SB 710: Teacher preparation; establishment of TeachForwardOK; allowing Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to select more than one applicant under certain circumstances. Emergency. - Oklahoma

Committee Substitute → Floor (House) · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from a 'Committee Substitute' version to the 'Floor (House)' version, indicating it has passed the Senate and is now ready for final action by the House of Representatives. The substantive policy language regarding the TeachForwardOK pilot program, funding amounts, and evaluation requirements remains unchanged, while the header and footer metadata were updated to reflect the new legislative stage.

TECHNICAL

The document header was updated to reflect the 'House of Representatives - Floor Version' and 'Engrossed Senate Bill' status, replacing the previous 'Committee Substitute' designation.

The sponsor attribution was updated to include 'Caldwell (Chad) of the House' alongside the existing Senate sponsor, Seifried.

The footer metadata was changed from 'Committee Substitute' to 'SB710 HFLR' (House Floor) and updated the committee report date to 04/13/2026.

Enrolled (final version) → Committee Substitute · 3 edits

MINOR

The bill was converted from an Enrolled version to a Committee Substitute, which involved significant reformatting and the insertion of page headers and footers typical of legislative tracking. Substantively, the core policy text regarding the TeachForwardOK pilot program, funding amounts, and reporting requirements remained unchanged, though the layout of the text was altered to accommodate these new formatting elements.

Scope change

No substantive change to the bill's scope or applicability; the text remains the same policy-wise.

TECHNICAL

The document structure was altered to include page numbers and request numbers (e.g., 'Req. No. 3674') interspersed within the text, changing the visual layout but not the legal content.

The header information was updated to reflect the bill's status as a 'Committee Substitute' for the 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature, replacing the 'Enrolled Senate' designation.

The footer section was replaced with a new tracking line containing a bill number (60-2-3674), a status code (EB), and a timestamp, removing the original certification signatures.

Engrossed → Enrolled (final version) · 3 edits · May 13, 2026

MINOR

The bill was finalized as an Enrolled version, adding official passage dates and signatures from the Senate, House, and Governor. Substantively, the final version allows the Commission to select more than one program to receive funding if money is available, whereas the earlier draft specified selecting only one program. The final version also added a requirement for the Commission to submit a final report by December 31, 2027, to the Governor and legislative leaders.

Scope change

The bill's scope remains focused on establishing the TeachForwardOK pilot program for teacher preparation, but the funding distribution mechanism was broadened to potentially include multiple recipients.

FISCAL

The requirement to select only one program to receive the $500,000 grant was changed to allow the Commission to select more than one program if funds are sufficient.

TIMELINE

A new requirement was added for the Commission to submit a final report of findings and recommendations to the Governor and legislative leaders by December 31, 2027.

TECHNICAL

The document was updated to include official passage dates, signatures from presiding officers, and the Governor's approval, marking the transition from an Engrossed draft to an Enrolled final version.

Floor (House) → Floor (Senate) · 4 edits

MODERATE

The bill was revised to transition from a House version to a Senate floor version, incorporating specific amendments to the TeachForwardOK pilot program. The most significant substantive change is the addition of a provision allowing the Commission to select more than one teacher education program to receive funding if available funds permit, whereas the House version mandated selecting only one program. The text also includes formatting updates and committee report changes reflecting the bill's progression through the legislative process.

Scope change

The bill's scope regarding funding distribution was expanded to allow for multiple grantees rather than limiting the award to a single program, provided sufficient funds exist.

FISCAL

Added language permitting the Commission to award grants to more than one approved teacher education program if funds are sufficient, expanding the potential reach of the pilot program.

TECHNICAL

Updated header information to reflect the Senate Floor Version and March 3, 2026 date, replacing the House of Representatives version.

Adjusted page headers and footers to match Senate formatting standards, including the removal of 'Engrossed Senate' language.

REQUIREMENT

Replaced the House committee report date and status with a new Senate committee report dated March 3, 2026, indicating the bill passed as amended by the Committee Substitute.

Introduced → Engrossed · 4 edits · Mar 17, 2026

MODERATE

The bill was amended to transition the effective date from July 1, 2013 to November 1, 2025, and to rename the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to the Commission for Education Impact. A new pilot program, 'TeachForwardOK,' was added to fund teacher education programs that create new pathways for nontraditional candidates to become teachers. The funding amount for this program was increased to $500,000 per program, with the option to fund multiple programs if funds allow.

Scope change

The bill's scope expanded to include a new two-year pilot program for teacher preparation pathways, while the effective date of the entire act was pushed forward by over a decade.

TIMELINE

The effective date for the renaming of the Commission and the assumption of its duties was changed from July 1, 2013, to November 1, 2025.

FISCAL

A new $500,000 grant was authorized for teacher education programs participating in the TeachForwardOK pilot program, with provisions to fund multiple programs if sufficient funds exist.

REQUIREMENT

New requirements were established for the Commission to evaluate teacher education programs and select those that develop innovative pathways for nontraditional candidates to enter the teaching profession.

DEFINITION

The official name of the Commission was changed from 'Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability' to 'Commission for Education Impact' effective November 1, 2025.

Teacher preparation; establishment of TeachForwardOK; allowing Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to select more than one applicant under certain circumstances. Emergency.

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