Education (School Choice)

signed · Oklahoma · House May 12, 2026

HB 3718: Special education; Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program; requiring certain meeting in certain time period; evaluations; exceptions; eligibility; calculation of scholarship; effective date.

This bill establishes and clarifies the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program in Oklahoma, allowing parents of students with special needs to use state funds to enroll their children in eligible private schools. The legislation defines specific eligibility criteria, including students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), children of military families, and those in foster care or juvenile justice placements, while requiring parents to secure private school admission before receiving funding. It also sets a 45-day deadline for school districts to determine special education eligibility, deeming students eligible for scholarships if the district fails to decide within that timeframe, and outlines financial responsibilities such as transportation costs remaining with the family. The bill ensures continuity of educational choice by allowing scholarships to remain active until a student graduates, turns 22, or re-enrolls in public school, while mandating that private schools meet state accreditation standards to participate.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill expands educational access by allowing state funds for private school enrollment for students with disabilities, strengthening support for special needs education.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice Special Education Student Financial Aid

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1971: Charter schools; adding requirements to charter school application; requiring annual oversight and performance review. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1971 adds detailed requirements for charter school applications in Oklahoma, requiring applicants to complete 10 hours of training and submit 34 specific items - including financial plans, student support strategies, facility details, and governance structures - before approval. It mandates that sponsors (like school districts or organizations overseeing charters) conduct annual performance reviews of charter schools, post these reviews on their websites, and include specific data in reports. The bill directly affects new charter school applicants, their sponsors, and the Statewide Charter School Board by increasing application scrutiny and oversight transparency, effective July 1, 2024.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill mandates rigorous application requirements and annual performance reviews for charter schools, strengthening oversight and accountability in K-12 education to ensure quality standards.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 1411: Charter schools; adding requirements to charter school application; requiring annual oversight and performance review. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1411 amends Oklahoma's charter school law to add specific requirements for charter school applications and oversight. It mandates 10-hour training for applicants and sponsors, requires detailed applications covering 34 elements (including financial plans, academic programs, and student support plans), and demands annual performance reviews posted on sponsor websites. The bill directly affects charter school applicants, sponsors (like school districts or organizations), and the Statewide Charter School Board. If passed, it would take effect immediately as an emergency measure, updating application standards and requiring sponsors to report deficiencies in school performance.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationAdds oversight requirements (annual reviews, detailed applications) to ensure charter school accountability and quality, strengthening educational standards and student outcomes.92% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 3705: Schools; Parental Choice Tax Credit Program; increasing the amount of credits authorized.

HB 3705 increases Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Program, allowing taxpayers to claim credits for education expenses of eligible students. The bill raises the maximum annual credit for private school tuition to $7,500 (or actual tuition, whichever is lower) for families earning under $75,000, with tiered reductions up to $5,000 for households earning over $250,000. It also creates special credit tiers for students experiencing homelessness ($7,500) and those at financially disadvantaged private schools (maximum credit based on average school costs). Qualified expenses include tuition, tutoring, textbooks, and standardized test fees, but exclude scholarship-funded amounts. This directly affects Oklahoma families choosing private education or approved alternative learning programs.

Topics ✓ Budget & TaxesSupports Budget & TaxesProvides tax relief for lower/middle-income families via expanded education tax credits, aligning with support indicators for tax relief.95% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationIncreases educational access via tax credits for private school tuition, including special tiers for homeless/disadvantaged students, expanding parental choice in education funding.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits Higher Education School Choice Student Financial Aid

signed · Oklahoma · House May 4, 2026

HB 3372: Charter schools; Revolving Loan Fund Program for Charter School Capital Expenditures; Statewide Charter School Board issuing low-interest loans to charter schools through a revolving fund; Charter School Loan Revolving Fund; appropriation; Charter School Bond Credit Enhancement Program; allowing charter schools to issue bonds; Charter School Bond Credit Enhancement Fund; interest allocation; default; special obligations; effective date.

HB 3372 creates a state-backed loan program to help charter schools fund capital expenses like building repairs or equipment. It establishes a revolving fund administered by the Statewide Charter School Board, allowing charter schools to access low-interest loans and issue bonds with state credit enhancement. The bill removes previous prohibitions on charter schools issuing bonds and requires participants to pay a one-time fee. This directly affects Oklahoma charter schools seeking financing for physical infrastructure, while the state manages repayment and fund operations through specific legislative appropriations.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationCreates state-backed loan program for charter school infrastructure funding, directly enhancing access to capital for K-12 school facilities and operations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

signed · Oklahoma · Senate May 6, 2026

SB 1975: Schools; requiring public school districts to make certain examinations available to students who live in the district. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1975 requires Oklahoma public school districts to make Advanced Placement (AP) exams available to any student residing in the district and to post exam dates, registration details, and procedures on their websites by August 31 each year. It also mandates the Statewide Charter School Board to maintain an online learning platform offering AP courses, STEM subjects, foreign languages, and other high-quality courses for all Oklahoma students. The State Department of Education must provide information to students and parents about AP courses and their benefits for college readiness, scholarships, and financial aid opportunities. The bill takes effect July 1, 2026.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates AP exam access for all district students and creates statewide online courses (STEM, languages) to expand educational opportunities and access.95% confidence ✓ TechnologySupports TechnologyMandates online learning platform for AP courses and STEM, requiring internet-based access. Expands technology use in education to support digital access and equity.90% confidence

Sub-Topics Higher Education School Choice Testing & Assessment

in committee · Oklahoma · Senate Feb 3, 2026

SB 2103: Charter schools; modifying definition; modifying certain restriction on private schools. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 2103 updates Oklahoma's charter school laws by revising the definition of "charter school" to include new sponsor options (like higher education institutions and the Statewide Charter School Board) starting July 1, 2024. It establishes the Statewide Charter School Board to oversee virtual and traditional charter schools, manage applications, and prioritize schools serving at-risk students. The bill also creates rules for "conversion schools" (traditional public schools turning into charters), requiring written conversion plans and public approval, while ensuring they follow charter school accountability standards. Additionally, it mandates the Board to maintain a list of certified high-quality online courses (especially in STEM and AP subjects) and negotiate state-rate contracts for these courses.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands charter school access via new sponsors and oversight, prioritizes at-risk students, enhancing educational choice and access within K-12 framework.85% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

in committee · Oklahoma · House Feb 9, 2026

HB 3069: Schools; option to submit charter school applications to sponsors or to the school district; effective date; emergency.

HB 3069 changes Oklahoma's charter school application process by removing the requirement that applicants must submit applications either to a sponsor or their school district. Instead, applicants for traditional charter schools (not virtual charters, which still submit to the Statewide Charter School Board) can choose where to submit their application. The bill also adds a 10-hour training requirement for applicants and sponsors on charter school processes, to be completed before submission. These changes apply to applications filed after July 1, 2024, and aim to streamline the application pathway for new charter schools.

Topics ✓ EducationSupports EducationBill removes mandatory application choice for charter schools, allowing flexibility to expand access. Training requirement is procedural. Facilitates more charter school applications, aligning with educational access expansion.80% confidence

Sub-Topics School Choice

Track

signed · Oklahoma · Senate Apr 22, 2026

SB 1733: Schools; requiring public and private school employees to report certain disclosure, allegation, or information to law enforcement within certain time period; requiring school employees to annually sign certain attestation. Effective date. Emergency.

SB 1733 requires Oklahoma school employees (including teachers, coaches, and administrators) to report suspected student sexual abuse, assault, or misconduct to law enforcement within 24 hours. It prohibits school investigations or disciplinary actions before reporting and mandates annual attestation forms confirming staff understanding of these duties. The law applies to all public and charter school staff, with confidentiality protections for reporters. It takes effect July 1, 2026, and declares an emergency for immediate implementation.

Topics ✓ Criminal JusticeSupports Criminal JusticeMandates school employees to report suspected child sexual abuse to law enforcement within 24 hours, strengthening criminal justice process by ensuring timely crime reporting and investigations.90% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationMandates student safety reporting to protect educational environment, aligning with 'protect' in support indicators for student welfare in schools.85% confidence

Sub-Topics Law Enforcement Violent Crime School Choice School Safety

signed · Oklahoma · House May 6, 2026

HB 3590: Revenue and taxation; Oklahoma Equal Opportunity Education Scholarship Act; eligibility; removing federal law reference; authorizing payment be made via secure electronic funds transfer; effective date.

HB 3590, the Oklahoma Opportunity Scholarship Act of 2026, expands tax credits for Oklahoma taxpayers who contribute to scholarship-granting organizations. It increases the maximum annual tax credit: to $5,000 for single filers (up from $1,000), $10,000 for married couples filing jointly (up from $2,000), and $250,000 for businesses (up from $100,000). Taxpayers who commit to contribute the same amount for two consecutive years qualify for a 100% credit (up from 75%) on those contributions. The bill affects Oklahoma taxpayers making eligible contributions and requires scholarship organizations to submit annual financial reports to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. It takes effect January 1, 2027.

Topics ✗ Budget & TaxesOpposes Budget & TaxesExpands tax credits, including $250k business credit, creating breaks primarily for wealthy entities per bill's tax relief structure.85% confidence ✓ EducationSupports EducationExpands tax credits for scholarship donations, increasing access to private education options through enhanced incentives for contributions to scholarship-granting organizations.95% confidence

Sub-Topics Tax Credits School Choice Student Financial Aid