Small: Session will reap benefit for years

Session will reap benefit for years

By Jonathan Small

Academic outcomes in Oklahoma’s public school system have been among the worst in the nation for years. But this year’s legislative session alters that trajectory and the full benefit will become apparent over time.

One of the most important actions taken this year was passage of Senate Bill 1778, which effectively requires that students read at least on a second-grade level before beginning the fourth grade, or face retention in the third grade. The new law also provides for intensive early intervention for struggling students in the first through third grades.

Based on state testing results, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders read at or above grade level, and National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests show that only 23 percent of Oklahoma fourth-grade students scored at or above proficient in 2024. Only two states did worse.

Along with reading reform, lawmakers also approved House Bill 3151, which raises the minimum number of days in the public-school year from 166 to 173 starting in the 2027-2028 school year.  Of the more than 500 school districts in Oklahoma, 176 reportedly do not currently meet 173-day mandate.

However, for those who think that’s too big a change, it must be noted that most states require at least 180 days of school.

Lawmakers also expanded school-choice opportunity, giving families of all income levels the chance to access a private-school education for their children.

The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program provides refundable tax credits of $5,000 to $7,500 per child to cover the cost of private school tuition. The largest tax credits go to those with the lowest incomes.

This school year the families of 39,587 children used the Parental Choice Tax Credit program to send their children to a private school using $247.8 million in credits, according to the Oklahoma Tax Commission. A majority of those children are from low-income or middle-class families.

Based on trends, demand is expected to exceed the $250 million cap during the 2026-2027 school year, which is why House Bill 3705 increased the total to $275 million next year.

Policymakers also addressed impediments to children using open transfer to shift to new public-school districts. House Bill 2153 ensures that transferring students will no longer be automatically barred from participating in athletics for a year.

A greater focus on reading, combined with more time for students to work with teachers, is an obvious path to improvement, as is providing families with ready access to more education options.

The legislators who voted for these bills, and particularly the legislative leaders who championed them, have done much to put Oklahoma’s educational future on a better path.

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs.