HB 1280 (2025) requires Oklahoma school districts to spend at least 50% of their annual budget on classroom instruction starting in 2025-2026. If a district falls below this threshold, it must increase instructional spending by 2% annually until reaching 50%, or face a written warning and, after four years of non-compliance, a permanent 2% annual teacher pay raise for each year missed. The bill defines "annual budget" to exclude bond sales, fundraisers, and non-educational grants, and "instructional expenditures" per federal standards. The bill failed to pass (36-57) on March 27, 2025, so it is not law.
HB 1522 requires Oklahoma school districts to create and publicly post policies by January 1, 2022, defining how many transfer students they can accept per grade level at each school site. It limits students to two inter-district transfers per school year (except for those returning to their home district), allows automatic approval if a student’s home district doesn’t offer their grade level, and prohibits transfers based on unexcused absences (ten or more in a semester). Parents can appeal denials first to the district board and then to the State Board of Education if policies weren’t followed. The bill directly affects students seeking to transfer schools, their families, and school districts managing enrollment capacity.
HB 2831 requires high school students attending physical campuses to take concurrent enrollment college courses in person at their school building or a nearby college campus, eliminating virtual attendance for these classes. It applies directly to Oklahoma public and charter school students enrolled in concurrent enrollment programs. The bill also maintains tuition waivers for eligible seniors (18 credits) and juniors (9 credits) and mandates annual reports tracking participation and outcomes. Key provisions focus on requiring physical attendance for concurrent enrollment classes while preserving existing financial support and reporting requirements. This policy change specifically alters how students access college courses while enrolled in traditional high schools.
HB 1281 creates a $35,000 signing bonus program for classroom teachers and school counselors returning to Oklahoma public schools after leaving the state. To qualify, applicants must have at least three years of prior experience, not have worked in an Oklahoma public school in the past year, and agree to teach full-time for five years. The State Department of Education verifies eligibility before payment and requires annual confirmation of continued employment. If false information is found or the five-year commitment isn't met, participants must repay the bonus or a pro-rated portion. The bonus is excluded from salary calculations for retirement benefits and minimum pay schedules.
HB 1094 requires Oklahoma public schools to teach about the "atrocities of communism" to students in grades six through twelve starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The State Department of Education must develop grade-appropriate curriculum resources and integrate this content into existing courses, covering causes, human costs, societal impacts, and comparisons with U.S. constitutional principles. Teachers must receive professional development on this topic, with "communism" defined to include historical regimes like the Soviet Union and Cambodia. The law takes effect July 1, 2026.
