Representative Chad Caldwell

R

District 40

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


representative

News & Announcements

Mar 17, 2026
Recent Posts

Rep. Chad Caldwell Comments on Strong Demand for Parental Choice Tax Credit

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Chad Caldwell, R-Enid, on Tuesday highlighted strong early demand for the Parental Choice Tax Credit (PCTC) program following the opening of the application window for the 2026–27 school year. “The Oklahoma Tax Commission reports nearly 27,000 applications for the upcoming school year were submitted on the first day alone,” Caldwell said. “That represents almost 70 percent of the total applications received for the current school year. This level of demand underscores how strongly Oklahoma families value this program and reinforces the need to expand its funding so more parents can access educational options that best meet their children’s needs.” Caldwell is the author of House Bill 3705 , which would increase the annual cap on tax credits for private school students to $300 million. The measure also includes a growth mechanism: if total credits claimed in a given year reach at least 90 percent of the cap, the cap would automatically increase by $50 million in the following year. House Bill 3705 is eligible for consideration on the House Floor. It already passed both the House Appropriations and Budget Education Subcommittee, which Caldwell chairs, and the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee. The Parental Choice Tax Credit program was established through House Bill 1934 in 2023. The program provides families with greater flexibility to choose educational settings that best suit their children. Under the program’s tiered structure, eligible families may receive refundable tax credits ranging from $5,000 to $7,500 per student for private school tuition, depending on household income. Additionally, families who homeschool may qualify for a $1,000 per-student tax credit for approved educational expenses. Currently, tax credits for private school expenses are capped at $250 million annually, while homeschooling credits are capped at $5 million per year. The program is administered by the Oklahoma Tax Commission, which opened applications for the 2026–27 school year on March 16. The application period closes at 11:59 p.m. on Monday, June 15. Applicants are strongly encouraged to submit all required documentation before the deadline to ensure consideration. More information, including application guidance and eligibility details, is available on the Oklahoma Tax Commission’s website: https://oklahoma.gov/tax/individuals/parental-choice-tax-credit.html

Feb 26, 2026
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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
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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.