Education

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3077: Schools; Education Reform Act of 2026; effective date.

HB 3077 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program to provide state funding covering 100% of resident tuition and 50% of fees for eligible students at public colleges, private accredited Oklahoma colleges, and career training programs. It adds a five-year limit on program benefits (starting from first enrollment), excludes remedial noncredit courses, and prioritizes continuing students over new applicants for funding. The bill also requires the State Regents to establish maximum course limits and consider other financial aid when awarding benefits, effective July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesAllocates state funds for tuition/fees at public/private colleges, increasing public education budget allocation.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationProvides 100% tuition coverage and 50% fee funding for eligible students at public/private Oklahoma colleges, expanding higher education access and reducing financial barriers.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 12, 2026

SB 1413: Teachers; requiring certain notification regarding teachers with emergency certificates; establishing clock hour limitation for adjunct teachers. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1413 requires Oklahoma public school districts to notify parents in writing when a teacher with a temporary emergency certificate (issued for urgent staffing needs) teaches their child. The notification must include the teacher's name and classes. The bill also sets specific limits - 90 to 270 clock hours - for professional education training in alternative teacher certification programs, replacing previous flexible requirements. These changes directly affect parents, students, school districts, and teachers seeking certification through alternative pathways.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates parent notification for emergency-certified teachers and standardizes training hours (90-270) to strengthen teacher qualification requirements, enhancing transparency and educational quality in K-12 schools.92% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 16, 2026

HB 3703: Schools; concurrent enrollment; school districts covering cost of tuition waivers; reimbursement for withdrawal; effective date; emergency.

HB 3703 requires Oklahoma public school districts to cover tuition costs for high school students enrolled in concurrent college courses. Specifically, it mandates districts to provide tuition waivers for seniors (up to 18 credit hours) and juniors (up to 9 credit hours), funded by district resources. Students who withdraw after the deadline must reimburse 50% of the course cost. The bill also requires districts to grant academic credit for correlated college courses and mandates annual reports tracking participation, waiver usage, graduation rates, and college degree attainment. These provisions aim to expand access to college courses while ensuring financial accountability for students and districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school districts to fund tuition for concurrent college courses, expanding access and increasing educational funding for K-12 students.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education K-12 Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3861: Schools; requiring school district to cover certain transportation costs; OSSAA activities exception; effective date; emergency.

HB 3861 requires Oklahoma school districts to cover transportation costs for students attending school-sponsored cocurricular and extracurricular activities, except when those activities are sanctioned by the Oklahoma Secondary School Activity Association (OSSAA). For OSSAA-sanctioned events, the association itself must pay the transportation expenses instead of the school district. Funds collected from OSSAA under this provision cannot be counted toward the school district's general finances. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026, and applies to all public school districts in Oklahoma.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates school districts to fund transportation for student activities, directly supporting educational access and extracurricular program participation.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education School Transportation

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 4, 2026

SB 1617: Teachers; allowing the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to be used to support compensation of teachers certified in special education. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1617 amends Oklahoma law to direct the Teacher Empowerment Revolving Fund to cover the state’s share of additional pay for special education teachers. It requires school districts to pay 5% of base wages for special education teachers, with the state covering the remaining 5% using funds from the existing revolving fund (previously used for other teacher stipends). This policy change, effective July 1, 2026, directly affects all Oklahoma public school teachers certified in special education. The bill ensures the state’s funding obligation is met through the revolving fund rather than new appropriations, aligning with Section 13-110 of state law.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationDirectly allocates state funds to cover 5% of special education teacher compensation, increasing financial support for educators in a critical teaching field.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Special Education Teachers

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passed · Oklahoma · Senate Mar 31, 2026

SB 2040: Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program; modifying eligibility; removing certain eligibility criteria. Emergency.

SB 2040 modifies Oklahoma's Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program to expand eligibility for descendants of 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre victims. It increases the income limit for most applicants from $70,000 to $125,000 annually while removing income limits entirely for direct lineal descendants. The bill requires applicants to verify lineage through documentation (like family records or public archives) reviewed by the Oklahoma Historical Society, and mandates that all applicants must mark a checkbox confirming descendant status on applications. It directs the State Regents to prioritize descendants in scholarship selection and updates how scholarship funds are distributed to support students in Oklahoma higher education or career programs.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands educational access by increasing scholarship income limits and removing barriers for Tulsa Massacre descendants' descendants.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Student Financial Aid

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 10, 2026

HB 3019: Schools; phasing in a reduction to the maximum number of students allowed per class in kindergarten through fifth grades; exceptions; effective date; emergency.

HB 3019 reduces maximum class sizes for Oklahoma public schools in kindergarten through fifth grade over a three-year phase-in. Starting in 2026-2027, classes in kindergarten through second grade may not exceed 22 students; this limit drops to 20 students in 2027-2028, and 18 students starting in 2028-2029. To comply, schools must employ a teacher’s assistant in classes exceeding these limits (with exceptions for special education and certain other classes), and teacher assistants cannot count toward the class size limit. School districts that fail to meet these requirements face reduced state funding calculated based on the number of students over the limit.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationReduces K-5 class sizes to 18 students by 2028-2029 with teacher assistant requirements, improving student-teacher ratios and classroom support.95% confidence

Sub-Topics K-12 Education Special Education Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3395: Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program; changing certified classroom teacher to school employee; modifying definition; effective date; emergency.

HB 3395 amends Oklahoma's Higher Learning Access Program eligibility rules by changing the term "certified classroom teacher" to "school employee" in the definition used for student eligibility. Specifically, it updates Section 2603(8)(e) to allow students whose parents are "school employees" (not just certified classroom teachers) to qualify for tuition assistance. This change affects students with parents working in Oklahoma schools, broadening who qualifies under this specific eligibility category. The bill modifies the statutory definition without altering other program requirements or benefits. It is an administrative update to align terminology with current school employment classifications.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands eligibility for tuition assistance by including all school employees (not just certified teachers), broadening educational access for students with parent employment in Oklahoma schools.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education Student Financial Aid Teachers

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in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 10, 2026

SB 1973: Oklahoma Crime Victims Compensation Act; modifying definition of allowable expense. Effective date.

SB 1973 amends Oklahoma's Crime Victims Compensation Act to expand the definition of "allowable expense" to include educational costs. Specifically, it adds reimbursement for tuition and fees at private schools, career and technology programs, public or private colleges, and academic tutoring services. This change directly affects crime victims or their dependents applying for compensation under the Act, allowing them to claim these new educational expenses as part of their reimbursement. The bill modifies Section 142.3 of the Act to include these provisions, effective upon passage.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill explicitly expands reimbursement for educational costs (private schools, colleges, tutoring) under crime victim compensation, increasing access to education for victims and dependents.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education

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in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 3, 2026

HB 3033: Schools; minimum salary and benefits; certified personnel salary increase; effective date; emergency.

HB 3033 establishes new minimum salary requirements for certified school staff in Oklahoma public schools, effective for the 2025-2026 school year. The bill sets a detailed pay schedule based on years of experience and education level (e.g., bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degrees), specifying minimum annual amounts for both salary and fringe benefits like retirement. It requires school districts to meet these minimums, with specific rules for crediting out-of-state teaching experience and military service. The law directly affects all certified teachers and support staff in Oklahoma’s public school districts.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationEstablishes mandatory minimum salary/benefit increases for certified school staff based on experience and education, directly advancing teacher compensation and retention in K-12 education.95% confidence ✓ Labor & EmploymentSupports Labor & EmploymentMandates minimum salary increases and benefits for school staff, directly advancing worker compensation standards in education sector.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Teachers

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