SB 1489 requires Oklahoma public schools and the State Department of Education to comply with federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) standards for students with disabilities aged 3-21. It mandates that school districts provide special education services as defined by IDEA and authorizes using federal funds for these services. The bill specifically requires the State Department to publish online dispute resolution options for parents, including IEP facilitation, mediation, due process, and state complaints. This bill affects all Oklahoma public school districts, students with disabilities, and their families, effective July 1, 2026.
HB 2961 waives tuition and fees for spouses and children of Gold Star veterans (those killed in U.S. military service) at Oklahoma's public higher education institutions and career technology schools. It expands existing tuition waivers - previously limited to children of fallen peace officers, firefighters, and law enforcement retirees - to include Gold Star families who meet residency requirements (Oklahoma resident at death or during enrollment). The waiver covers all tuition and fees for up to five years and applies to both the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and career technology districts. This bill modifies Sections 3218.7-1, 14-134, and 14-134.1 of Oklahoma Statutes, effective July 1, 2026.
This bill establishes and clarifies the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program in Oklahoma, allowing parents of students with special needs to use state funds to enroll their children in eligible private schools. The legislation defines specific eligibility criteria, including students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), children of military families, and those in foster care or juvenile justice placements, while requiring parents to secure private school admission before receiving funding. It also sets a 45-day deadline for school districts to determine special education eligibility, deeming students eligible for scholarships if the district fails to decide within that timeframe, and outlines financial responsibilities such as transportation costs remaining with the family. The bill ensures continuity of educational choice by allowing scholarships to remain active until a student graduates, turns 22, or re-enrolls in public school, while mandating that private schools meet state accreditation standards to participate.
HB 4326 expands eligibility for Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to include students in court-ordered custody of private nonprofit child-placing agencies or federally recognized Indian tribes during specific grades (8th-11th). It removes the income requirement for these students and adds eligibility for students whose parent is a certified classroom teacher. The bill amends existing program rules to broaden access for these groups while maintaining other standard requirements like residency, academic performance, and admission standards. This change directly affects students in foster care or tribal custody who previously faced financial barriers to qualify.
HB 4427 requires Oklahoma's State Board of Education to create rules defining "distinguished qualifications" for adjunct teachers, including minimum experience and education requirements. It prohibits adjunct teachers without a valid teaching certificate from instructing core subjects in prekindergarten through fourth grade unless a school district obtains a waiver from the State Board. The bill also mandates annual reports from the State Department of Education detailing adjunct teacher qualifications, subject areas taught, and their distinguished experience. These reports must be published online and shared with legislators by January 15 each year. The law directly affects school districts, adjunct teachers, and the State Board of Education, with no impact on standard teaching certification requirements.
SB 2045 requires public elementary schools serving full-day pre-kindergarten through fifth grade to provide at least 30 minutes of daily recess as a condition of state accreditation. This applies to all students in those grades, with recess allowed to be split into segments and required to occur outdoors when weather and conditions permit. The bill removes previous recommendations about recess and instead mandates it as a distinct requirement separate from the existing 60-minute weekly physical education requirement. Schools must comply by July 1, 2026, or risk losing accreditation.
HB 2153 modifies Oklahoma charter school enrollment rules, primarily affecting students, families, and school districts. It requires charter schools to give enrollment priority to students with siblings already enrolled (over other preferences), limits admissions to specific geographic "academic enterprise zones" (60%+ free/reduced lunch eligibility), and establishes new rules for virtual charter schools. Effective July 2024, virtual charter schools become statewide entities, students transferring to them are considered "transfer students" requiring district record transfers within 3 days, and virtual charter students may not participate in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association (OSAA) events (only intramural activities). The bill also prohibits enrollment restrictions based on factors like ethnicity, income, or academic performance, except for specified cases.
HB 2749 creates a special fund called the Intergenerational Education Revolving Fund within the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. It establishes a competitive grant program to connect nursing facilities participating in Oklahoma's Medicaid program with public school districts for collaborative intergenerational education initiatives. Grant awards, provided as rate adjustments to qualifying facilities, will fund these partnerships. The program begins July 1, 2025, with funds limited to the total amount deposited into the revolving fund.
HB 2959 requires all school employees in Oklahoma to immediately report suspected abuse or neglect of students under 18 to both the Department of Human Services and local law enforcement (police, not school resource officers). It mandates that school superintendents or administrators must report suspected abuse by staff to law enforcement within 24 hours - before any school investigation or interviews occur - and prohibits school officials from questioning accused staff until law enforcement is notified. The bill also requires all school employees to annually acknowledge their reporting duty and defines "abuse or neglect" broadly to include sexual abuse, trafficking, and other specific offenses under Oklahoma law. This law directly affects every school employee and administrator in Oklahoma public and private schools.
HB 3016 requires Oklahoma schools to provide binocular vision screenings for students in kindergarten, first, and third grades to identify convergence insufficiency (a vision disorder affecting near focus). Screenings, conducted within 30 days of the school year start by trained school nurses or vision professionals, must be performed in addition to existing vision screenings. The bill establishes a Binocular Screening Revolving Fund in the state treasury to cover program costs using state appropriations, which must supplement - rather than replace - current school vision funding. The program begins in the 2026-2027 school year.
