Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore

R

District 57

Hi, I'm Anthony Moore and I represent the people of Oklahoma's 57th District.


representative

Leadership

Speaker Pro Tempore

60th Legislature

News & Announcements

May 1, 2025
Recent Posts

Corporal Punishment Prohibition for Students with Disabilities Moves to Governor

OKLAHOMA CITY – A bill prohibiting the use of corporal punishment on students with disabilities passed the House on Wednesday. Senate Bill 364 now moves to the governor for his consideration of signing it into law. Speaker Pro Tem Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, was the House author of the legislation. "We realize that some parents and some educators firmly believe in the value of corporal punishment as a deterrent to bad behavior," Moore said. "But we must protect our students that have a disability that would prohibit them from understanding why they are experiencing this type of punishment or for whom this punishment would be more harmful than corrective." The legislation would prohibit non-parents from using physical punishment on students with disabilities. Sen. Dave Rader, R-Tulsa is the Senate author of the bill. “Children with disabilities who struggle with behavioral issues or impulse control should be met with patience and understanding, not physical discipline,” Rader said. “This bill gives our very fine Oklahoma educators clear guidance that corporal punishment is not acceptable when working with any students with disabilities."  This bill bars school employees from the deliberate infliction of physical pain by hitting, paddling, spanking, slapping or using any other kind of physical force as a means of disciplining a child with a disability as defined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Legislation on this issue has been pursued in past years. Both lawmakers expressed gratitude that this year's version was successful and are hopeful the governor will sign this into law. 

Apr 10, 2025
Recent Posts

Moore Passes Trio of Education Bills in Subcommittee

OKLAHOMA CITY – Measures to improve math and reading performance among Oklahoma students and to increase in-person instructional time passed in the House Appropriations & Budget Education Subcommittee on Monday. Three bills addressing these issues are authored by House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton. "Oklahoma kids deserve all the help they can in core subjects like math and reading," Moore said. "These are more than just curriculum, they help students the rest of their lives, including in their future careers. Getting students the proper help they need early in their education is invaluable and worth the state's investment." Senate Bill 215 would create the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act, requiring students to be screened three times a year for math proficiency in the second, third, fourth and fifth grades. Any student exceeding grade-level targets would be provided advanced learning opportunities. Students exhibiting deficiencies would receive individualized intervention upon parental notification. Moore, whose mother taught math for 33 years, said a basic understanding of math by the time a student reaches eighth grade is vital for higher learning and for future employment. He said the state's National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores are consistently low, while increasing science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) learning opportunities remains a priority for the state. Students also are making up for a learning loss experienced during COVID. Moore also authored Senate Bill 840 , which would direct the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to promulgate rules establishing a micro-credential for certified teachers who wish to become dyslexia specialists. This would help identify students with dyslexia early, getting them the interventions and support they need, Moore said, and it would improve literacy rates. Senate Bill 758 would limit the number of virtual days and hours a school can count toward its required amount of instruction time starting with the 2026-2027 school year. A district could count up to two days, or 12 hours, of virtual instruction time toward its required 180 days or 1,080 hours, only if the following has occurred: •      A state of emergency or proclamation has been issued by the governor for a specific reason relating to school district or charter school operation, •      The school board has approved the use of virtual instruction, and •      The state superintendent has approved the district's virtual instruction plan. "We have brick-and-mortar public school districts in our state that have used as many as 43 virtual days," Moore said. "As a parent, I can personally tell you that many of the children on these days receive no instruction from a teacher, and many times they have no actual work assigned. Oklahoma kids need this in-person instructional time." Moore said districts would still have the ability to offer four-day school weeks, and the bill does not apply to statewide virtual charter schools or full-time virtual educations programs operated by a school district.  The bills now are eligible for consideration in the House full Appropriations & Budget Committee.

Apr 3, 2025
Recent Posts

Bill to Expand High School Completion Age Passes Committee

OKLAHOMA CITY – House Speaker Pro Tempore Anthony Moore, R-Clinton, on Wednesday passed a bill in committee that would extend the age for a person wishing to complete their high school education. Senate Bill 745 would amend Oklahoma's high school learner statute, allowing individuals up to the age of 30 to complete high school. The current cut-off age is 26. "There are many reasons a person might not complete high school," Moore said. "This just gives these individuals the opportunity to take this important step and affords them the same privileges as those of traditional high school age. "Possessing a high school diploma can lead to better employment and earnings as well as the chance to pursue higher education and other opportunities. This will benefit not just the individual but improve our communities and our state." This builds on a measure that passed unanimously in the Legislature last year that expanded the age to 26 for those seeking to complete their high school diploma. This bill states that, beginning in the 2025-26 school year, individuals between the ages of 21 and 30 shall only be eligible to complete high school if they attend a virtual education program. This protects younger adults attending high school in person, Moore said. The measure also excludes such individuals from being included in the calculation of a school’s A-F report card. SB745 is authored in the Senate by Sen. Christi Gillespie, R-Broken Arrow. It passed unanimously in the House Common Education Committee and is now eligible for consideration in the Education Oversight Committee.