Education

signed · Oklahoma · House May 27, 2025

HB 1096: Schools; modifying goals of certain programs; modifying eligibility for certain higher education programs; adding references to Classic Learning Test; effective date; emergency.

HB 1096 modifies Oklahoma school district requirements for teacher professional development. It updates goals to prioritize increasing academic performance scores, closing achievement gaps, and reducing college remediation rates. The bill adds mandatory annual training on dyslexia and dysgraphia for teachers, expands autism awareness training for early childhood educators, and requires data-driven planning for professional development programs. School districts must annually report on these programs to the State Department of Education, including progress toward specific student achievement goals. The bill does not reference the Classic Learning Test in its substantive provisions as described in the provided text.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates dyslexia/dysgraphia teacher training, expands autism awareness, and requires data-driven planning to improve academic performance and close achievement gaps.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Teachers

signed · Oklahoma · House May 30, 2025

HB 1727: Higher education; Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; eligibility for children of certain teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 1727 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program (OK HAP) to add a new eligibility category for children of certified classroom teachers. Specifically, it allows students whose parents are certified teachers to qualify for tuition assistance without needing to meet standard financial need requirements (normally required under Section 2603). The bill does not change other eligibility criteria like residency, academic performance, or admission standards. This change directly affects students pursuing higher education in Oklahoma whose parents work as certified teachers in the state. The policy went into effect June 10, 2025, after Governor approval.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves financial need requirement for children of teachers to access tuition assistance, expanding educational access under OK HAP without altering other criteria.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2269: Schools; amending certain subject matter standards for students of military families who have completed certain requirements; effective date; emergency.

This bill allows military-connected students in Oklahoma public schools (grades 8-12) to substitute coursework completed in prior schools for Oklahoma's history and social studies graduation requirements. Specifically, students who have taken equivalent courses elsewhere (e.g., in another state or military school) can use those credits toward the required 1/2 unit of Oklahoma History and 1/2 unit of U.S. Government. The change applies to the 2024-2025 school year and modifies existing curriculum standards under Section 11-103.6 of Oklahoma law. It directly affects military families who relocate frequently due to service.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAllows military students to use prior coursework for graduation requirements, expanding access without restricting curriculum or funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2025

HB 1940: Charter schools; sponsorship; adding county to certain sponsor; effective date; emergency.

HB 1940 amends Oklahoma's charter school law to establish a new annual limit: the Statewide Charter School Board may sponsor no more than five new charter schools per year in counties with fewer than 500,000 residents. This directly affects the Statewide Charter School Board's authority and charter school expansion in smaller counties, while maintaining existing sponsorship rules for other areas. The rule applies to all new charter school applications approved after July 1, 2025, when the bill takes effect. The bill does not change sponsorship requirements for schools in larger counties or other sponsor types.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationRestricts new charter school expansion in smaller counties by capping annual sponsorships at five, limiting educational access options for K-12 students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 411: School employees; requiring notification from law enforcement upon arrest or investigation of school employee for certain offenses. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 411 requires law enforcement to notify school districts and boards when a school employee is investigated, arrested, or charged with "offenses against students" (specifically defined as sexual offenses against students under Oklahoma law). Upon receiving this notice, school boards must immediately suspend the employee without a hearing, while preserving their pay and benefits, and prohibit them from being on school grounds during the suspension. The superintendent must also notify parents that the employee is presumed innocent until proven guilty. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and mandates the State Board of Education to create implementing rules.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRequires immediate suspension of employees accused of student offenses, prioritizing student safety and protection within educational settings.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Safety

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 20, 2025

SB 105: Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; removing prior public school enrollment requirement; modifying eligibility requirements. Effective date. Emergency.

This bill removes a requirement that students with disabilities must have attended a public school the previous year to qualify for the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship Program. It directly affects families seeking private school options for children with disabilities who previously needed public school enrollment history. The key change eliminates the "prior public school attendance" rule in Section 13-101.2, while maintaining other eligibility criteria like having an IEP or meeting specific exemptions (e.g., military transfers, foster care, homelessness). Private schools must still meet program standards, and scholarships remain available until the student graduates, enrolls in public school, or turns 22. The change makes the program more accessible for eligible students without prior public school enrollment.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves prior public school attendance requirement, expanding access to scholarships for students with disabilities seeking private school options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 704: Schools; directing certain online learning platform to be available to all students in the state. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 704 requires all Oklahoma public high schools to offer at least four advanced placement (AP) courses starting in the 2024-2025 school year. It mandates that school districts provide access to AP courses through options including an online platform maintained by the Statewide Charter School Board, with a focus on STEM, foreign language, and AP courses. The bill directs this online platform to be available to all students across Oklahoma school districts, eliminating barriers to course access. The law takes effect July 1, 2025, and includes requirements for the State Department of Education to provide information about AP course benefits and track district implementation.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AP course access via state platform, eliminating barriers to advanced curriculum for all students in Oklahoma public high schools.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyRequires statewide online platform for AP courses, expanding digital access to all students and eliminating barriers - directly supports internet access and digital equity.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Social Media

Track

died · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 1336: Education; creating the Oklahoma Veterans Higher Education Access Act; providing certain waivers; providing for calculation of waiver amounts. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1336 creates the Oklahoma Veterans Higher Education Access Act, providing tuition waivers for eligible veterans with service-connected disabilities rated at 60% or higher. It covers 50% to 100% of undergraduate tuition/fees at public universities or 50% to 100% of tuition at technology centers, based on disability rating (e.g., 60% disability = 50% waiver; 100% disability = 100% waiver). Veterans must first use all available federal education benefits, and waivers apply only to required courses (max 150 credits) or career programs (max 3 years), excluding textbooks or housing. The state must annually fund these waivers through legislative appropriations, subject to budget availability.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides state-funded tuition waivers for veterans, increasing government spending on education access per budget allocation.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tuition waivers for veterans with disabilities, expanding higher education access via financial support for public universities/technology centers.95% confidence ✓ VeteransSupports VeteransProvides tuition waivers (50-100%) for veterans with ≥60% service-connected disability, expanding education benefits after federal benefits are exhausted.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Veteran Benefits Veteran Education Veteran Healthcare

Track

died · Oklahoma · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 1395: Schools; Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; website requirements; effective date.

HB 1395 creates a tax credit program for Oklahoma parents or guardians paying eligible education costs for students. It allows taxpayers to claim credits of up to $7,500 annually (based on family income) for private school tuition, academic tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees for students attending accredited private schools or alternative education programs. The credit amount decreases as household income rises, with special provisions for schools serving homeless students or financially disadvantaged students (requiring 90% of enrollment to qualify based on income thresholds). This bill directly affects Oklahoma families choosing private education or alternative learning options, reducing their state income tax liability for qualifying education expenses.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief via credits for education expenses, decreasing tax burden for lower/middle income families per bill's income-based credit structure.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides tax credits for private school expenses, expanding parental educational choice and access for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Income Tax Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice Testing & Assessment

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 2273: Higher Education; Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Act; workforce development grant program; effective date; emergency.

HB 2273 creates the Oklahoma Department of Transportation Educational Assistance Program, providing tuition assistance to eligible Oklahoma residents pursuing degrees in fields needed by the Department of Transportation (DOT). Students receive coverage for resident tuition, fees, and academic service fees (up to 18 credit hours per semester) for up to 120 credit hours toward an undergraduate degree or a master's degree, contingent on maintaining a 2.0 GPA and good academic standing. In exchange, participants must work for the DOT in an eligible profession for five years after graduation; failure to complete the degree or fulfill the work requirement triggers repayment of all assistance received. The program is funded through DOT resources and private/public donations, with repayments deposited into a dedicated revolving fund.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates tuition assistance program for DOT-related higher education fields, directly funding access and workforce development within education.95% confidence ✓ TransportationSupports TransportationCreates workforce development grant program for DOT-related fields, supporting transportation sector workforce needs through education funding.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

Track