Education (Special Education)

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 105: Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement; modifying eligibility requirements. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill removes a requirement that students with disabilities must have attended a public school the previous year to qualify for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program. It directly affects families seeking private school options for children with disabilities who previously needed public school enrollment history. The key change eliminates the "prior public school attendance" rule in Section 13-101.2, while maintaining other eligibility criteria like having an IEP or meeting specific exemptions (e.g., military transfers, foster care, homelessness). Private schools must still meet program standards, and scholarships remain available until the student graduates, enrolls in public school, or turns 22. The change makes the program more accessible for eligible students without prior public school enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves prior public school attendance requirement, expanding access to scholarships for students with disabilities seeking private school options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 2702: Special education; special education administrators; training; competency exam; effective date; emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires special education administrators to complete IDEA training and pass competency exam, enhancing program quality and compliance with federal standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 1017: State Medicaid program; allowing coverage of educationally necessary school-based services; prohibiting certain acts by the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1017 allows Oklahoma's Medicaid program to cover educationally necessary school-based services for students with disabilities, directly affecting K-12 public schools and Medicaid-eligible students. The bill defines "educationally necessary" services (like classroom support) separately from medically necessary ones (e.g., physical therapy), requiring these services to be attached to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) rather than included in the IEP itself. It prohibits the Oklahoma Health Care Authority from expanding this definition or covering non-educational health services like eye exams or flu shots. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and applies to students under 21 receiving a free and appropriate public education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands Medicaid coverage for school-based services (e.g., classroom support) for K-12 students with disabilities, directly enhancing educational access via IEPs without restricting funding.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareSB 1017 explicitly expands Medicaid coverage to include educationally necessary school-based services for students with disabilities, advancing healthcare access through state Medicaid program funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Student Health Medicaid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2928: Schools; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; eligibility for children with incarcerated parents; effective date.

HB 2928 expands Oklahoma's Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program to include students with disabilities who have at least one parent in prison, in addition to existing eligibility for students with disabilities. It also retroactively allows students previously denied scholarships due to lacking an IEP/ISP on October 1, 2009 (but meeting all other requirements) to qualify. The program continues to provide private school choice for eligible students, requiring prior public school attendance (with specific exemptions) and private school acceptance. School districts must inform parents about this option annually through existing special education notices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access for disabled students with incarcerated parents and retroactively includes previously denied students, enhancing educational access under the scholarship program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 2125: Education; adjunct teachers; instructional levels; early childhood education programs; authorizing adjunct teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 2125 removes a restriction that previously barred adjunct teachers from teaching special education classes in early childhood education programs. The bill authorizes adjunct teachers to instruct in special education within these programs, expanding their teaching scope. This change directly affects adjunct teachers employed in Oklahoma's early childhood education settings. The bill is currently pending in the Oklahoma legislature after passing committee amendments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves restriction on adjunct teachers teaching special education in early childhood programs, expanding access to specialized instruction within educational settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Special Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1056: Education; Education Reform Act of 2025; effective date.

HB 1056 requires new district superintendents in Oklahoma to complete 66 hours of specific professional development within their first year of employment to maintain their certification. The training must cover areas like school finance, legal issues, community relations, and special education law (IDEA), with local districts determining the exact workshops. Superintendents who fail to complete the training will lose their certification, and districts must submit verification to the state education department. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and is classified as an emergency measure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates 66-hour professional development for superintendents on finance, legal issues, and IDEA, strengthening leadership competency to maintain certification.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1363: Schools; establishing a minimum salary schedule for teachers; providing for certain additional compensation; directing funding to be provided to certain schools subject to availability. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1363 establishes a new minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers starting in the 2026-2027 school year, setting base pay based on years of experience and education level (e.g., $43,000 for a bachelor’s degree with 0 experience). It adds a 5% bonus for teachers in hard-to-fill positions (defined as schools with 15%+ vacancies or critical shortage subjects like math/science) and provides $1,500 after the first year and $1,000 after the second year for teachers in STEM, bilingual education, or special education. The bill also offers a $1,000 stipend plus 3% additional pay for teachers earning extra endorsements like English as a second language. These changes directly affect all certified Oklahoma public school teachers and require annual reporting on hard-to-fill positions by the State Department of Education.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes minimum teacher salaries, adds bonuses for hard-to-fill roles/STEM, and provides incremental raises - directly increasing educator compensation and retention.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Special Education Teachers

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2025

HB 1393: Special education; individual education program; parental consent; effective date; emergency.

HB 1393 amends Oklahoma's special education law to clarify how alternate achievement standards are applied in Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. It replaces the phrase "based on alternate academic achievement standards" with language requiring assessments "that promote access to and progress in the general education curriculum." This change directly affects students with disabilities in Oklahoma public schools who use alternate assessments, ensuring their IEPs focus on meaningful engagement with standard curriculum content. The bill specifies that alternate assessments must support students' ability to access and advance in regular classroom learning, not just measure them against different standards. The amendment became law after Governor approval on May 9, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAmends special education law to require assessments promoting access to general curriculum for students with disabilities, strengthening educational access and inclusion in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Special Education

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 2247: Special education; requiring State Department of Education develop certain standards; codification; effective date.

HB 2247 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to develop specific standards implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's (IDEA) "least restrictive environment" principle. This ensures students with disabilities are not unnecessarily excluded from regular classrooms in public schools. The bill mandates these standards be created by the Department and becomes effective November 1, 2025. It directly affects students with special needs and the State Department of Education, focusing solely on establishing procedural requirements for classroom inclusion under IDEA.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standards to implement IDEA's 'least restrictive environment,' ensuring students with disabilities access regular classrooms, advancing educational access and inclusion for special needs students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 2246: Special education; State Department of Education; develop standards; effective date.

HB 2246 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to develop specific standards for implementing the "least restrictive environment" requirement under federal special education law (IDEA). These standards aim to ensure students with disabilities are not unnecessarily excluded from general education classrooms. The bill directly affects students with special needs in Oklahoma public schools by mandating that the state create clear guidelines for inclusive classroom placement. The standards must be developed by the State Department of Education and take effect on November 1, 2025. The bill does not change existing federal law but directs Oklahoma to create its own implementation framework.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standards for inclusive special education placement under IDEA, advancing access for students with disabilities in K-12 public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

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