, the State Board of Education on Thursday refused to reconsider sanctions it handed down to two districts last month under a state law prohibiting certain conversations on race.

The board’s refusal followed a string of emotional pleas from community and district leaders in Tulsa and Mustang that revealed the toll the board’s action has taken on their schools. On July 28, both districts were accredited with warning for violating the provisions of House Bill 1775.

“People move to Mustang because of the schools. My family moved to Mustang because of the schools in 1991. This hurt...