HB 2371 proposes funding pilot programs for school districts to use AI software on school-issued devices as a safety tool, without direct student surveillance. The bill requires the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and the State Department of Education to fund AI programs that analyze device activity (via existing web filtering systems) to assess student safety, readiness to learn, and well-being, using data already collected for compliance. It creates a dedicated revolving fund in the state treasury to cover costs like software, equipment, and personnel for these voluntary pilot programs, which can be implemented at the district or school level. The bill would take effect November 1, 2025, if passed.
SB 749 creates the "Oklahoma Higher Education Freedom of Expression and Transparency Act" for public universities in Oklahoma. It prohibits institutions from showing bias in approving property use for student groups or speakers based on viewpoint, race, or political affiliation, and bans requiring unequal fees from specific student groups. The bill mandates that all courses publish syllabi online by the 7th business day of each semester, including course titles, instructors, required materials, and historical grading data. It also requires institutions to collect and report student outcome data (disaggregated by minority status) and submit it to the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education. These measures aim to increase transparency around curriculum content and ensure compliance with the defined restrictions on "divisive concepts" in teaching.
SB 1293 creates a new "LETRS Training Revolving Fund" within Oklahoma's State Department of Education to provide training in Language Essentials for Teachers of Reading and Spelling (LETRS) to pre-K through third-grade public school teachers. The fund, financed by state appropriations, will cover training costs for all eligible teachers within five years, subject to available funding. This policy change directly affects certified teachers in Oklahoma public schools serving early grades, aiming to improve foundational literacy instruction. The bill establishes the fund as a continuing resource, allowing repeated use of allocated funds for ongoing training needs.
HB 1417 creates the "School Access for Emergency Response Act" (SAFER Act), establishing a grant program through the Oklahoma State Department of Education to fund public school districts and brick-and-mortar charter schools. The bill provides grants for interoperable communication hardware, software, maintenance, and training, enabling school safety teams to directly communicate with first responders during emergencies. Key requirements include adopting FEMA’s Incident Command System (ICS) protocols and training staff using FEMA’s IS-0100.c standards. The program aims to improve emergency response coordination by ensuring schools and emergency services can share real-time communication systems.
HB 1519 expands Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program by increasing the maximum annual tax credit for private school tuition from $5,000 to $7,500, removing the previous cap. It creates income-based tiers for the credit amount (ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 depending on household income) and broadens eligible expenses to include tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees. The bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children enrolled in accredited private schools, including schools serving homeless students or financially disadvantaged students (defined as 90% of enrollment below 250% of the federal poverty threshold). It requires taxpayers to submit receipts for qualified expenses and allows unused credit to be refunded. The program would apply to tax years 2024 and beyond, administered by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.
SB 346 modifies Oklahoma's school employee background check rules for teachers moving between districts. It allows full-time teachers applying to new districts to skip a new criminal history check if they provide a copy of a check done within the last five years and a letter from their previous district. This letter must specifically state whether allegations of inappropriate behavior between the teacher and a student were raised or if an investigation was pending. The bill also includes similar exceptions for substitute teachers moving between positions within the same or different districts under specific conditions. The policy aims to reduce redundant background checks for educators with stable employment records.
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.
HB 1983 requires Oklahoma public schools to teach media literacy and cybersecurity to students in sixth, seventh, or eighth grade starting in the 2027-2028 school year. It mandates a half-unit course covering specific topics like identifying online scams, fake news, deepfakes, password security, and protecting personal information. The State Department of Education must develop curriculum standards, guidelines, teacher training, and accessible resources to support this instruction, including accommodations for English learners and students with disabilities. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025, with implementation beginning for incoming sixth graders in 2027.
SB 408 prohibits Oklahoma public higher education institutions from requiring pregnant students to take leave, withdraw from programs, or restricting their studies solely due to pregnancy. It mandates reasonable accommodations like health-related safety adjustments, makeup work for missed assignments, and a six-month extension for completing degrees or exams. Institutions must create written policies on pregnancy accommodations, make them available to all students, and the Attorney General’s Civil Rights Enforcement Office will handle related complaints. This bill directly affects pregnant students enrolled in Oklahoma’s public colleges and universities, effective July 1, 2025.
HB 1761 requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for characteristics of dyslexia if they are not meeting grade-level reading targets after the initial assessment. Students identified with dyslexia characteristics must be rescreened every three years until age 18 or until a rescreening shows no characteristics. School districts must report detailed data on screenings, rescreenings, and interventions to the state Department of Education annually, including student progress and screening tools used. The bill also mandates the State Board of Education to develop policies for screening, including approved tools and parent notification processes. This affects all Oklahoma public schools serving K-3 students and requires ongoing monitoring of dyslexia identification.
