Representative Chad Caldwell

R

District 40

Hi, I'm Chad Caldwell and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 40th District.


representative

News & Announcements

Feb 26, 2026
Recent Posts

Lowe Highlights Common Ed Committee Progress

Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, today applauded the work the House Common Education Committee completed prior to the Feb. 19 deadline to pass bills out of policy committee. Lowe, a former ag teacher who chairs the Common Education Committee, said the members advanced measures focused on strengthening Oklahoma’s education system and supporting students, teachers and families across the state. "Education is one of the most important responsibilities we have as lawmakers," Lowe said. "The House Common Education Committee work to ensure every proposal is measured against a single standard: whether it improves outcomes for Oklahoma students." Measures passed by the House Common Education Committee prior to the Feb. 19 deadline include: House Bill 4358: Screen Time Limit for Young Students HB4358 , authored by Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, would limit the amount of screen time public school elementary students can receive during school . Under the bill, students in prekindergarten through fifth grades could only receive up to one hour of screen time each day. "Research is clear that limiting screen time is better for children," Moore said. "Their brain function, problem solving, creativity and focus is improved. Children thrive on face-to-face interaction with peers and instruction from live teachers. This legislation will set some healthy boundaries for children when they are in our public schools." House Bill 4359: Statewide Assessments in May This bill , also proposed by Moore, would require Oklahoma’s statewide student assessments to be administered annually during the month of May. These assessments, which are used to measure student proficiency and readiness aligned with academic standards, would take place in May beginning in the 2026-27 school year. "If state tests are held too early, students miss important preparation and instruction time," Moore said. "It's hoped this change will lead to improved academic outcomes." House Bill 3467: Maternity and Adoption Leave for Education Employees Under HB3467 , maternity leave benefits for full-time education employees would be expanded to allow leave following the adoption of a child under four years old. The measure is carried by Rep. Brad Boles, R-Marlow. "I am grateful to see House Bill 3467 pass the House Common Education Committee," Boles said. "This bill is about recognizing that every child deserves a strong, supported start, no matter how they join a family. Adoption is a life-changing moment for both the child and the parents, and our educators should not have to choose between their career and being present for those first, critical days. This ensures they have the time to bond, to build that foundation and to truly be there when it matters most." House Bill 3711: School District Expenditure Transparency HB3711 , authored by Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, would require school districts to post on their websites the percentage of total expenditures dedicated to instructional costs. It also requires this information to be included with any bond proposals or bond guarantee applications to increase transparency about how taxpayer funds are used. "Oklahoma schools devote a smaller portion of their budgets to instruction, including teacher salaries, than schools in most other states," Caldwell said. "More than 25 percent of districts spend less than half of their funding on instructional expenses. While total education funding has increased, the share our schools spend on classroom instruction has dropped, highlighting the importance of transparency and public access to clear information about how education dollars are allocated, especially when schools are asking taxpayers to voluntarily raise their taxes." House Bill 3032: Free/Reduced-Price Meals Application Requirement This bill , carried by Lowe, would require that a parent or guardian complete the application for free or reduced-price school meals as a condition of student enrollment, with an opt-out option available. "Access to school meals is essential, but too often, families miss out on programs that help children learn and thrive," Lowe said. "This bill encourages families to engage in these programs early so their schools and communities can better support student well-being." Lowe also praised members for their diligence and commitment to students. "I'm proud of the thoughtful work our members have put in to carefully evaluate each bill before us," he said. "Their preparation, engagement and respect for the process reflect the seriousness with which we must approach education policy." Each of the 16 total bills passed by the House Common Education Committee now advance to the House Education Oversight Committee. The deadline to pass bills through oversight committees is March 5.

Feb 25, 2026
Recent Posts

Rep. Chad Caldwell Secures Oversight Passage of Education Reform Bills

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, on Wednesday passed a pair of higher education reforms in the House Education Oversight Committee. House Bill 3700 would require state colleges and universities to implement a policy requiring students' grades to be based only on academic performance, including attendance, and not on a student's opinions, beliefs or conduct unrelated to academic situations. Caldwell said the bill is the result of his work on the Oklahoma Free Speech Committee, which was created through legislation signed into law in 2022.  "The committee was asked to review the free speech policies of the state's 25 colleges and universities and found this policy in place at Rose State College," Caldwell said. "We began asking other colleges and universities whether they had a similar policy. While some said they considered this an unwritten policy, to date I've not come across another college that had this as a formal policy."  Caldwell said he's been asked whether HB3700 is a response to a complaint filed last year by a University of Oklahoma student who said she was discriminated against because of her religious beliefs expressed in a class essay. Caldwell said the idea for the legislation predates that occurrence. Had it been in place, however, it might have alleviated the need for the student's complaint and the university's consequent action against an adjunct professor.  "Having a clear policy on this matter would better serve all parties," he said. Caldwell also cited reports in which students say they feel the need to self-censor or worry about expressing their personal opinions or beliefs on campus because of a fear it would negatively affect their grades.  "This, to me, runs contrary to the purpose of higher education," he said. “When a student enrolls in a college, they don’t sign away their First Amendment rights. We don't want teachers to reward students who agree with them or negatively affect the grades of those who don't." HB3700 passed the Education Oversight Committee on a vote of 8-1. It is now eligible to be considered by a vote of the full membership of the House.  Also passed by the oversight committee was House Bill 3701 , which would require the State Regents of Higher Education to review college degree programs on a five-year cycle. Any program determined to be "low producing," as defined in the measure, would trigger an annual review by the Regents, who must then consider suspending or deleting the program. The program could continue if it meets certain exceptions, but it would be placed on probationary status for three years and must submit a plan for improvement. Caldwell said this bill simply codifies into statute the Regents’ existing procedures for consolidating low-producing programs. The State Regents recently voted to eliminate 41 low-producing degree programs and suspend 21 others.

Apr 30, 2025
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Bill to End Discrimination for Special Needs Students Passes House

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, commended House passage of a bill he said would end state-sponsored discrimination against Oklahoma families with special needs students. Senate Bill 105 would amend eligibility requirements for students who are part of the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarships for Students with Disabilities Program. "This legislation removes discriminatory barriers faced only by students with special needs or disabilities," Caldwell said. "Families of traditional students can access school choice funds from day one. Yet up until now, we have placed additional hurdles in front of children with special needs, making them wait to access services and accommodations that would better meet their specific needs." SB105 removes the requirement that a student attend a public school district the year prior to applying for the program. The bill also removes language stating that acceptance of a scholarship has the same effect as parental revocation of consent to services under certain provisions of IDEA, which is not allowed under the federal code. The measure also clarifies that students on an individualized education program (IEP), an individualized service plan (ISP) or who meet the eligibility standards for special education services in accordance with IDEA are eligible to participate in the scholarship.  Sen. Julie Daniels, R-Bartlesville, is the Senate author of the bill. “This legislation levels the playing field for families of children with disabilities or special needs,” Daniels said. “No parent should have to keep their child in a school that’s not working for them just to wait out an arbitrary, one-year requirement to qualify for financial aid. Senate Bill 105 ensures families can access the Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship without unnecessary delays, giving them the flexibility to choose the most supportive educational setting from the start.” The Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship program authorizes the parent or guardian of a public school student with a disability who is served under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to exercise their parental option and request to have an LNH Scholarship awarded for their child to attend a participating private school approved by the State Board of Education. The program has been in place since 2011 and currently serves about 1,500 students.    Other eligible students include those: who have an Individualized Service Plan developed by the Department of Human Services (DHS); who are a child of a military family with permanent change of station orders who has moved to Oklahoma; who have been in out-of-home placement through the office of Juvenile Affairs; or who have been in out-of-home placement with DHS, or who were adopted while in the permanent custody of DHS. Scholarship funds are paid in increments directly to participating schools, not to parents, and only after students have attended the school. SB105 passed the House on Tuesday with a vote of 70-23. It was amended in the House, so it now moves back to the Senate for final consideration.