HB 2702 requires Oklahoma school districts to hire special education administrators (directors and assistant directors) who hold a standard teaching certificate and obtain an "acknowledgment of competency" by July 1, 2025. This acknowledgment requires completing 150 hours of training covering Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) rules and scoring at least 70% on a competency exam. Administrators with existing Special Education Teaching Certificates under Oklahoma law (Sections 6-122.7-9) are exempt from the competency requirement. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and declares an emergency for immediate implementation.
HB 1760 creates tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who contribute to eligible scholarship-granting or educational improvement organizations. It allows a 50% tax credit (up to $1,000 for individuals, $2,000 for married couples, $100,000 for businesses) on contributions, increasing to 75% for those making a multi-year commitment with written proof. The bill also modifies how credits are allocated to business owners and requires annual financial reporting from participating organizations. These credits are subject to annual caps established by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
HB 1280 (2025) requires Oklahoma school districts to spend at least 50% of their annual budget on classroom instruction starting in 2025-2026. If a district falls below this threshold, it must increase instructional spending by 2% annually until reaching 50%, or face a written warning and, after four years of non-compliance, a permanent 2% annual teacher pay raise for each year missed. The bill defines "annual budget" to exclude bond sales, fundraisers, and non-educational grants, and "instructional expenditures" per federal standards. The bill failed to pass (36-57) on March 27, 2025, so it is not law.
HB 1304 requires Oklahoma public high schools to offer a dedicated one-year computer science curriculum as part of graduation requirements for students in grades 8-12. It mandates that schools include computer science courses (covering programming, hardware, and business applications) as an approved option to fulfill the "two units of world language or computer technology" requirement for graduation. The bill specifies these courses must be approved for college admission and exclude basic keyboarding or typing courses. This directly affects all Oklahoma public high school students meeting graduation standards under the 2024-2025 school year curriculum rules. The policy change updates existing graduation requirements to explicitly include computer science as a valid pathway.
HB 1394 amends Oklahoma's teacher certification rules to exempt graduates of Oklahoma Commission-approved teacher preparation programs from passing the competency exam for standard certification. It also allows non-native English speakers employed in foreign language immersion programs to take the exam in their native language, with restrictions limiting such teachers to those specific programs. Additionally, the bill creates an exception for teachers with advanced degrees in substantially comparable fields, allowing them to bypass certain subject-area exams. These changes directly affect teacher candidates, school districts hiring educators, and the Oklahoma Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability.
HB 1981, the "Strong Readers Act," changes reading screening requirements for Oklahoma public school students. It requires kindergarten students to be screened at the middle and end of the school year (with the first screening by December), while grades 1-3 must be screened at the beginning, middle, and end of each year. The bill mandates state-approved screening tools that assess phonological awareness, decoding, fluency, vocabulary, and comprehension, and requires schools to provide individual reading intervention plans within 30 days for students not meeting grade-level targets. These plans must include research-based instruction, progress monitoring, and free online literacy resources for families.
HB 2919 would allow Oklahoma public schools to offer "Life Skills" as an elective course for students in grades 6-12, subject to available funding. The course would cover practical topics like cooking, job application skills, financial literacy, mental health basics, and career pathways (e.g., trade schools or college). Schools could teach it through existing Family and Consumer Science courses or other applicable classes, without requiring special teacher certification, and could deliver it in person, online, or hybrid. The bill mandates alignment with workforce readiness standards and takes effect November 1, 2025.
HB 1159 allows Oklahoma students to transfer between schools within their district year-round, provided the receiving school's grade level has available space. It establishes specific preferences for transfers, including siblings of transferring students, children of district employees, students changing residence within the district, and those in foster care. School districts must publicly post capacity limits for transfers and prioritize students based on these preferences when space is limited. The bill requires districts to set and report these capacity limits annually, ensuring transparency in the transfer process.
