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Bill > HB2944

OK HB2944

OK HB2944
Strong Readers Act; Oklahoma Reading Excellence through Accountability, Development, and Standards (READS) Act; reading assessments; screening instruments; third-grade retention; annual reporting; good-cause exemptions; intervention services; intensive acceleration class; literacy coaches; funding; summer academies; alternative assessments; effective date; emergency.

summary

Introduced
02/02/2026
In Committee
02/04/2026
Crossed Over
Passed
Dead

Introduced Session

2026 Regular Session

Bill Summary

An Act relating to the Strong Readers Act; creating the Oklahoma Reading Excellence through Accountability, Development, and Standards (READS) Act; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.508C, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 297, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 1210.508C), which relates to reading assessments; requiring a Student Reading Proficiency Team to include certain coach, if assigned; removing language allowing certain students to demonstrate proficiency on certain screening instruments; requiring retention of certain third- grade students who do not meet certain grade-level targets on certain statewide assessment and do not qualify for certain exemption; directing certain performance levels to ensure students are meeting certain criteria; requiring school districts to include certain information in annual report; providing good-cause exemptions for promotion of certain students; providing process for evaluation of good-cause exemption requests; directing certain intervention services to be provided to certain students subject to retention; allowing a school district to provide an intensive acceleration class for retained third-grade students; requiring the State Department of Education to employ literacy coaches; providing qualifications for literacy coach; providing for assignment and duties of literacy coaches; updating statutory language; updating statutory references; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.508D, as amended by Section 6, Chapter 411, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 1210.508D), which relates to Strong Readers Act funding; directing allocation for certain retained students; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.508E, as amended by Section 7, Chapter 411, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 1210.508E), which relates to summer academies; updating statutory language; requiring, rather than allowing, a teacher to recommend a summer academy for students in certain grades; requiring school districts beginning in certain summer to provide a summer academy or other program to certain students; requiring administration of certain alternative assessment by certain date; providing for promotion of students who attend certain academy or other program; requiring school districts to notify the State Department of Education by certain date regarding offering of summer academy or other program; providing for noncodification; providing an effective date; and declaring an emergency.

AI Summary

This bill establishes the Oklahoma Reading Excellence through Accountability, Development, and Standards (READS) Act, which focuses on improving reading proficiency for students in kindergarten through third grade. The legislation mandates comprehensive reading screening at multiple points during the school year, requiring schools to identify students with reading deficiencies and provide targeted intervention services. Beginning in the 2027-2028 school year, third-grade students who do not meet grade-level reading performance on statewide assessments will be retained unless they qualify for specific good-cause exemptions, such as being an English language learner or having a documented disability. The bill requires school districts to develop individual reading intervention plans for struggling students, including intensive intervention services like small group instruction, tutoring, and extended learning opportunities. Additionally, the State Department of Education will employ literacy coaches to support teachers and provide technical assistance in implementing science-of-reading-based instruction. School districts must annually report detailed information about student reading performance and intervention efforts, and the state will track and analyze data to evaluate the effectiveness of reading support programs. The bill also provides funding allocations for schools to support these reading intervention initiatives and mandates professional development for teachers in reading instruction techniques.

Committee Categories

Budget and Finance

Sponsors (2)

Last Action

Referred to Rules (on 02/04/2026)

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