Education

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 9, 2025

HB 1396: Schools; Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; prohibiting private schools from requiring parent to participate.

HB 1396 prohibits private schools in Oklahoma from requiring parents to participate in the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Program as a condition for enrolling their child. It requires schools to provide enrolled students using the tax credit a written tuition agreement showing the base rate, with future increases limited to the State Treasurer's annual inflation measure (based on local consumer index data) and requiring written notice at least one semester in advance. This applies only to students receiving the tax credit, not to other students. The bill aims to prevent schools from tying enrollment to tax credit participation while standardizing tuition increase notifications for tax credit users. It takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationProhibits private schools from mandating tax credit participation for enrollment, ensuring access and capping tuition increases at inflation, advancing educational choice and affordability.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 5, 2025

SB 682: Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act; modifying installment payment for certain eligible students. Effective date.

SB 682 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program to change how taxpayers claim credits for private school expenses. It establishes income-based credit limits (ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 annually) for parents or guardians paying tuition at accredited private schools, with higher amounts for families below certain income thresholds. The bill also prohibits the Oklahoma Tax Commission from reclaiming credits for eligible students and clarifies that credits cover tuition, fees, and approved educational materials. This directly affects Oklahoma families using the program to offset private school costs, with specific provisions for schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesEstablishes income-based tax credits for private school tuition, providing targeted tax relief to lower-income families through modified credit limits and prohibited reclaiming.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates income-based tax credits for private school tuition, expanding access for families and enhancing educational choice options.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 25, 2025

SB 141: Schools; directing the State Board of Education to issue a request for proposals for a statewide student information system. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 141 requires Oklahoma's State Board of Education to issue a request for proposals by November 2025 for a statewide student information system that school districts must use by July 2027. The bill mandates the system include specific technical standards like XML data formats, interoperability protocols, and federal reporting capabilities to ensure consistent data sharing for state aid calculations, testing programs, and student mobility tracking. School districts must comply with these requirements or risk forfeiting state aid payments under amended funding rules. The system is designed to streamline data collection for state and federal education reporting, with the State Department of Education responsible for implementation by July 2027.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standardized student data system for consistent state aid calculations and testing, supporting efficient resource allocation in education administration.75% confidence

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 10, 2025

HB 1758: Virtual charter schools; allowing statewide virtual charter schools that reach certain assessment achievements to receive additional funds for certain expenses; effective date; emergency.

HB 1758 would provide Oklahoma virtual charter schools with $100,000 annually if their academic performance is within 10 points of the state average on the Oklahoma State Report Card. Schools meeting this threshold could use the funds for facility costs, student testing, transportation, or student services. Funding is based on academic data from two years prior (e.g., 2022-2023 scores determine 2025 funding) and is in addition to existing district funding. The bill requires available state funds and takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesBill allocates $100,000 annually to virtual charter schools meeting academic thresholds, increasing state funding for education services through targeted budgetary appropriations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides $100k/year to virtual charter schools meeting performance targets for facility/testing costs, increasing funding beyond existing district allocations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Testing & Assessment

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passed · Oklahoma · House May 21, 2025

HB 2854: Higher education; authorizing certain course offerings at certain institutions beginning in certain academic year; allowing duplication of certain courses; effective date.

HB 2854 allows Oklahoma's public higher education institutions to modify their program offerings to address unmet workforce needs, beginning in the 2026-2027 academic year. It specifically updates provisions for the University Center at Ponca City (involving Northern Oklahoma College) and a new campus in Muskogee (serving Connors State College and Northeastern State University), removing Northern Oklahoma College's exclusive authority over lower-division courses at Ponca City starting in 2026. The bill establishes separate boards of trustees for each center to manage operations, budgets, and program approvals. These changes apply to institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education and directly affect students seeking accessible degree programs in those communities. The legislation focuses on expanding educational access and program flexibility without altering tuition or state funding mechanisms.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill enables higher education institutions to modify course offerings to address workforce needs, expanding educational access and relevance without restricting curriculum or funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 1016: Income tax credit; requiring the Department of Human Services and the Oklahoma Health Care Authority verify certain claims by certain applicants; requiring certain entities submit documentation to tax commission for verification of income for parental choice tax credit. Effective date.

SB 1016 amends Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act to require the Department of Human Services and Oklahoma Health Care Authority to verify income claims for taxpayers seeking the credit. It also mandates that participating private schools submit documentation directly to the Oklahoma Tax Commission to verify income eligibility for families using the credit. The bill affects taxpayers who send children to accredited private schools or use alternative education methods, allowing them to claim tax credits of up to $7,500 annually based on family income levels. These verification steps aim to ensure accurate credit claims while maintaining the existing credit structure for private school tuition and related educational expenses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill strengthens Parental Choice Tax Credit program by verifying income eligibility, enabling expanded educational access to private schools and alternative education options.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice

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died · Oklahoma · Senate May 30, 2025

SB 1054: Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; modifying eligibility; removing certain eligibility criteria.

SB 1054 would have modified the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program by removing specific eligibility requirements for applicants. The bill aimed to expand access to the scholarship program, which supports education-related opportunities tied to Tulsa reconciliation efforts. It directly affected students or applicants who previously met the excluded criteria. The proposed change focused solely on revising the program's qualification rules, without altering funding or other program structures. (Note: The bill was withdrawn and died in conference; this summary reflects its intended policy changes.)

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationRemoves eligibility barriers to expand scholarship access, directly advancing educational access for students under the Tulsa Reconciliation program.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1488: Schools; accreditation standards; deficiencies; permitting school districts to request a hearing on accreditation recommendations; rulemaking; effective date; emergency.

HB 1488 modifies Oklahoma's school accreditation process by requiring the State Board of Education to establish clear standards for school accreditation, including specific counselor staffing requirements. It creates a formal hearing process for school districts that disagree with accreditation recommendations, giving districts 10 working days to request a hearing after being notified, with accreditation status changes only taking effect if the district fails to act within 90 days. The bill mandates that non-accredited schools must be closed or reconfigured to ensure students attend accredited schools, and it includes exemptions from penalties for certain media-related standards if state funding meets specific thresholds. This directly affects public school districts, students, and school counselors across Oklahoma by changing how accreditation compliance is enforced and appealed.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates counselor staffing standards and hearing process for accreditation disputes, strengthening school accountability and support systems.90% confidence

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 6, 2025

HB 2919: Schools; permitting Life Skills to be taught as an elective course in public schools as funding becomes available; effective date.

HB 2919 would allow Oklahoma public schools to offer "Life Skills" as an elective course for students in grades 6-12, subject to available funding. The course would cover practical topics like cooking, job application skills, financial literacy, mental health basics, and career pathways (e.g., trade schools or college). Schools could teach it through existing Family and Consumer Science courses or other applicable classes, without requiring special teacher certification, and could deliver it in person, online, or hybrid. The bill mandates alignment with workforce readiness standards and takes effect November 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands K-12 educational access by adding Life Skills electives covering financial literacy, career pathways, and practical skills, enhancing student program offerings without restrictions.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Career & Technical Education Higher Education Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 4, 2025

HB 1113: Education; adjunct teachers; effective date; emergency.

HB 1113 creates a new certification pathway for part-time teachers (referred to as "adjunct teachers") in Oklahoma public schools. It allows these educators to teach without full certification initially if they hold a relevant bachelor's degree or terminal degree, but requires them to obtain standard certification within three years of starting full-time employment. The bill also mandates that teacher education programs offer this alternative pathway in key subjects like math, science, and foreign languages, and includes an emergency clause to take effect immediately upon passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates certification pathway for adjunct teachers to address staffing shortages in critical subjects, supporting educator access and school needs without reducing standards.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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