Education (School Choice)

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 1016: Income tax credit; requiring the Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority verify certain claims by certain applicants; requiring certain entities submit documentation to tax commission for verification of income for parental choice tax credit. Effective date.

SB 1016 amends Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act to require the Department of Human Services and Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify income claims for taxpayers seeking the credit. It also mandates that participating private schools submit documentation directly to the Oklahoma Tax Commission to verify income eligibility for families using the credit. The bill affects taxpayers who send children to accredited private schools or use alternative education methods, allowing them to claim tax credits of up to $7,500 annually based on family income levels. These verification steps aim to ensure accurate credit claims while maintaining the existing credit structure for private school tuition and related educational expenses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens Parental Choice Tax Credit program by verifying income eligibility, enabling expanded educational access to private schools and alternative education options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 2153: Schools; school athletic association requirements; requirement that certain hearings be subject to certain act; effective date; emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by prioritizing sibling enrollment and enabling statewide virtual charter schools, strengthening charter school options in underserved areas (60%+ free/reduced lunch zones).85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2928: Schools; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; eligibility for children with incarcerated parents; effective date.

HB 2928 expands Oklahoma's Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program to include students with disabilities who have at least one parent in prison, in addition to existing eligibility for students with disabilities. It also retroactively allows students previously denied scholarships due to lacking an IEP/ISP on October 1, 2009 (but meeting all other requirements) to qualify. The program continues to provide private school choice for eligible students, requiring prior public school attendance (with specific exemptions) and private school acceptance. School districts must inform parents about this option annually through existing special education notices.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands scholarship access for disabled students with incarcerated parents and retroactively includes previously denied students, enhancing educational access under the scholarship program.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 5, 2025

HB 1255: Schools; statewide system of student assessments; directing assessments to be administered to certain private school and homeschool students; effective date; emergency.

HB 1255 requires students attending accredited private schools or using the Parental Choice Tax Credit for homeschooling to take Oklahoma's standardized tests starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Taxpayers who claim the tax credit must repay it to the state if their child declines the required assessments. This expands existing public school testing requirements to cover these specific private and homeschool students. The law mandates testing at state-certified facilities during designated windows and ensures alignment with Oklahoma's academic standards.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands standardized testing requirements to private/homeschool students, strengthening statewide assessment accountability within education policy.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum School Choice Testing & Assessment

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died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 23, 2026

SB 1391: Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; requiring participating private schools to administer certain assessment of eligible students; establishing fee. Effective date.

SB 1391 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act to adjust household income limits for families using the program. It increases the income threshold for the highest credit tier from $150,000 to $225,000 annually (with a $6,000 credit), adds a new $250,000+ bracket (capping credits at $5,000), and maintains lower tiers for lower-income households. The bill affects families paying private school tuition who qualify for the tax credit, capping the credit at actual tuition costs regardless of income. It also requires participating private schools to administer certain assessments to students, updating prior requirements. These changes apply to tax years 2024 onward and fiscal years 2026 onward.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExpands tax credit eligibility to higher income brackets ($225k→$250k+), providing larger tax breaks for wealthier families, reducing state revenue. Aligns with 'creates tax breaks primarily for wealthy'.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax credit eligibility for private school tuition, increasing educational access for higher-income families by raising income limits and adding new brackets.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 18, 2025

SB 705: Charter schools; renaming the Charter Schools Incentive Fund; directing transfer of certain remaining balance; modifying certain calculation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 705 renames Oklahoma's "Charter Schools Incentive Fund" to the "Charter Schools Incentive and Closure Reimbursement Fund" (Section 3-144). It expands the fund's purpose to cover charter school startup costs, building renovations, and closure expenses, while adding new funding sources like payments from charter schools. The bill also modifies Section 3-142 to clarify that charter school sponsors (e.g., school districts) may charge only up to 3% of state aid for administrative services, and directs the Statewide Charter School Board to transfer remaining balances to the renamed fund. These changes directly affect charter schools, virtual charter schools, and their sponsors by altering funding calculations and reimbursement mechanisms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands funding for charter school operations, infrastructure, and closures through renamed fund with new sources, directly advancing educational access and school funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 24, 2025

HB 1088: Schools; transfer students; allowing certain students to transfer to adjacent school district; effective date.

HB 1088 allows students in school districts that do not offer their required grade level to automatically transfer to an adjacent district without facing capacity limits. This applies only to one transfer per student, bypassing standard capacity rules that normally restrict transfers. Subsequent transfers would follow existing rules under the Education Open Transfer Act. The bill directly affects students whose home districts lack their grade level, particularly those seeking adjacent district enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEnables student transfers to adjacent districts without capacity limits for grade-level access, directly expanding educational access for students in districts lacking required grade levels.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Choice

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 25, 2026

SB 683: Education; Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; expanding qualifying expenses eligible for credit; requiring submission of receipt or list to claim certain qualifying expenses. Effective date.

SB 683 creates an Oklahoma income tax credit for families covering education expenses for eligible students. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children in accredited private schools or using approved alternative education methods (like homeschooling). The credit amount varies by family income: up to $7,500 annually for lower-income families ($75,000 adjusted gross income or less), decreasing to $5,000 for higher earners ($250,000+), with separate provisions for schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students. Qualified expenses include private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees, but exclude amounts covered by scholarships. The bill amends existing tax law to define terms and update references, effective for tax years 2024 and beyond.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates income tax credit for lower-income families ($75k AGI or less), providing direct tax relief under budget/tax policy95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credits for private/homeschool expenses, expanding educational access and funding options for families per bill's explicit purpose.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1226: Charter schools; Oklahoma Charter Schools Act; definitions; sponsors may operate charter schools; sectarian and religious institutions as sponsors; effective date.

HB 1226 amends Oklahoma's charter school law to allow religious institutions and sectarian organizations to sponsor charter schools, removing prior prohibitions. It updates definitions to clarify that charter schools (effective July 1, 2024) may be operated by public or private contractors under specific sponsors, including school districts and the Statewide Charter School Board. The bill requires new sponsors to complete 10 hours of training on charter school requirements and mandates the Statewide Charter School Board to maintain a list of approved online courses, prioritizing STEM and advanced subjects. These changes directly affect charter school operators, school districts converting traditional schools, and the Statewide Charter School Board’s oversight responsibilities.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves prohibition on religious institutions sponsoring charter schools, expanding educational choice options under Oklahoma's charter school law.92% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

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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

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