Rep. Chad Caldwell

Maddy summaryHB 3706 requires all Oklahoma public elementary schools to provide at least 60 minutes of daily mathematics instruction for full-day kindergarten through fifth-grade students starting in the 2026-2027 school year. The instruction must align with the Oklahoma Academic Standards for Mathematics (OAS-M) approved by the State Board of Education. This law directly affects K-5 students and public elementary schools across Oklahoma, mandating a specific daily math time requirement. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration allowing immediate implementation upon approval. The bill does not change existing math standards but enforces a minimum daily instructional time.

Maddy summarySB 1720 amends Oklahoma's Parents' Bill of Rights to expand parental rights in schools, directly affecting parents, students, and school districts. It adds specific rights like the ability to request school records within 10 business days, receive incident reports after injuries or bullying, and submit written complaints to the State Department of Education about violations. The bill requires the Department to investigate complaints, mandate corrective actions for violations, and prohibits schools from retaliating against parents or students. It also establishes a legal claim (cause of action) for violations, with a one-year filing deadline, while preserving existing rights under FERPA and child welfare laws.

Maddy summarySB 1524 requires all Oklahoma public school districts to post specific information on their websites within one click of the homepage. This includes each board member's name, photo, contact details, and election dates; the superintendent's similar contact and biographical information; and upcoming election dates, candidate requirements, and district maps. The bill directly affects every public school district in Oklahoma by mandating this transparency about leadership and elections. It becomes effective July 1, 2026, with an emergency declaration allowing immediate implementation upon passage.

Maddy summarySB 1389 modifies Oklahoma's Parental Choice Tax Credit Act by increasing annual credit limits for parents or guardians paying qualified education expenses for eligible students. The bill sets income-based maximums: $7,500 for households earning under $75,000, decreasing to $5,000 for households earning over $250,000, with special provisions for schools serving homeless or financially disadvantaged students. It directly affects Oklahoma taxpayers who pay tuition or approved educational expenses (like curriculum, tutoring, or assessments) for students in accredited private schools or qualifying educational programs. The credit applies to tax years 2024 and beyond, with the Oklahoma Tax Commission required to publish specific administrative information. This bill adjusts existing credit limits without changing the program's core structure or eligibility rules.

Maddy summaryHB 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.

Maddy summaryHB 3702 requires Oklahoma public school districts to operate for at least 185 days (up from 181) and provide 1,110 hours of classroom instruction annually (up from 1,086), effective for the 2026-2027 school year. School districts must adopt a specific school-hours policy and notify the State Board of Education by October 15 each year to qualify for this requirement. The bill limits districts from counting more than 30 hours of professional meetings toward the required instructional time and prohibits counting parent-teacher conferences beyond 12 hours yearly. It also mandates districts using extended-day schedules to document student achievement impacts and report annually to the State Board of Education. This bill directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts that choose to adopt the new policy framework.

Maddy summaryHB 3713 requires Oklahoma school districts to spend at least 50% of their annual budget on instructional expenditures starting in the 2026-2027 school year. It defines instructional expenditures using federal standards (from the National Center for Education Statistics) and excludes administrative costs, equipment, or materials for staff. If a district fails to meet this 50% threshold, it cannot offer extracurricular activities during the school day for the entire noncompliant school year. The bill excludes bond sales, fundraisers, and non-profit grants from the budget calculation and takes effect July 1, 2026. This directly affects all Oklahoma public school districts and their budget allocation decisions.

Maddy summaryHB 3707 is a procedural bill that establishes the name "Oklahoma Education Reform Act of 2026" for future legislation and sets its effective date as November 1, 2026. The bill contains no substantive policy provisions or mechanisms - only naming the act and setting its effective date. It directly affects future education legislation by providing a formal title for potential reforms, but does not change current law or impact any specific groups. As a naming bill, it requires no new funding, regulations, or program changes. This bill is currently in its early stages (first reading) with no further action taken.

Maddy summaryThis bill, known as the Third Grade Reform Act of 2026, is currently in its early stages of review by the Oklahoma legislature and has not yet been enacted into law. The provided text only establishes the bill's official name and sets a future effective date of November 1, 2026, without detailing any specific changes to education policy or describing how it would affect students or schools. Because the substantive provisions of the bill are not included in the available text, it is impossible to summarize the actual mechanisms or direct impacts of the legislation at this time.

Maddy summaryHB 3709 requires Oklahoma state colleges and universities building new structures to set aside 5% of construction costs into a dedicated general maintenance fund for building upkeep. This fund must be used solely for routine maintenance (not new construction) and cannot replace existing maintenance funding levels. The State Regents for Higher Education must withhold state funds from institutions that fail to comply and conduct annual audits to ensure adherence. The law applies to all state educational institutions within Oklahoma's higher education system constructing new buildings.