SB 1375 requires Oklahoma public high school students (grades 8-12) to complete a specific computer science unit to earn a standard diploma, effective for the 2024-2025 school year. It replaces the current "two units of computer technology" graduation requirement with a more defined computer science curriculum, including programming, hardware, and business applications like spreadsheets or databases. This policy directly affects all Oklahoma public high school students seeking a standard diploma, updating existing graduation requirements under state education law. The bill repeals prior versions of the same curriculum section to implement this change.
HB 1255 requires students attending accredited private schools or using the Parental Choice Tax Credit for homeschooling to take Oklahoma's standardized tests starting in the 2025-2026 school year. Taxpayers who claim the tax credit must repay it to the state if their child declines the required assessments. This expands existing public school testing requirements to cover these specific private and homeschool students. The law mandates testing at state-certified facilities during designated windows and ensures alignment with Oklahoma's academic standards.
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 267 establishes the School of American Civic Thought and Leadership at the University of Oklahoma to educate students on American political principles, leadership, and civic engagement through courses in American history, government, and free-market economics. The school, planned for the Norman campus, will operate as an academic unit with an appointed advisory board and a director responsible for curriculum development and reporting to the university provost. It receives a $5 million state appropriation for operations, requiring annual reports to state leadership by 2027. The bill aims to enhance civic education for OU students and the public, with implementation effective July 1, 2025.
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.
HB 1304 requires Oklahoma public high schools to offer a dedicated one-year computer science curriculum as part of graduation requirements for students in grades 8-12. It mandates that schools include computer science courses (covering programming, hardware, and business applications) as an approved option to fulfill the "two units of world language or computer technology" requirement for graduation. The bill specifies these courses must be approved for college admission and exclude basic keyboarding or typing courses. This directly affects all Oklahoma public high school students meeting graduation standards under the 2024-2025 school year curriculum rules. The policy change updates existing graduation requirements to explicitly include computer science as a valid pathway.
HB 1467 authorizes Oklahoma's State Board of Education to assist school districts in establishing community school pilot projects. It defines community schools as public schools offering tailored services (before, during, and after school) through collaboration with families, educators, community groups, and students. Pilot projects must include a designated coordinator, stakeholder needs assessments, collaborative leadership, and ongoing engagement, with optional components like strengthened curriculum and wraparound support services. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025, but funding availability will determine grant awards to school districts.
SB 664 creates a new "Skilled Trade Education and Workforce Development Fund" funded by transferring administrative fines from plumbing, electrical, mechanical, and roofing licensing revolving funds. It allows the Construction Industries Board to contract with Oklahoma vocational, technical, and accredited educational institutions offering trade coursework to develop curriculum about state trade laws and promote skilled trade careers through public outreach. The fund supports developing instructional materials, workforce programs, and curriculum for these four trades, with contracts requiring Board approval and post-completion reporting. This directly affects educational institutions providing electrical, mechanical, plumbing, or roofing training and aims to advance workforce development in Oklahoma's construction trades. The bill becomes effective November 1, 2025.
