Education (K-12 Education)

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1416: Schools; creating the Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue, and Excellence (THRIVE) Act; requiring development of certain education program. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1416, the THRIVE Act, requires all Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to implement a mandatory character education program focused on 15 specific traits like honesty, respect, responsibility, and "sexual abstinence outside of marriage" as part of their curriculum. The State Department of Education must develop an approved list of research-based materials and resources by the 2026-2027 school year, excluding any content contradicting these traits. Parents may opt their children out of the program via written notice, and schools must publicly share implementation details and opt-out procedures. The bill directly affects every K-12 student and school in Oklahoma, mandating a standardized character education framework aligned with state curriculum standards.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates specific moral curriculum requiring 'sexual abstinence outside marriage' and excludes content contradicting it, restricting educational content and academic freedom.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3761: Schools; prohibiting public schools and school districts from being members of any association or organization who have diversity, equity, and inclusion practices; emergency.

HB 3761 prohibits Oklahoma public schools and school districts from joining any association or organization that supports diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices, including those granting preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, or national origin. It requires schools to review current memberships by July 1, 2026, and terminate ties with non-compliant organizations within 15 days of notice. Schools must annually submit compliance certificates to the State Board of Education by July 1, starting in 2026. The bill directly affects all public K-12 schools and districts in Oklahoma, restricting their affiliations with groups promoting certain DEI initiatives.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits schools from joining DEI-focused organizations, restricting curriculum diversity initiatives and limiting educational program participation.92% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 17, 2026

SB 1893: Students; creating the Teacher Shortage Reduction Act; providing criteria for certain graduation recognition; providing criteria for certain education designation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1893, the "Teacher Shortage Reduction Act," creates new graduation recognition and college designations to support future educators. It requires Oklahoma high schools to award a graduation "education endorsement" to students who meet specific criteria: earning a standard diploma, identifying teaching as a career goal in their academic plan, and completing an education-related apprenticeship, internship, or mentorship. For students earning this endorsement and 30+ college credits or an associate degree through concurrent enrollment, the Oklahoma State Regents must award an "education designation" on their college diploma and transcript. This designation guarantees acceptance into a college of education and grants credit for prior field experience, directly affecting high school students and higher education institutions starting with the 2027-2028 graduating class.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates 'education endorsement' for future teachers via graduation criteria and apprenticeships, directly addressing teacher shortages to strengthen educator pipeline.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Teachers

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4491: Schools; allowing school districts to adopt a policy for certain students to participate in extracurricular activities; eligibility requirements; definitions; standards; effective date.

HB 4491 prohibits full-time students enrolled in statewide virtual charter schools (sponsored by the Statewide Charter School Board) from participating in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSSAA) sports and competitive extracurricular activities starting July 1, 2026. The bill directly affects these virtual charter students, who would instead be limited to intramural activities organized by their virtual school or external groups. It amends existing law to clarify that virtual charter students cannot join district-sponsored athletic associations, while allowing schools to offer their own non-competitive activities. The provision applies only to statewide virtual charter schools, not traditional public or brick-and-mortar charter schools.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts virtual charter students' access to competitive extracurricular activities, limiting educational opportunities and program participation for this group.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 20, 2026

HB 3288: Schools; physical education programs; prekindergarten and elementary school; physical education instruction; recess; increases; grades six through twelve; effective date.

HB 3288 requires Oklahoma public elementary schools (prekindergarten through grade 5) to provide 60 minutes per week of dedicated physical education instruction (not counting recess) and an additional 60 minutes per week of physical activity (including recess, fitness breaks, or wellness education). It prohibits withholding physical education as punishment for students in these grades, except in safety-related situations, and mandates schools coordinate recess before testing to encourage light-to-moderate activity. The bill also encourages school districts to provide 225 minutes per week of physical education for grades 6-12, with specific curriculum standards emphasizing lifelong activity skills and accessibility for students with disabilities. These requirements are tied to school accreditation and take effect July 1, 2028.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates increased physical education and activity time in elementary schools, enhancing student health programs and curriculum requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Student Health

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 4479: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; requiring completion of application to participate in program to graduate from public high school; exceptions; effective date; emergency.

HB 4479 requires Oklahoma public high school students to complete the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program application to graduate, with specific exceptions for certain student groups. The bill mandates this application as a graduation requirement, directly affecting all students in Oklahoma's public high schools. The effective date was amended to November 1, 2026, replacing the original July 1, 2026 date. This policy change aims to streamline access to postsecondary education funding by linking program enrollment to high school graduation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates completion of higher education access program application for high school graduation to streamline postsecondary funding access, directly advancing educational pathways and access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 29, 2026

SB 1632: Schools; directing career-readiness assessments and assessment-based credentials to be made available to certain students beginning in certain school year. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1632 requires Oklahoma public schools to provide free career-readiness assessments to students in grades 10-12 starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The assessments measure foundational workplace skills like applied math, workplace documents, and critical thinking, and lead to nationally recognized credentials upon meeting proficiency standards. It shifts approval authority for these assessments from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the State Department of Education, while directing the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to establish rules for awarding college credit based on assessment results. The bill affects all Oklahoma public high school students in targeted grades and mandates school districts to administer the assessments at no cost to students who choose to participate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates free career-readiness assessments for grades 10-12, enhancing educational access and workforce preparation through nationally recognized credentials.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 22, 2026

HB 3242: Privacy; opposite sex; restrooms in public schools; sleeping quarters; private changing areas; student housing; public institutions of higher education; public buildings; domestic violence shelters; effective date.

HB 3242 requires public schools, public higher education institutions, and domestic violence shelters to designate restrooms, changing areas, and sleeping quarters as exclusively for males or females. It prohibits students from sharing sleeping quarters with someone of the opposite sex unless they are family members (e.g., parent, sibling), and mandates single-sex facilities for all shared spaces where undressing occurs. Exceptions include emergencies, maintenance, and coaches entering locker rooms during athletic events under strict conditions (e.g., students fully clothed, accompanied by another adult). Noncompliant schools face a 5% state funding cut, and parents can sue school districts for violations. The law applies to all public K-12 schools, colleges, and shelters operating under state oversight.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates single-sex facilities in schools/higher ed, restricting student access to shared spaces like restrooms/changing areas, limiting educational access and facility use.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2026

HB 4420: Strong Readers Act; references; legislative findings; reading screenings; reading intervention plans; reading deficiencies; mandatory third grade retention; good cause exemptions; request process; intensive reading intervention; acceleration class; reporting requirements; summer academy programs; teacher training requirements; literacy instructional team; revolving fund; donations; emergency.

HB 4420, the Strong Readers Act, requires annual reading screenings for all kindergarten through third-grade students in Oklahoma public schools to identify reading deficiencies. It mandates scientifically based reading instruction (banning the "three-cueing system" model), requires intensive intervention for students who don’t meet grade-level standards, and allows third-grade retention unless a "good cause" exemption applies. The bill also establishes summer reading academies, teacher training requirements, and parent notification protocols for reading progress. These provisions directly affect K-3 students, their schools, and educators, with implementation beginning in the 2025-2026 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates scientifically based reading instruction, annual screenings, intensive interventions, teacher training, and summer academies to improve K-3 literacy outcomes, directly advancing educational standards.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1899: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; providing eligibility for children of school district certified personnel. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1899 expands eligibility for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to include children of certified school personnel, such as teachers and other district employees. The bill amends Section 2603 of Oklahoma law to explicitly add "children of certified classroom teachers or certified personnel" as a qualifying group under financial need requirements. This change allows these students to receive tuition assistance equivalent to resident rates for their first semester of college, provided they meet other standard program criteria like high school graduation and academic requirements. The amendment updates existing eligibility rules without altering the program's core structure or funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tuition assistance for children of teachers, enhancing higher education access for educator families under Oklahoma's program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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