Education (Teachers)

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1891: Education; creating the Oklahoma Teacher-Led Curriculum Development Act; directing the State Department of Education to establish certain consortium. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1891 creates the Oklahoma Teacher-Led Curriculum Development Act, requiring the State Department of Education to establish a teacher-led consortium by August 1, 2026. The consortium must include certified teachers with at least five years of experience and a "superior" or "highly effective" evaluation rating, representing diverse school sizes (urban, rural, and varying student enrollment). It will review and approve first-grade math curriculum meeting state standards, with the approved curriculum published online by January 31, 2027, and expand to other subjects per a schedule. The bill directly affects Oklahoma public school teachers and districts by shifting curriculum development authority to teacher-led groups.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates teacher-led curriculum consortium to develop state-standard-aligned materials, enhancing educator involvement in curriculum design and quality.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 3, 2026

SB 1594: Teachers; adding requirement for school principal certification. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1594 requires Oklahoma school principals to complete specific professional education on special education laws and practices, including federal/state regulations, individualized education programs (IEPs), and student discipline procedures. This applies to all principals seeking or renewing certification, except those who earned their master's degree in education administration before July 1, 2005. The bill amends existing certification rules (Section 6-189) to mandate this training as part of the principal certification requirements. It does not change other existing requirements like master's degrees or teaching experience.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates principal training on special education laws and IEPs, strengthening educational leadership standards for K-12 schools.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

Track

vetoed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 4326: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; modifying eligibility for certain students; clarifying application time period; modifying definition; effective date; emergency.

HB 4326 expands eligibility for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to include students in court-ordered custody of private nonprofit child-placing agencies or federally recognized Indian tribes during specific grades (8th-11th). It removes the income requirement for these students and adds eligibility for students whose parent is a certified classroom teacher. The bill amends existing program rules to broaden access for these groups while maintaining other standard requirements like residency, academic performance, and admission standards. This change directly affects students in foster care or tribal custody who previously faced financial barriers to qualify.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by removing income barriers for students in court custody and children of certified teachers, directly advancing educational opportunity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 1413: Teachers; requiring certain notification regarding teachers with emergency certificates; establishing clock hour limitation for adjunct teachers. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1413 requires Oklahoma public school districts to notify parents in writing when a teacher with a temporary emergency certificate (issued for urgent staffing needs) teaches their child. The notification must include the teacher's name and classes. The bill also sets specific limits - 90 to 270 clock hours - for professional education training in alternative teacher certification programs, replacing previous flexible requirements. These changes directly affect parents, students, school districts, and teachers seeking certification through alternative pathways.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates parent notification for emergency-certified teachers and standardizes training hours (90-270) to strengthen teacher qualification requirements, enhancing transparency and educational quality in K-12 schools.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1617: Teachers; allowing the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to be used to support compensation of teachers certified in special education. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1617 amends Oklahoma law to direct the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to cover the state’s share of additional pay for special education teachers. It requires school districts to pay 5% of base wages for special education teachers, with the state covering the remaining 5% using funds from the existing revolving fund (previously used for other teacher stipends). This policy change, effective July 1, 2026, directly affects all Oklahoma public school teachers certified in special education. The bill ensures the state’s funding obligation is met through the revolving fund rather than new appropriations, aligning with Section 13-110 of state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly allocates state funds to cover 5% of special education teacher compensation, increasing financial support for educators in a critical teaching field.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 3019: Schools; phasing in a reduction to the maximum number of students allowed per class in kindergarten through fifth grades; exceptions; effective date; emergency.

HB 3019 reduces maximum class sizes for Oklahoma public schools in kindergarten through fifth grade over a three-year phase-in. Starting in 2026-2027, classes in kindergarten through second grade may not exceed 22 students; this limit drops to 20 students in 2027-2028, and 18 students starting in 2028-2029. To comply, schools must employ a teacher’s assistant in classes exceeding these limits (with exceptions for special education and certain other classes), and teacher assistants cannot count toward the class size limit. School districts that fail to meet these requirements face reduced state funding calculated based on the number of students over the limit.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReduces K-5 class sizes to 18 students by 2028-2029 with teacher assistant requirements, improving student-teacher ratios and classroom support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3395: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; changing certified classroom teacher to school employee; modifying definition; effective date; emergency.

HB 3395 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program eligibility rules by changing the term "certified classroom teacher" to "school employee" in the definition used for student eligibility. Specifically, it updates Section 2603(8)(e) to allow students whose parents are "school employees" (not just certified classroom teachers) to qualify for tuition assistance. This change affects students with parents working in Oklahoma schools, broadening who qualifies under this specific eligibility category. The bill modifies the statutory definition without altering other program requirements or benefits. It is an administrative update to align terminology with current school employment classifications.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for tuition assistance by including all school employees (not just certified teachers), broadening educational access for students with parent employment in Oklahoma schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3033: Schools; minimum salary and benefits; certified personnel salary increase; effective date; emergency.

HB 3033 establishes new minimum salary requirements for certified school staff in Oklahoma public schools, effective for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill sets a detailed pay schedule based on years of experience and education level (e.g., bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees), specifying minimum annual amounts for both salary and fringe benefits like retirement. It requires school districts to meet these minimums, with specific rules for crediting out-of-state teaching experience and military service. The law directly affects all certified teachers and support staff in Oklahoma’s public school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mandatory minimum salary/benefit increases for certified school staff based on experience and education, directly advancing teacher compensation and retention in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates minimum salary increases and benefits for school staff, directly advancing worker compensation standards in education sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2026

HB 3963: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; changing certified classroom teacher to school employee; modifying definition; expanding eligibility to children of permanently disabled veterans; effective date; emergency.

HB 3963 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to expand eligibility for tuition assistance. It adds children of veterans with a 100% permanent disability from military service (certified by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs) to the list of qualifying groups, alongside existing categories like children of certified classroom teachers. The bill changes the definition of "certified classroom teacher school employee" to "school employee" in the eligibility rules. This policy change directly affects qualifying veterans' children seeking in-state tuition assistance at Oklahoma colleges and universities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance eligibility to children of disabled veterans, increasing access to higher education through the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program.90% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransExpands tuition assistance eligibility to children of veterans with 100% service-connected disability, directly advancing veteran benefits under the Higher Learning Access Program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers Veteran Benefits Veteran Education

Track

vetoed · Oklahoma · Senate Jun 1, 2026

SB 1894: Teachers; professional development programs; changing maximum number of professional development hours. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1894 removes a 150-hour cap on required professional development for Oklahoma certified teachers over any five-year period, directly affecting all teachers in public school districts. The bill maintains existing mandatory trainings on autism, dyslexia, child abuse recognition, and racial/ethnic education but eliminates the previous limit on total hours. It also requires school districts to electronically submit annual reports to the State Department of Education detailing professional development activities, costs, and outcomes. The law takes effect July 1, 2026, and was declared an emergency to take immediate effect upon approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves 150-hour cap on teacher professional development, requiring increased training hours to support educator effectiveness and maintain mandated trainings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track