SJR 20 is a legislative resolution disapproving all social studies and science subject matter standards approved by Oklahoma's State Board of Education on February 27, 2025. It directly affects the State Board of Education, public school districts, and the Oklahoma Department of Education by reversing their adoption of these standards. The resolution cites concerns about process transparency (including late distribution of standards to new board members) and the $33 million cost to implement new curriculum and textbooks. It directs the Secretary of State to distribute the resolution to the Governor, State Department of Education, and "The Oklahoma Register."
SB 702 modifies Oklahoma's Health Education Act to prohibit the inclusion of sex education or gender theory in public school health classes. It requires the State Department of Education to review and the State Board of Education to approve all health education curricula, materials, tests, and surveys before use. School districts must implement state-approved materials by the 2025-2026 school year, with annual electronic reporting to the state. The bill also establishes a process for submitting complaints about violations and allows the State Board to label districts as "deficient" for noncompliance.
SB 589 amends Oklahoma's high school graduation requirements to require that English curriculum standards give "Classic Literature and nonfiction literature equal consideration to other literature" and emphasize "the study of complete works of literature." This change directly affects Oklahoma public high school students in grades 8-12 during the 2024-2025 school year, as it modifies the English course requirements for a standard diploma. The bill updates existing curriculum standards under Section 11-103.6 of state law to ensure English courses include these specific literary forms. It does not alter other graduation requirements like math, science, or history courses, which remain unchanged. The bill takes effect immediately upon enactment.
SB 850 requires Oklahoma public school teachers to include specific primary source quotes from founding figures in US history courses, emphasizing Christianity's role in America's founding. The bill mandates teaching that the Constitution was "made only for a moral and religious people" and directs educators to use 14 prescribed quotes from figures like John Adams, George Washington, and Noah Webster. It specifies including content about the "original intent of the founding fathers" and the "influence of the Ten Commandments and the Bible" on founding documents. The law applies to all public school US history curriculum and takes immediate effect as an emergency measure.
HJR 1030 is a legislative resolution disapproving Oklahoma's newly adopted social studies standards, which were approved by the State Board of Education on February 27, 2025. The resolution formally rejects these standards under Oklahoma law (Section 11-103.6a-1 of Title 70), directing the Secretary of State to distribute copies to the Governor, State Department of Education, and "The Oklahoma Register." This action does not change the current standards but blocks their implementation by the legislature. The resolution directly affects how social studies curriculum is set in Oklahoma public schools, as it prevents the disapproved standards from taking effect.
SB 348 requires Oklahoma school districts to adopt written policies governing the selection and use of all classroom instructional materials, including textbooks and digital resources. It gives parents and legal guardians the right to submit written objections to specific materials, triggering a formal review process where school boards must evaluate and potentially remove objectionable content. The bill also updates textbook adoption procedures, mandating that review teams consider specific criteria when selecting materials and requiring school districts to establish clear timelines for handling parental objections. The law takes effect immediately due to an emergency declaration.
HB 1327 prohibits students who identify as or act like imaginary animals (commonly called "furries") from participating in school curriculum or activities. The bill requires parents or guardians to pick up such students from school, or mandates animal control services to remove them. It applies directly to students engaging in this specific behavior at Oklahoma schools and takes effect November 1, 2025. The legislation does not address other student behaviors or provide exceptions for educational or therapeutic contexts. This bill is currently in committee review after its first reading in February 2025.
This bill (SJR 19) is a legislative disapproval resolution targeting Oklahoma's social studies subject matter standards. It formally rejects all standards approved by the State Board of Education on February 27, 2025, as required by Oklahoma law (Title 70, Section 11-103.6a-1). The resolution directs the Secretary of State to distribute copies to the Governor, State Department of Education, and "The Oklahoma Register," ensuring the disapproval is officially recorded. This action directly affects the State Board of Education's approved curriculum standards for social studies in Oklahoma schools.
