Education

passed both · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 28, 2026

SB 1317: Teachers; modifying definition of career teacher. Effective date.

SB 1317 updates Oklahoma's definition of a "career teacher" to clarify job security requirements for educators. The bill directly affects public school teachers in Oklahoma, particularly those hired in or after the 2017-2018 school year who seek career status (beyond probationary periods). It establishes three specific pathways to qualify: completing three consecutive years with a "superior" rating for at least two years, four consecutive years with an average "effective" rating and "effective" in the last two years, or four or more consecutive years with a principal's petition approved by the school board. The changes take effect July 1, 2026, and amend Oklahoma Statutes Title 70, Section 6-101.3.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationClarifies career teacher pathways to strengthen job security for educators, aligning with teacher support indicators.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 376: Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 376 removes a requirement that students must have attended a public school in the prior year to qualify for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship for Students with Disabilities. This change expands eligibility to more students with disabilities, including those who transferred from out of state or were in foster care, without needing prior public school enrollment. The bill also updates other program details, such as the process for securing private school admission and notifying the State Department of Education. It directly affects Oklahoma families seeking to use this scholarship to enroll children with disabilities in participating private schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves enrollment barrier for disability scholarships, expanding access to students in foster care/transferring from out-of-state, directly increasing educational opportunity.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Student Financial Aid

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 28: Schools; directing school districts to provide meals at no cost to certain students in certain school years. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 28 requires Oklahoma school districts to provide free meals to students from households with annual income below 250% of the federal poverty level during the 2025-2026 and 2026-2027 school years. It directly affects low-income students in public schools by expanding free meal eligibility beyond current federal standards. The bill mandates state funding apportionment through the State Board of Education to cover these meal costs. It takes effect July 1, 2025, and was declared an emergency to ensure immediate implementation.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates state funding apportionment for free school meals, increasing public service spending under state budget without tax changes.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates state funding for free meals to low-income K-12 students, expanding access and addressing nutritional barriers to education participation.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareExpands free school meals for low-income students, a public health initiative under healthcare policy that improves nutritional access and aligns with public health program support.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Health

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 2, 2025

SB 1127: State Board of Education; making an appropriation; providing purpose. Emergency.

SB 1127 appropriates $100,000 from Oklahoma's General Revenue Fund to the State Board of Education for fiscal year 2026. The funds are intended to support the Board's statutory duties, though the bill does not specify particular programs or services. The legislation declares an emergency to allow immediate implementation upon approval. This is a routine funding measure with no substantive policy changes beyond the allocated amount.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllocates $100,000 to State Board of Education for statutory duties, constituting direct funding support without policy restrictions.85% confidence

Track

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 1, 2025

HB 2418: Teachers; adjunct teachers; State Board of Career and Technology Education to promulgate certain rules; requiring State Department of Education to assist in implementing rules; effective date; emergency.

HB 2418 creates a new pathway for career and technology education instructors by allowing the State Board of Career and Technology Education to establish rules for "adjunct teachers" with distinguished field expertise, who do not need standard teaching certification. It revises alternative teaching certification requirements, removing student teaching mandates and allowing candidates with relevant work experience or terminal degrees to qualify for provisional teaching credentials. The State Department of Education must collaborate with the Career and Technology Education Board to implement these rules, including issuing credentials for adjunct teachers. Additionally, all teacher education programs must offer alternative certification in four key areas (including math, science, and foreign language) to maintain accreditation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates alternative certification pathway for career tech teachers, removing student teaching requirements to expand qualified instructor access in K-12 career programs.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 233: Higher education; providing certain concurrent enrollment tuition waiver to juniors and seniors who declare intention to teach. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 233, the "Teacher Shortage Reduction Act," provides tuition waivers for Oklahoma high school juniors and seniors who commit to becoming public school teachers. It allows eligible students to receive a waiver covering up to 60 college credit hours (instead of the standard 9-18 credits) if they declare an intention to pursue teacher education and teach in Oklahoma public schools for three years within ten years of earning their degree. Students who fail to fulfill this teaching commitment must repay the waived tuition, though hardship exceptions may apply. The program is funded through state appropriations and requires students to submit a formal declaration to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides state-funded tuition waiver for future teachers, increasing education spending as part of budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waivers for future teachers to reduce shortages, directly funding teacher recruitment in public schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Teachers

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 243: Schools; directing the State Department of Education to establish the School Innovation Grant Program; providing application process. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 243 creates a new School Innovation Grant Program administered by Oklahoma's State Department of Education, providing one-time grants to public school districts for educational innovations. School districts apply using a standardized form detailing their proposed innovation, requested funding for materials, and success metrics, with applications reviewed first-come, first-served. Funding is allocated based on school size: 40% to districts with fewer than 1,000 students, 30% to districts with 1,000-2,500 students, and 30% to larger districts, using a new revolving fund created by the bill. After one year, grant recipients must report on the innovation's impact to the State Department of Education, which then submits a summary report to state leadership.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates grant program funding school innovations for K-12 educational improvements through direct financial support to districts.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1334: Strong Readers Act; modifying number of screening instruments to be approved; modifying criteria for approval. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1334, the Strong Readers Act, requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for reading skills at the start, middle, and end of each school year. The bill mandates that the State Board of Education approve at least three screening tools meeting specific criteria, including alignment with reading science, validity, and ability to support students with disabilities or English learners. Schools must provide individualized reading intervention plans within 30 days for students not meeting grade-level targets, including evidence-based instruction and progress monitoring. The law takes effect for the 2026-2027 school year.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-3 reading screenings and evidence-based interventions to improve literacy outcomes, directly advancing educational quality and student support in K-12 schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1339: Counties and county officers; general powers; commissioners; ambulance districts; effective date.

HB 1339 amends Oklahoma county commissioners' powers by updating procedures for highway modifications and creating a tuition reimbursement program for county employees. It requires 15 days' public notice and a hearing before relocating highways affecting institutions, and establishes a program where employees can receive 100% tuition reimbursement (with A/B grades) or 75% for passing grades at approved schools. Safety awards for employees are capped at $250 annually, excluding elected officials. These changes directly affect county employees seeking education benefits and county commissioners managing highway projects.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition reimbursement program (100%/75% for grades) for county employees' higher education, directly enhancing educational access for public sector workers.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentCreates tuition reimbursement program for county employees (100% for A/B grades), expanding worker benefits and professional development opportunities.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 8, 2026

SB 201: Schools; modifying minimum salary schedule for certain certified personnel. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 201 establishes a mandatory minimum salary schedule for Oklahoma public school teachers beginning in the 2025-2026 school year. It sets specific annual salary floors based on years of experience and education level (e.g., $50,000 for a bachelor's degree with 0 experience), requiring school districts to meet these amounts through salary or fringe benefits. The bill defines "fringe benefits" to include retirement contributions (excluding certain state-mandated portions) and mandates written notice to teachers if districts propose salaries below the minimum. It also standardizes how teaching experience (including out-of-state, military, or Department of Defense service) is counted for salary increments, while prohibiting credit for more than five years of such experience.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesMandates school districts to allocate funds toward teacher salary floors, increasing government spending on public education through budget reallocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates minimum teacher salaries with specific floors, directly supporting educator compensation and retention in K-12 schools through required funding mechanisms.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates minimum teacher salaries with experience-based floors, directly advancing wage protections for educators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers