Committees

OKLAHOMA CITY – Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, and Rep. Tammy Townley, R-Ardmore, issued the following joint statement after Tuesday's shooting at Pauls Valley High School. "We are grateful for the swift response from local law enforcement and for the extraordinary courage shown by the principal, who put his students first in a moment of real danger. We are praying for his full recovery and lifting up the entire Pauls Valley community as details continue to unfold. We thank God that no students were harmed. "Acts like this are exactly why the Oklahoma Legislature is taking a strong stand to protect our schools and our youngest Oklahomans. We have committed a permanent, recurring $50 million investment in school safety every single year to make sure our children are protected, and our classrooms remain secure. Oklahoma will not back down when it comes to defending our kids and keeping dangerous individuals out of our schools."

Today the Oklahoma House Appropriations and Budget Committee unanimously passed Senate Bill 1778, which strengthens the state’s Strong Readers Act, giving teachers additional training and support and ensuring students can read by the third grade. The legislation includes early identification of reading deficiencies through consistent, statewide screening; targeted intervention grounded in the science of reading; clear communication with parents about their child’s reading progress and available at-home supports; accountability measures to ensure students demonstrate reading ability before advancing to the next grade; giving 2nd graders the option of taking the state test; expanded teacher training and classroom support to improve instruction outcomes; new requirements and accountability for colleges of education preparing our state’s future teachers; a new funding formula that supports all students, while also giving additional funds to students who need more help and rewarding schools seeing growth; and creates a revolving fund to encourage public-private partnerships. To support this reform, the Legislature is making targeted investments to strengthen teacher preparation and student literacy. The budget includes over $43 million for reading instruction and interventions in schools, $5 million in supplemental investment for teacher training academies this summer, and $5 million in ongoing annual funding for teacher training programs. In addition, the state will invest over $5 million in reading at home initiatives and dedicated funding for math and reading screeners to help educators identify and address student learning needs earlier. “Once again, we are making a historic investment into our common education system.” said House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow and House author of the bill. “The difference is that we are implementing strategic programs that have shown to prove real, data-driven results. This bill is not a partisan issue - we all want our kids to read by the third grade." The legislation has received overwhelming support, largely because the statistics around Oklahoma’s reading levels are alarming. In 2015, Oklahoma students performed near the national average in reading. Today, we trail peer states by more than a full grade level. Based on Spring 2025 testing, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders are reading at or above grade level. The bill will now be heard on the House floor for consideration.

OKLAHOMA CITY – Today, the Oklahoma House of Representatives officially recognized April as Child Abuse Prevention Month in Oklahoma. House Resolution 1043, sponsored by Rep. Cynthia Roe, R-Lindsay, chair of the House Public Health Committee, emphasizes that every child deserves to be safe and supported, and that communities play a critical role in ensuring families have the resources they need. "Child abuse is preventable, and it takes all of us working together to make that a reality," Roe said. "Every child deserves to grow up in a safe, stable and supportive environment. This resolution is a reminder that strong families build strong communities, and prevention starts with awareness and action." The measure also recognizes the long-term impact of abuse and neglect, including the significant emotional, developmental and economic costs, among other concerns. According to the Oklahoma Department of Health, in fiscal year 2022 13,546 Oklahoma children were confirmed victims of abuse or neglect. Neglect accounted for 73.5% of cases, followed by emotional abuse at 34%, physical abuse at 13.1% and sexual abuse at 5.2%. "It is easier to build strong children than to repair the harm caused by abuse and neglect," Roe said. "We must continue strengthening partnerships between families, schools, health care providers, law enforcement and community organizations to ensure every child has the opportunity to thrive." The resolution encourages citizens, businesses and organizations to take an active role in supporting parents and caregivers, recognizing that prevention efforts are most effective when communities work together. "This resolution is about protecting our children today and securing a stronger future for Oklahoma tomorrow," Roe said.