Education (Early Childhood)

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 12, 2026

HB 3241: Schools; program of character education; Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue, and Excellence (THRIVE) Act; requiring the State Department of Education to develop a character traits and personal skills education curriculum; effective date; emergency.

HB 3241, the THRIVE Act, requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to develop a mandatory character education curriculum for all public schools and charter schools (pre-K through 12th grade) by the 2026-2027 school year. The curriculum must teach 15 specific character traits and values, including honesty, respect for family, religious faith, lifelong marriage, sexual abstinence outside marriage, and patriotism, as defined in the bill. Schools must provide parents an opt-out option for their children and use only materials approved by the Department, with districts reporting compliance to the State Board of Education annually. The bill also mandates an "honor roll" for schools successfully implementing the program and requires the Department to publish approved resources and program impacts online.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationMandates specific character curriculum including abstinence, restricting school autonomy over content and academic freedom per bill's requirements.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Early Childhood

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Mar 5, 2026

HB 3698: Unstable housing; Student Eviction Assistance Revolving Fund; Oklahoma State Department of Education; indigent defense; forcible entry and detainer; requirements; report; audit; effective date.

HB 3698 creates the Student Eviction Assistance Revolving Fund within Oklahoma's State Department of Education to address housing instability affecting students. The fund provides legal representation for low-income families (indigent tenants) with children enrolled in pre-K through 12th grade facing eviction (forcible entry/detainer cases), with referrals required through their school district. Funding comes from state appropriations, federal grants, and donations, and is allocated across all 77 counties based on poverty rates and chronic absenteeism data. The bill mandates annual audits of legal service organizations, requires detailed expenditure reports to state leaders, and takes effect November 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates state appropriations to fund the Student Eviction Assistance Revolving Fund, directly advancing public service funding through state budget resources.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Student Eviction Assistance Fund via State Department of Education to prevent housing instability-related absenteeism, directly supporting educational access for K-12 students.90% confidence ✓ HousingSupports HousingCreates Student Eviction Assistance Fund providing legal aid to low-income families facing eviction, directly protecting tenant rights and addressing housing instability for students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Audits & Accountability Government Spending Early Childhood Tenant Rights

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 28, 2025

HB 1849: Children; sunset; Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program; Partnership for School Readiness; childcare facilities employee; income exemption; notice to the Department of Human Services; conditions; codification; effective date.

HB 1849 creates a temporary Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program (expiring November 1, 2028) administered by Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness. It directly affects childcare facility employees by exempting their household income from eligibility calculations for the Child Care Subsidy Program, waiving copayments for qualifying workers, and requiring childcare providers to notify the Department of Human Services within 30 days if an employee leaves. The bill ensures childcare workers qualify for subsidies without income limits, while maintaining all other standard eligibility requirements for the subsidy program.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Teacher Recruitment and Retention Program with income exemptions for childcare workers, directly supporting educator workforce stability and access to early childhood education.90% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExempts childcare workers' income from subsidy calculations and waives copayments, directly expanding financial benefits for this workforce.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 2, 2026

SB 1337: Education employees; providing certain amount of paternity leave for certain employees. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1337 adds 90 days of unpaid paternity leave for full-time education employees (like teachers and school staff) in Oklahoma during their child's first year. It allows these employees to take leave without pay for childcare while still receiving full credit toward salary increases and retirement service time. The bill also updates existing leave-sharing programs to include paternity leave eligibility and modifies related revolving funds. This directly affects education employees seeking parental leave, with specific provisions for both maternity and paternity leave under updated statutes. The policy change takes effect immediately due to an emergency declaration.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides 90 days unpaid paternity leave for education employees with maintained salary/retirement benefits, directly supporting teacher welfare and retention.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentAdds 90 days unpaid paternity leave with full credit for salary increases/retirement, expanding worker benefits and protecting career progression for education employees.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Paid Leave

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2025

HB 2917: Agricultural education; Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund; Agricultural Awareness license plates; funding; program expansion; effective date.

HB 2917 creates the "Ag in the Classroom Program" under Oklahoma's State Department of Agriculture to educate students (pre-K through 12th grade) about agriculture in both urban and rural schools. It increases the fee for Agricultural Awareness license plates from $24 to $27, directing the extra $3 per plate into an Ag in the Classroom Education Revolving Fund. The fund will support program expansion, particularly into urban areas, with the Department of Agriculture having exclusive control over the program and fund spending. This bill takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesIncreases license plate fee by $3 to fund agricultural education program expansion, directly allocating tax revenue to support a specific initiative.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Ag in the Classroom Program with new funding via license plate fee increase to expand agricultural curriculum access in K-12 schools, including urban areas.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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died · Oklahoma · House Feb 24, 2025

HB 2395: Education; Schools Reform Act of 2025; effective date.

HB 2395 expands Oklahoma's early childhood education programs to include 3-year-olds, requiring school districts to offer voluntary half-day (2.5 hours) or full-day (6 hours) programs for children aged 3-5. It mandates certified early childhood educators in all such programs, sets developmentally appropriate learning standards (not academic), and requires private providers contracting with schools to meet certification and salary standards. Families of eligible children in districts without programs may transfer to districts with capacity, with funding tied to State Aid calculations. The bill directly affects school districts, early childhood providers, and families of 3- to 5-year-olds.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands early childhood access to 3-year-olds, mandates certified educators, and sets developmentally appropriate standards - directly advancing educational access and quality for young learners.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 17, 2025

HB 2125: Education; adjunct teachers; instructional levels; early childhood education programs; authorizing adjunct teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 2125 removes a restriction that previously barred adjunct teachers from teaching special education classes in early childhood education programs. The bill authorizes adjunct teachers to instruct in special education within these programs, expanding their teaching scope. This change directly affects adjunct teachers employed in Oklahoma's early childhood education settings. The bill is currently pending in the Oklahoma legislature after passing committee amendments.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves restriction on adjunct teachers teaching special education in early childhood programs, expanding access to specialized instruction within educational settings.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood Special Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1293: State Department of Education; creating the LETRS Training Revolving Fund to provide certain training to certain teachers. Effective date. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates fund to cover LETRS training costs for early-grade teachers, advancing teacher development and literacy curriculum through dedicated state funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 790: Schools; requiring the State Board of Education to develop certain programs. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 790 requires Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to develop and implement programs teaching 10 specific character traits (such as respect, integrity, responsibility, and courage) as part of their curriculum for grades pre-K through 12. The State Department of Education must create a website with resources including approved programs, an honor roll for schools with successful implementations, and a reading list of character-focused books. Schools must consult committees of parents, teachers, and community members before adopting the program, and the State Board of Education may award limited grants ($1,000 each to 10 districts) for pilot projects aligning character education with core subjects. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-12 character education curriculum additions (respect, integrity, etc.), enhancing student program content per bill's requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Early Childhood

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 848: Education funding; creating the Oklahoma Independent Education Act; requiring development of plan to phase out acceptance and use of certain federal funds. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 848, the "Oklahoma Independent Education Act," prohibits Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools from using federal or state funds to support activities promoting sexual orientation or gender identity. It requires the state to develop a plan to phase out federal education funding (for pre-K through 12th grade) and replace it with state funds, including a timeline and funding needs analysis. The bill establishes a working group to monitor implementation, exempting it from open meeting and records laws, and mandates that schools stop using funds for the prohibited activities. This directly affects all Oklahoma public schools receiving federal education funding.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRequires state to replace federal education funding with state funds, increasing state budget allocation for education programs.95% confidence ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits funding for SOGI-related activities and mandates phasing out federal education funds, restricting curriculum and defunding federal programs.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Early Childhood

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