Education

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1214: Schools; requiring school district boards of education to provide programs addressing sex trafficking and exploitation prevention and awareness. Effective date.

SB 1214 requires Oklahoma public school districts serving grades 6-12 to implement specific, age-appropriate curricula on sex trafficking prevention and social media safety. The bill mandates that schools teach a 90-minute unit for grades 6-8 and a 135-minute unit for grades 9-12, covering topics like trafficking definitions, local laws, victim profiling, online risks, and prevention strategies. Schools must provide parents written notice 7 days in advance and post the curriculum online. The State Department of Education must develop and make available free, updated curriculum materials, a supporting video, and resources for schools. This directly affects all Oklahoma public schools and students in grades 6 through 12.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates new curriculum programs on trafficking prevention and social media safety for K-12, enhancing student education and safety through required age-appropriate instruction.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 790: Schools; requiring the State Board of Education to develop certain programs. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 790 requires Oklahoma public school districts and charter schools to develop and implement programs teaching 10 specific character traits (such as respect, integrity, responsibility, and courage) as part of their curriculum for grades pre-K through 12. The State Department of Education must create a website with resources including approved programs, an honor roll for schools with successful implementations, and a reading list of character-focused books. Schools must consult committees of parents, teachers, and community members before adopting the program, and the State Board of Education may award limited grants ($1,000 each to 10 districts) for pilot projects aligning character education with core subjects. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates K-12 character education curriculum additions (respect, integrity, etc.), enhancing student program content per bill's requirements.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum Early Childhood

Track

passed · Oklahoma · House Apr 16, 2025

HB 2247: Special education; requiring State Department of Education develop certain standards; codification; effective date.

HB 2247 requires Oklahoma's State Department of Education to develop specific standards implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's (IDEA) "least restrictive environment" principle. This ensures students with disabilities are not unnecessarily excluded from regular classrooms in public schools. The bill mandates these standards be created by the Department and becomes effective November 1, 2025. It directly affects students with special needs and the State Department of Education, focusing solely on establishing procedural requirements for classroom inclusion under IDEA.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates standards to implement IDEA's 'least restrictive environment,' ensuring students with disabilities access regular classrooms, advancing educational access and inclusion for special needs students.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 12, 2025

SB 508: Schools; making certain whistleblower protections applicable to support employees. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 508 expands existing whistleblower protections for Oklahoma teachers to include school support staff (like cafeteria workers, custodians, and administrative aides). It prohibits school districts from disciplining these employees for reporting violations of law, the Oklahoma Constitution, or safety concerns - whether disclosed directly to supervisors, school boards, or state education officials. Schools must prominently post this protection policy, while still respecting student privacy under FERPA. The bill takes effect July 1, 2025, and is designated an emergency measure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands whistleblower protections for school support staff, preventing retaliation for reporting safety issues, strengthening school environment and staff protections.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentExpands whistleblower protections for school support staff, prohibiting retaliation for reporting safety/legal violations, directly advancing workers' rights in workplace safety and protection.95% confidence

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 13, 2025

SB 796: Higher education; prohibiting certain activities related to diversity, equity, and inclusion. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 796 prohibits Oklahoma public universities from using state funds, property, or resources for diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs that grant preferential treatment based on race, ethnicity, sex, or national origin. It bans mandatory DEI training, pronoun disclosure requirements, and diversity statements in hiring, while allowing programs supporting first-generation students, low-income students, or underserved groups without race-based preferences. Universities must review and potentially restructure non-compliant DEI initiatives by July 2025 and submit annual compliance certificates starting July 2026. The bill exempts accreditation requirements, academic freedom, student organizations, and data collection from its restrictions.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationProhibits state-funded DEI programs using race/ethnicity preferences in higher ed, restricting diversity initiatives while banning mandatory DEI training.90% confidence

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 4, 2025

SB 348: Schools; directing responsibility for content of all instructional materials; requiring adoption of policy for objections to use of specific materials. Effective date. Emergency.

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.

Topics ✗ EducationOpposes EducationBill restricts curriculum by enabling parent objections to materials and potential removal, limiting classroom content access.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Curriculum

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 2749: Medicaid; directing establishment of certain nursing facility add-on rate under specified conditions; effective date; emergency.

HB 2749 creates a special fund called the Intergenerational Education Revolving Fund within the Oklahoma Health Care Authority. It establishes a competitive grant program to connect nursing facilities participating in Oklahoma's Medicaid program with public school districts for collaborative intergenerational education initiatives. Grant awards, provided as rate adjustments to qualifying facilities, will fund these partnerships. The program begins July 1, 2025, with funds limited to the total amount deposited into the revolving fund.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates Intergenerational Education Revolving Fund to provide Medicaid rate adjustments funding for school-nursing facility partnerships, directly advancing educational access through new school funding mechanism.90% confidence ✓ HealthcareSupports HealthcareFunds Medicaid nursing facilities via rate adjustments for intergenerational education programs, strengthening healthcare partnerships within existing Medicaid framework.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Medicaid

passed both · Oklahoma · Senate May 22, 2025

SB 1128: Education; specifying apportionment of certain appropriated funds. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1128 appropriates $100,000 from unallocated state funds to the Oklahoma State Board of Education for fiscal year 2026. It directly affects the State Board of Education by providing funding for duties required by law. The bill declares an emergency to make it effective immediately upon approval, though it specifies funds come from "monies not otherwise appropriated." The bill failed to pass on May 22, 2025, with 42 votes in favor and 48 against.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates $100k from unallocated funds to State Board of Education for required duties, advancing program funding under budget management.92% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill allocates $100k from unallocated funds to State Board of Education for legal duties, directly funding education operations without restrictions or cuts.95% confidence

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 24, 2025

SB 189: Schools; directing funds to be allocated to certain school districts to implement salary increases. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 189 establishes updated minimum salary schedules for certified school personnel (like teachers) in Oklahoma public schools, effective for the 2023-2024 school year. It directly affects teachers in school districts receiving Foundation Aid, Salary Incentive Aid, or neither type of aid, requiring districts to meet these new pay rates using existing state funds. The bill specifies detailed salary amounts based on years of experience and education level (e.g., bachelor’s vs. master’s degrees), with amounts ranging from $39,601 to $60,395 annually. It also clarifies that "fringe benefits" exclude certain retirement contributions and requires districts to notify teachers if salaries fall below the minimums. The bill is designated as an emergency measure.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirects state funds for teacher salary increases based on experience/education, mandating higher pay rates for certified personnel in public schools.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates minimum salary increases for teachers based on experience/education, directly advancing wage standards for public school personnel using state funds.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 5, 2026

HB 1590: Public finance; enacting the Education Infrastructure Linked Deposit Program Act; administration of program; guidelines; loans; State Treasurer; effective date.

HB 1590 establishes the "Oklahoma Education Infrastructure Linked Deposit Program" to provide reduced-rate loans for school infrastructure projects. It directly affects charter schools and nonprofit education service entities by enabling them to access funding for constructing, expanding, or repairing buildings and integrated systems like HVAC. The program works by having the State Treasurer place state funds (as certificates of deposit) with eligible banks, which then offer these low-cost loans to qualifying schools, requiring borrowers to certify funds will be used solely for infrastructure. The State Treasurer and Board review applications, with banks applying standard credit checks and prioritizing schools based on local educational needs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesCreates state-funded program using certificates of deposit to provide low-cost loans for school infrastructure, directly allocating state funds for essential education projects.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides reduced-rate loans for school infrastructure projects, directly funding construction/expansion of facilities for charter schools and nonprofits.95% confidence