Common Education

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, on Wednesday passed a bill in committee that would extend the age for a person wishing to complete their high school education. Senate Bill 745 would amend Oklahoma's high school learner statute, allowing individuals up to the age of 30 to complete high school. The current cut-off age is 26. "There are many reasons a person might not complete high school," Moore said. "This just gives these individuals the opportunity to take this important step and affords them the same privileges as those of traditional high school age. "Possessing a high school diploma can lead to better employment and earnings as well as the chance to pursue higher education and other opportunities. This will benefit not just the individual but improve our communities and our state." This builds on a measure that passed unanimously in the Legislature last year that expanded the age to 26 for those seeking to complete their high school diploma. This bill states that, beginning in the 2025-26 school year, individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 shall only be eligible to complete high school if they attend a virtual education program. This protects younger adults attending high school in person, Moore said. The measure also excludes such individuals from being included in the calculation of a school’s A-F report card. SB745 is authored in the Senate by Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow. It passed unanimously in the House Common Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Education Oversight Committee. 

The Oklahoma House of Representatives has passed legislation aiming to increase transparency and oversight of federal funds received by state agencies. House Bill 1221 , also known as the State Accounts for Federal Expenditures (SAFE) Act, would create accounts to be used by agencies for federal funds received under competitive grant awards, direct monetary payments to the agency not associated with an established federal program the agency operates, and block grants. The bill would mandate that any state agency receiving federal funds through these mechanisms must place those funds into separate SAFE accounts, which would be subject to rigorous reporting to the legislative and executive branches. Rep. Kevin West, R-Moore, authored the SAFE Act, which would subject expenditures from these federal accounts to legislative approval through a concurrent resolution. If the Legislature disapproves any proposed expenditure, the agency would be required to notify the federal government and withdraw its application for the corresponding funding. "The SAFE Act ensures federal funds are spent in alignment with Oklahoma's priorities through a transparent process," West said. "This gives elected lawmakers a stronger voice on how our state agencies are spending federal funds and ensures Oklahoma taxpayers can trust how their state government is spending these dollars. I appreciate the strong support for this bill in the House and hope to see it move quickly in the Senate." HB1221 outlines specific exemptions, including temporary funding increases in existing federal programs already managed by state agencies, federal unemployment dollars managed by the Oklahoma Employment Security Commission (OESC), and certain competitive grants received by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) for the 8-year Construction Work Plan or grants from the Federal Railroad Administration. Additionally, agencies would be required to present their grant-seeking activities and federal funding reports during legislative hearings or budget performance reviews.  "We know the Trump administration has promised and is already delivering on sending more federal dollars down to the states where we can best determine how to use those funds to best benefit Oklahomans. This legislation ensures federal funds being redirected to the state have full legislative review and control to ensure state agencies are aligning expenditures with legislative intent," said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow. "We are excited about the opportunities flexibility with these federal funds will bring to our state and this legislation will maintain accountability at the state level for those funds." Having passed the House 78-18, the SAFE Act now moves to the Senate for consideration, where it is authored by Sen. Avery Frix, R-Muskogee.

The Oklahoma House of Representatives approved legislation that would provide public school districts with the opportunity to be heard by the State Board of Education (SBE) before any changes are made to their accreditation status. House Bill 1466 , authored by Rep. Tammy West, R-Oklahoma City, would allow for due process procedures for public school districts to be heard by the SBE prior to the issuance of an accreditation deficiency or accreditation status downgrade. The bill adds requirements for accreditation standards to address deficiencies, warnings, probation, or nonaccredited status for non-compliance. "This is a win for transparency in education," West said. "House Bill 1466 will bring more accountability to the process and help schools navigate the accreditation system with greater clarity and fairness. Every school district deserves a fair chance to be heard before major changes are made to their accreditation status, and this measure ensures that their voices are not only heard but considered in the decision-making process." Currently, Oklahoma school districts are not entitled to a hearing or notice before the SBE prior to their accreditation status is downgraded. HB1466 would give school districts the chance to appear before the SBE if the State Department of Education (SDE) recommends downgrading a school's accreditation from "Accredited with Warning" to "Accredited with Probation" or from "Accredited with Probation" to "Non-Accredited." Under HB1466, school districts would have ten days to request a hearing after receiving notice of a recommendation to downgrade their accreditation status. If the district does not request a hearing within this timeframe, they waive their right to one. Additionally, districts that fail to address accreditation issues within 90 days of receiving notice risk having their accreditation status withdrawn. HB1466 passed 89-0 and now moves to the Senate for consideration, where it is carried by Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond.