Common Education

The ten finalists for Oklahoma Teacher of the Year were recognized Friday during a ceremony at the State Capitol,  hosted by House Common Education Chairman Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber. During the ceremony, each finalist was presented with a check provided by the Masonic Charity Foundation.  Earlier that day, Lowe joined other members of the 2026 Oklahoma Teacher of the Year selection committee for interviews with the ten finalists. He praised the finalists for their dedication to students and communities across the state.  "It’s an honor to recognize these outstanding educators who are making a real difference in the lives of Oklahoma students every single day," Lowe said. "The impact of these educators reaches far beyond test scores and directly shapes the character of and opportunities for the next generation. They continually serve with excellence, compassion and an unwavering commitment to their students. I’m grateful for their service to our state, and I’m proud to celebrate the example they set for educators across Oklahoma." Senate Education Committee and Education Subcommittee Chair Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, also offered his congratulations. "I am incredibly proud to celebrate these ten remarkable educators who represent the very best of their profession," Pugh said. "These finalists have demonstrated an unwavering commitment to their students, their communities and the future of our state. Oklahoma educators are second to none, and it is their dedication in the classroom every day that builds the foundation for our children’s success. Since taking office, my primary motivation has been improving education at every level. We have fought for historic teacher pay raises and common-sense reforms because we know that nothing can replace a high-quality, dedicated teacher in front of the classroom. To our 2026 finalists, I thank you for your passion and for being shining examples of excellence in Oklahoma schools. You have earned this distinction and I applaud your continued efforts."  The 2026 Teacher of the Year will be named in June. The ten finalists are: Vanessa Jones, Bethel High School, Bethel Serena Neely, Will Rogers Elementary, Shawnee Tracie Grunewald, Oklahoma Virtual High School, Oklahoma Virtual Charter Academy Tobi Gordon, Brink Junior High School, Moore Mary Tyree, Alva High School, Alva Ellie Pryor, Cedar Heights, Highland Park, and Horace Mann Elementary, Woodward LeeAnn Pressler, Central Middle School, Bartlesville Kasey Bennett, Northwest Heights Elementary, Durant Keely Flynn, Lindbergh Elementary, Tulsa Public Schools Elizabeth Reed, Owasso Eighth Grade Center, Owasso

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.

Rep. Dick Lowe, R-Amber, has filed a slate of education-related legislation aimed at strengthening student outcomes, improving consistency across districts and ensuring schools have the tools and resources they need. Lowe, a former ag teacher, is the chair of the House Common Education Committee. The bills address graduation requirements, early literacy, teacher qualifications, school funding data, accommodations for military families and improved alignment for students who transfer districts. "Education policy must be clear, consistent and, most importantly, focused on helping students succeed no matter where they live," Lowe said. "These measures are about providing strong academic foundations, supporting families and teachers, and making sure our schools have access to every necessary resource." The first of Lowe's bills is House Bill 3021 , which would clean up graduation requirements statutes and clarifies the multiple pathways to earning a college-ready or career-ready diploma. The bill would also standardize content and rigor statewide while still allowing local innovation. Additionally, HB3021 would require the Oklahoma Workforce Commission to develop a catalog of jobs that high school graduates are qualified to enter immediately upon graduation, either with no additional training or with on-the-job training. House Bill 3022 would ensure that core subjects, such as math, reading and language arts, science and social studies, in pre-K through sixth grade are taught by fully certified teachers. It would also require the State Department of Education (SDE) to develop salary guidelines for adjunct teachers. House Bill 3023 would strengthen literacy interventions by making improvements to the state’s existing Student Literacy Intervention Plan (SLIP) and Individualized Program of Reading Instruction (IRPI) to help students access support quicker. It would also establishes guardrails of when intervention can take place so students don't miss other core subjects. It also moves the state to two testing vendors to create more cohesive, long-term literacy data for students who may move between districts. Also included in the bill are retention guidelines for first through third grades, which would require a student's Reading Proficiency Team to determine whether a student has met the benchmarks for their grade, with summer programs and additional testing available to avoid retention. The students' five-member team would need to recommend retention for the student prior to a student being held back. "Literacy remains a major concern for Oklahoma parents, educators and policymakers," Lowe said. "House Bill 3023 might not be exactly the right solution, but now is the time to bring ideas to the table and have thoughtful discussions about how we can all help improve literacy for all students." Another of Lowe's bills, House Bill 3025 , corrects statute related to school funding calculations by restoring language that excluded private donations from general fund carryover calculations but limits the exclusion for one year after the donations are received. House Bill 3031 would direct SDE, in consultation with higher education and career and technology education, to develop and implement a statewide course number system to be used by public schools at the secondary level. This would help align coursework across districts and allow students to transition more smoothly when transferring. Lowe also filed legislation related to free and reduced lunches for students. House Bill 3032 would require families to either complete the free and reduced-price lunch form or formally opt out as part of enrollment. "House Bill 3032 is about making sure our schools aren’t leaving resources on the table simply because a form wasn’t completed," Lowe said. "This bill respects families’ right to opt out, but it requires an active choice so schools have accurate information to qualify for federal funding, grants or additional state dollars tied to student need. This is a small way we can provide schools with every dollar they are eligible for to support students and local classrooms." House Bill 3033 would address funding challenges for schools that are off the state funding formula following the 2023 teacher pay raise. While these schools remain obligated to maintain increased teacher salaries, they no longer receive the associated state funding. The bill seeks to address that gap and support continued fair compensation for teachers. "House Bill 3033 addresses a funding gap that followed the 2022 teacher pay raise," Lowe said. "Schools that are off the state funding formula rightly increased teacher salaries, but they only received short-term assistance to cover those increases. This bill is about making sure those schools can continue paying these increases without being penalized for their funding status." Lowe said he will continue work on several education measures from the previous legislative session, adding that Oklahoma's education system should strive to be ever-improving. The measures focus on providing support and resources to students throughout their education, providing clarity to existing law on district transfers and collecting quality data for informed decision-making. "These bills reflect years' worth of conversations with educators, parents and community leaders," Lowe said. "My goal is to build thoughtful, practical policy that strengthens Oklahoma's education system and better prepare students for life after graduation while providing consistent, reliable support for our teachers."