SB 1338: Education; creating the Education Impact and Innovation Revolving Fund; providing for competitive grants pool; providing for use of grants. Effective date. - Oklahoma

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was converted from a House version to a Senate version, which completely restructured the legislation. The House version focused on creating a competitive grant program for education initiatives, while the Senate version replaces this with a pilot program for a state literacy instructional team. This new team will provide direct technical assistance to schools struggling with literacy, dyslexia, and related disorders, rather than funding external organizations.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from funding external education initiatives through a competitive grant pool to establishing an internal state literacy instructional team to directly support schools.

SCOPE

Replaced the competitive grant program for education initiatives with a pilot program for a literacy instructional team.

REQUIREMENT

Added specific requirements for the literacy instructional team, including a minimum of five regional literacy leads and ten literacy specialists.

Established new qualifications for team members, requiring certification in structured literacy dyslexia or academic language therapy, and training in the science of reading and multitiered systems of support.

Added a requirement for the Department of Education to report on the pilot program's impact on student reading proficiency by December 31, 2026.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date of the act from November 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

FISCAL

Removed the detailed provisions for the Education Impact and Innovation Revolving Fund and the competitive grant application rubric.

Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 → House Committee Substitute for Senate Bill · 2 edits

MINOR

The bill was amended to rename the 'Education Initiative Revolving Fund' to the 'Education Impact and Innovation Revolving Fund' throughout the text. This change updates the official name of the fund used to finance competitive grants for education initiatives, ensuring consistency between the fund's title and its purpose of fostering innovation in Oklahoma schools.

Scope change

The scope of the bill remains focused on education funding, but the specific name of the revolving fund and the bill's title have been updated to reflect a broader focus on 'Impact and Innovation'.

DEFINITION

The name of the fund was changed from 'Education Initiative Revolving Fund' to 'Education Impact and Innovation Revolving Fund' in the bill title, summary, and statutory sections.

TECHNICAL

The bill number associated with the revision was updated from 17387 to 17463, and the revision date was changed from April 13 to April 15, 2026.

Engrossed → Proposed Committee Substitute (full committee) 1 · 6 edits

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to replace a mandatory pilot program for a literacy instructional team with a competitive grant program. The original bill required school districts to accept state assistance or lose funding, while the new version allows any entity to apply for grants to improve student education outcomes. This shifts the approach from a top-down mandate to a flexible, application-based funding model.

Scope change

The bill's scope changed from a specific 'Strong Readers Act' pilot program focused on dyslexia to a broader 'Education Initiative Revolving Fund' that funds various educational programs.

SCOPE

Removed the requirement to establish a three-year pilot program for a literacy instructional team.

FISCAL

Added the creation of an 'Education Initiative Revolving Fund' to support competitive grants for education initiatives.

ENFORCEMENT

Removed the penalty clause that would deny districts funds if they declined assistance from the literacy team.

REQUIREMENT

Added requirements for grant applications, including descriptions of needs, metrics for success, and data on prior implementation if applicable.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Board', 'Department', 'Education initiative', and 'Qualifying entity'.

TIMELINE

Changed the effective date from July 1, 2026, to November 1, 2026.

Amended And Engrossed → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was renumbered from an 'Engrossed House Amendment' to the final 'Engrossed Senate Bill,' indicating it has passed both chambers. The substantive policy changes include extending the pilot program for a literacy instructional team from three years to four years (starting 2023-2024) and updating the effective date from November 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026. The bill also adds a specific penalty clause stating that school districts refusing assistance from the literacy team will be ineligible for certain funds.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on literacy instruction and the Strong Readers Act, but the timeline for the pilot program was extended, and the effective date was moved forward by four months.

TIMELINE

The effective date of the act was changed from November 1, 2026, to July 1, 2026.

The duration of the literacy instructional team pilot program was extended from three years to four years.

ELIGIBILITY

A new provision states that school districts declining assistance from the literacy instructional team will not be eligible to receive funds under Section 1210.508D.

TECHNICAL

The document title was updated to reflect the bill's final status as an Engrossed Senate Bill rather than a House Amendment.

Introduced → Amended And Engrossed · 6 edits · Mar 24, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was completely rewritten to replace a pilot literacy program with a permanent competitive grant program. The new version removes the requirement for a three-year pilot and the mandate for districts to accept literacy assistance, while introducing a new revolving fund to finance education initiatives through a competitive grant process.

Scope change

The bill's scope shifted from a specific literacy instructional team pilot program to a broader competitive grant program for various education initiatives.

REQUIREMENT

Removed the mandate requiring school districts to accept assistance from a literacy instructional team to remain eligible for funds.

Established a competitive grant program where the State Board of Education awards grants to qualifying entities based on an approved rubric.

TIMELINE

Removed the language establishing a three-year pilot program for the literacy instructional team.

Changed the effective date of the act from July 1, 2026, to November 1, 2026.

FISCAL

Created a new 'Education Impact and Innovation Revolving Fund' to finance competitive grants for education initiatives.

DEFINITION

Added new definitions for 'Board', 'Department', 'Education initiative', and 'Qualifying entity'.

Education; creating the Education Impact and Innovation Revolving Fund; providing for competitive grants pool; providing for use of grants. Effective date.

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