Education (Testing & Assessment)

SB 683 creates an Oklahoma income tax credit for families covering education expenses for eligible students. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children in accredited private schools or using approved alternative education methods (like homeschooling). The credit amount varies by family income: up to $7,500 annually for lower-income families ($75,000 adjusted gross income or less), decreasing to $5,000 for higher earners ($250,000+), with separate provisions for schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students. Qualified expenses include private school tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees, but exclude amounts covered by scholarships. The bill amends existing tax law to define terms and update references, effective for tax years 2024 and beyond.

HB 1519 expands Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program by increasing the maximum annual tax credit for private school tuition from $5,000 to $7,500, removing the previous cap. It creates income-based tiers for the credit amount (ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 depending on household income) and broadens eligible expenses to include tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees. The bill directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers with children enrolled in accredited private schools, including schools serving homeless students or financially disadvantaged students (defined as 90% of enrollment below 250% of the federal poverty threshold). It requires taxpayers to submit receipts for qualified expenses and allows unused credit to be refunded. The program would apply to tax years 2024 and beyond, administered by the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

HB 1761 requires Oklahoma public schools to screen all kindergarten through third-grade students for characteristics of dyslexia if they are not meeting grade-level reading targets after the initial assessment. Students identified with dyslexia characteristics must be rescreened every three years until age 18 or until a rescreening shows no characteristics. School districts must report detailed data on screenings, rescreenings, and interventions to the state Department of Education annually, including student progress and screening tools used. The bill also mandates the State Board of Education to develop policies for screening, including approved tools and parent notification processes. This affects all Oklahoma public schools serving K-3 students and requires ongoing monitoring of dyslexia identification.