Overview of Oklahoma’s Literacy Legislation
Oklahoma has struggled with low reading outcomes, prompting lawmakers to revamp literacy efforts in public schools during the 2026 legislative session. Key developments include:
-
Senate Bill 1778:
- Sponsored by Sen. Adam Pugh and House Speaker Kyle Hilbert.
- Strengthens the Strong Readers Act, providing teachers with training and resources to improve reading skills.
-
Promotion Requirement:
- Third-grade students must score above the “below basic” level on state reading tests to advance to fourth grade, effectively requiring them to read at least at a second-grade level.
-
Support for Struggling Readers:
- Additional resources are allocated for first and second graders.
- More literacy coaches will assist districts facing significant challenges.
-
Training and Credentialing:
- Every school district must employ a reading specialist or staff member with an early literacy microcredential.
- A stipend of up to $3,000 is available for those attending training academies.
-
Training Success:
- The Office of Educational Quality and Accountability collaborated with seven universities, training 449 teachers, with a completion rate of 93%.
-
Comparison to Mississippi:
- Oklahoma’s approach is modeled after Mississippi’s successful Literacy-Based Promotion Act, which helped improve their reading scores significantly.
-
Current Challenges:
- Recent NAEP tests show that only 23% of Oklahoma fourth-grade students are proficient in reading, with the state now trailing behind peers by over a grade level.
The changes focus on providing substantial support and training to improve literacy levels across Oklahoma schools.
