Education (Higher Education)

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1298: Student assessments; directing the State Board of Education to issue a request for proposals to select certain alternative assessments. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1298 requires Oklahoma's State Board of Education to issue requests for proposals seeking at least three alternative assessments for high school students (grades 9-12) that measure college and career readiness. These assessments must be adopted by the Board and made available to school districts starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The bill allows parents to opt their child out of standard assessments with written consent, but requires students to take an alternative assessment instead. It directly affects high school students and school districts by expanding assessment options beyond current requirements.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReplaces standard assessments with college/career readiness alternatives, requiring continued assessment without standard tests per parent opt-out90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 267: Higher education; establishing the School of American Civic Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma; providing purpose; making an appropriation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 267 establishes the School of American Civic Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma to educate students on American political principles, leadership, and civic engagement through courses in American history, government, and free-market economics. The school, planned for the Norman campus, will operate as an academic unit with an appointed advisory board and a director responsible for curriculum development and reporting to the university provost. It receives a $5 million state appropriation for operations, requiring annual reports to state leadership by 2027. The bill aims to enhance civic education for OU students and the public, with implementation effective July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $5 million state appropriation for new academic school, directly funding a state program under budgetary spending.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes new higher education program with $5M state funding, focusing on civic education curriculum through American history and government courses.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Appropriations Curriculum Higher Education

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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 · 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

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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

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 7: Higher education; creating the Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Academy; providing eligibility. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 7 creates the Oklahoma Teacher Recruitment Academy, which provides tuition and mandatory fee assistance for students pursuing bachelor's degrees in approved teacher preparation programs. To qualify, students must enroll in Oklahoma's public higher education system, agree to teach in a critical shortage subject area (identified annually by the State Department of Education), and commit to teach one school year for each academic year of assistance received. The program covers tuition/fees up to $10 million annually, prioritizes students who exhaust other financial aid first, and requires repayment if participants fail to teach in qualifying roles. This directly affects Oklahoma students in teacher preparation programs and public schools facing staffing shortages in identified critical subject areas.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition assistance for teacher training in shortage areas, directly funding educator recruitment to strengthen K-12 staffing and address critical shortages.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 25, 2025

HB 1304: Schools; subject matter standards; computer science courses; curriculum; rules; effective date; emergency.

HB 1304 requires Oklahoma public high schools to offer a dedicated one-year computer science curriculum as part of graduation requirements for students in grades 8-12. It mandates that schools include computer science courses (covering programming, hardware, and business applications) as an approved option to fulfill the "two units of world language or computer technology" requirement for graduation. The bill specifies these courses must be approved for college admission and exclude basic keyboarding or typing courses. This directly affects all Oklahoma public high school students meeting graduation standards under the 2024-2025 school year curriculum rules. The policy change updates existing graduation requirements to explicitly include computer science as a valid pathway.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates computer science curriculum as graduation requirement, expanding K-12 curriculum standards and enhancing student program offerings per bill's explicit language.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyBill mandates computer science education in public high schools, directly advancing technology literacy and workforce development through required curriculum, aligning with support indicators.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Higher Education K-12 Education

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 21, 2025

HB 1092: Revenue and taxation; Oklahoma Trade School Tuition Tax Credit; income tax credit; trade schools; effective date.

HB 1092 creates a $7,500 annual tax credit for Oklahoma residents who complete qualifying trade or vocational programs (such as HVAC, plumbing, or welding training) at approved Oklahoma schools. The credit, available for taxable years starting January 1, 2026, offsets income tax liability up to the actual tuition cost paid (whichever is lower), but cannot reduce tax below zero. Unused portions may carry forward for up to three years, and the credit can only be claimed once per individual after receiving program certification. This policy directly supports Oklahoma residents pursuing in-demand technical careers by reducing the cost of vocational education.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates targeted income tax credit for trade school tuition, reducing tax burden for qualifying residents - aligns with tax relief for middle/lower income education expenses.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill creates tax credit for trade school tuition, increasing access to vocational higher education and reducing student costs for approved programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Career & Technical Education Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1469: Schools; Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; website requirements; effective date.

HB 1469 creates an income tax credit program for Oklahoma taxpayers covering qualified education expenses for eligible students. It directly affects parents, guardians, or legal custodians who pay for private school tuition or approved educational services (like tutoring, materials, or assessments) for children in Oklahoma. The credit amount varies by family income (ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 annually) and includes special provisions for schools serving homeless students or financially disadvantaged students (90% of enrollment below 250% of federal poverty level). The bill requires taxpayers to submit receipts to the Oklahoma Tax Commission and limits credits to expenses not covered by scholarships or discounts.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates income tax credit for education expenses, providing tax relief for eligible families with varying credit amounts based on income.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tax credits for private school tuition and approved educational services, expanding family access to education funding through direct financial support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1308: Higher education; providing eligibility for resident tuition. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1308 allows students who graduated from an Oklahoma high school and lived in Oklahoma with a parent or guardian for at least two years prior to graduation to qualify for resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges, regardless of their current immigration status. To qualify, students must meet admission standards and either provide proof of an immigration status application or file an affidavit promising to apply within one year of enrollment. The bill also ensures these students cannot be denied state scholarships or financial aid due to their immigration status. This applies to new students enrolling on or after July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands higher education access by removing immigration status barriers for qualifying students to pay resident tuition at Oklahoma public colleges.95% confidence ✓ ImmigrationSupports ImmigrationBill removes immigration status barrier for resident tuition eligibility, supporting immigrant access to higher education services.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid DACA & Dreamers

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