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.
SB 1373, the "Healthy Meals for Healthy Kids Act," requires public school districts and charter schools in Oklahoma to offer free breakfast and lunch to all students during each school day, with schools operating under tribal or Bureau of Indian Affairs authority allowed to participate. It mandates at least 20 minutes of seated lunch time for students in kindergarten through fifth grade and directs the State Department of Education to establish a grant program using federal meal reimbursement differences to fund meal quality improvements. School food authorities must maximize federal funding by adopting the USDA's "community eligibility provision" and use grant funds for food, equipment, or training to upgrade meals. The bill directly affects all participating Oklahoma schools and students, aiming to expand free meal access while leveraging federal reimbursement rates to support program costs.
HB 1159 allows Oklahoma students to transfer between schools within their district year-round, provided the receiving school's grade level has available space. It establishes specific preferences for transfers, including siblings of transferring students, children of district employees, students changing residence within the district, and those in foster care. School districts must publicly post capacity limits for transfers and prioritize students based on these preferences when space is limited. The bill requires districts to set and report these capacity limits annually, ensuring transparency in the transfer process.
SB 1292 creates the Oklahoma High Dosage Tutoring Program to provide intensive reading tutoring for prekindergarten through third-grade students. The program requires school districts to offer in-person tutoring (three one-hour sessions weekly for 10-12 weeks per semester) and prioritize districts federally designated for improvement under the Every Student Succeeds Act. Tutors earn bonuses of $1,600 per cohort per semester and $1,000 per grade level of reading growth achieved by students, with eligibility tied to students improving at least half a grade level in reading annually. Parental consent is required for student participation, and students may be removed from the program under specific circumstances like non-attendance or parental withdrawal. The program becomes effective July 1, 2026.
SB 410 requires Oklahoma public high school students in grades 8-12 to complete a computer science unit to earn a standard diploma starting with the 2024-2025 school year. This replaces the previous requirement for two world language units with a new computer technology course requirement covering programming, hardware, and business applications like spreadsheets. The bill mandates that this unit must be approved for college admission and excludes basic keyboarding or typing courses. It directly affects all students pursuing standard diplomas in Oklahoma public high schools under the updated graduation requirements.
HB 2021 creates the Oklahoma Kids After-School Grant Program (OKAGP) under the Department of Human Services to fund community-based organizations running after-school programs for K-12 students. Eligible organizations must operate at least five locations across Oklahoma (either directly or through partnerships) and qualify for exemptions from child care licensing under Title 10. The bill establishes a revolving fund in the State Treasury for these grants, funded by state appropriations and donations, with no annual budget restrictions. The program becomes effective November 1, 2025, and will provide grants to support after-school programming for children.
HB 2153 modifies Oklahoma charter school enrollment rules, primarily affecting students, families, and school districts. It requires charter schools to give enrollment priority to students with siblings already enrolled (over other preferences), limits admissions to specific geographic "academic enterprise zones" (60%+ free/reduced lunch eligibility), and establishes new rules for virtual charter schools. Effective July 2024, virtual charter schools become statewide entities, students transferring to them are considered "transfer students" requiring district record transfers within 3 days, and virtual charter students may not participate in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSAA) events (only intramural activities). The bill also prohibits enrollment restrictions based on factors like ethnicity, income, or academic performance, except for specified cases.
HB 1909 creates the Oklahoma Youth Advisory Council, a 53-member body for youth aged 14-19 enrolled in Oklahoma high school (including online, charter, or GED programs). The council includes 48 members appointed by state senators (one per district) and 5 tribal representatives to ensure diversity, with members serving one-year terms. Its key duties include advising legislators on youth issues like education and health, holding at least four annual meetings (two during legislative sessions), and submitting annual reports to a designated Review Committee. The bill establishes a formal process for membership applications, leadership roles, and public meeting transparency.
SB 1375 requires Oklahoma public high school students (grades 8-12) to complete a specific computer science unit to earn a standard diploma, effective for the 2024-2025 school year. It replaces the current "two units of computer technology" graduation requirement with a more defined computer science curriculum, including programming, hardware, and business applications like spreadsheets or databases. This policy directly affects all Oklahoma public high school students seeking a standard diploma, updating existing graduation requirements under state education law. The bill repeals prior versions of the same curriculum section to implement this change.
SB 587 requires Oklahoma public school districts to provide mandatory instruction in human growth and development for students in grades 9-12 starting with the 2025-2026 school year. The bill specifies that this instruction must include human biology related to pregnancy, fetal development inside the womb, a 3-minute high-definition ultrasound video showing early fetal organ development, and a computer-generated animation of fertilization and pregnancy stages. School districts may integrate this content into existing courses, and the law takes effect July 1, 2025. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma high school students in grades 9-12 and school districts statewide.
