Education (K-12 Education)

passed · Oklahoma · Senate May 5, 2026

SR 44: Resolution; recognizing the first week of May as Teacher Appreciation Week and honoring Oklahoma educators.

This Senate Resolution officially designates the week of May 4 through 8, 2026, as Teacher Appreciation Week in Oklahoma. The measure honors the state's approximately 42,556 educators who teach over 686,000 students from pre-kindergarten through 12th grade. By issuing this formal recognition, the bill acknowledges the significant contributions teachers make to student development and the education system. The resolution does not alter laws or funding but serves as a symbolic gesture to celebrate the profession.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill honors educators and acknowledges their contributions, aligning with support indicators for teachers.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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signed · Oklahoma · House May 11, 2026

HB 3016: Schools; Binocular Vision Screening Pilot Program; eye disorders; students in kindergarten, first, or third grades; State Department of Education; State Department of Health; comprehensive binocular vision screenings; Binocular Screening Revolving Fund; effective date; emergency.

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.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes Binocular Screening Revolving Fund in state treasury to cover program costs, directly funding a public health screening initiative through state budget appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates vision screenings for K-1-3 students to identify disorders, establishes revolving fund for program costs, enhancing student health support within K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareMandates school-based binocular vision screenings for early detection of eye disorders, establishes state fund to cover program costs, advancing preventive public health care.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 14, 2026

HB 3021: Schools; curriculum requirements for graduation; diploma pathway; State Department of Education; notice; seminar; English requirements financial literacy; alternate diploma; course availability; waiver; coursework; repealers; effective date; emergency.

HB 3021 establishes new curriculum standards for Oklahoma public schools, requiring all students to complete a 23-unit graduation curriculum starting in the 2025-2026 school year. It mandates specific content in subjects like requiring equal focus on classic literature and nonfiction in English, studying key historical documents (including the U.S. Constitution), and mastering standard math algorithms and Euclidean geometry. The bill creates a process for schools to request "nonstandard course waivers" for alternative courses, while ensuring technology center courses meet state standards and can count toward graduation. This directly affects Oklahoma public high school students and districts by standardizing graduation requirements and expanding options for course approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates specific curriculum content including required historical documents, classic literature, and math standards, strengthening academic requirements for graduation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum K-12 Education Testing & Assessment

signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 1481: Schools; requiring certain schools to provide students in certain grades with certain amount of recess per day. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1481 requires Oklahoma public elementary schools (kindergarten through grade 5) to provide 40 minutes of daily recess as a condition for school accreditation, separate from existing physical education requirements. Recess must be supervised, unstructured play time and cannot be taken away as punishment for students. Schools may divide the 40 minutes into two 20-minute periods. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public elementary schools serving those grades and takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates 40 min daily recess for K-5 as accreditation requirement, enhancing student well-being and unstructured play programs.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1896: Strong Readers Act; requiring retention of certain third-grade students who have not demonstrated certain proficiency and do not qualify for certain exemption. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1896 requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students annually for reading skills like decoding and comprehension using approved tools. Students who do not meet grade-level reading proficiency after receiving targeted intervention must be retained in third grade, unless they qualify for exemptions (e.g., English learners with less than one year in an English-learner program or students with disabilities). The bill mandates that schools provide individualized reading intervention plans within 30 days of identifying a deficiency and allocate state funds to support retained students. It directly affects third-grade students and public school districts, with specific requirements for screenings, interventions, and parental notifications.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates annual reading screenings and interventions for K-3 students to ensure proficiency before advancement, directly addressing educational quality and student outcomes in K-12 education.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 17, 2026

HB 3051: Higher education; Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; qualifications; participation; awards; effective date; emergency.

HB 3051 creates the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program to provide financial aid to students directly affected by the 1921 Tulsa race massacre. It awards scholarships covering tuition costs (up to resident rates) to Tulsa Public School District students meeting specific criteria: family income under $125,000, attendance at schools with high free/reduced lunch participation, and residence in designated high-poverty census blocks. The program also allows preference for applicants who can verify lineage as direct descendants of Greenwood Area residents (1921), with documentation verified by the Oklahoma Historical Society. Scholarships are limited to students under 21 years old at application, with additional awards for high school students to preserve historical awareness of the 1921 event.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates scholarship program funding higher education access for Tulsa students affected by 1921 massacre, expanding educational opportunity for underserved groups.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3022: Education; requirements for adjunct teachers who do not hold valid certificate to teach; State Board of Education to establish salary guidelines for part-time noncertified adjunct teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 3022 establishes new rules for non-certified adjunct teachers in Oklahoma public schools. It prohibits these teachers from serving as full-time or part-time classroom instructors for core subjects (math, science, English, social studies) in prekindergarten through sixth grade, while requiring them to hold at least a high school diploma. The bill mandates the State Board of Education to create salary guidelines specifically for part-time noncertified adjunct teachers. This directly affects school districts hiring non-certified staff for limited roles and sets clear boundaries for their classroom responsibilities.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits non-certified adjuncts from teaching core K-6 subjects, restricting teaching roles without certification requirements.85% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates salary guidelines for part-time noncertified adjunct teachers, establishing employment standards to protect wages.85% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3138: Schools; public schools; students; higher education; prohibiting certain name usage; pronouns; prohibiting adverse employment action; prohibiting student disciplinary action; private cause of action; legal remedies; limitations; effective date.

HB 3138, known as the "Free to Speak Act," requires public schools and state higher education institutions in Oklahoma to respect biological sex (defined as observed at birth) regarding student and staff interactions. It prohibits employees from facing discipline for refusing to use names or pronouns inconsistent with a student's biological sex (without parental permission for minors) and bars schools from disciplining students who decline to use such names or pronouns. The bill allows individuals harmed by violations to pursue private lawsuits for damages, injunctions, or attorney fees within two years. It applies to all public K-12 schools and state colleges, effective November 1, 2026.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts school curriculum on gender identity by mandating biological sex-based pronouns, prohibiting disciplinary action for non-compliance, limiting educational expression.90% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 3126: Commissioners of the Land Office; Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education; Concurrent Enrollment Revolving Fund; State Aid Formula; effective date; emergency.

HB 3126 redirects funds from Oklahoma's oil and gas lease revenues to create a dedicated revolving fund for concurrent enrollment programs, which allow high school students to take college courses. It requires the Commissioners of the Land Office to transfer bonus and delay rental income from oil and gas leases into a new "Concurrent Enrollment Revolving Fund," which can be invested to generate interest and provide ongoing funding. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education must use these funds exclusively for concurrent enrollment, with no other purposes allowed. This ensures a stable, continuing source of support for high school students accessing college-level coursework.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesRedirects existing oil/gas lease revenues to fund concurrent enrollment programs, allocating state funds toward education without tax changes or cuts.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationRedirects oil/gas lease funds to create dedicated revolving fund for concurrent enrollment programs, expanding high school access to college courses and providing ongoing funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 21, 2026

SB 1778: Strong Readers Act; modifying number of screening instruments to be approved by the State Board of Education beginning in certain school year. Emergency.

SB 1778, the Strong Readers Act, requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for reading skills at multiple points during the school year using approved tools. It mandates intensive reading intervention services for students not meeting grade-level targets, including summer academies for first- and third-grade students who remain behind, and requires retention of third graders who do not meet reading proficiency after interventions (with specific exemptions for students with disabilities or English learners). The bill also requires schools to provide written parental notifications about interventions, maintain reading intervention plans within 30 days of identification, and report progress data to the state. These provisions aim to improve early literacy outcomes through structured screening, targeted support, and accountability for student reading proficiency.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates reading screenings, interventions, and summer academies for K-3 students to improve literacy, directly strengthening educational outcomes in early grades.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education