Oklahoma’s 2026 literacy bills represent one of the most serious legislative pushes for early reading improvement in recent memory. Lawmakers across chambers have introduced proposals addressing screening, intervention, coaching, summer programs, and—in some cases—third-grade promotion standards. That is encouraging.
But after studying these bills closely, I believe the real question facing Oklahoma is not whether we pass “a literacy bill.” It is whether we build a coherent literacy system.
The rapid rollout of government‑run medical clinics in Oklahoma’s public schools is shifting our education system from teaching children to recruiting youth into government‑managed health programs. This School Based Health Care (SBHC) expansion places students at risk, weakens parental authority, and diverts schools away from their academic mission.
Taxpayers are left carrying a massive financial burden, while the structure of these programs opens the door to Medicaid misuse and serious statutory and constitutional violations. Oklahomans deserve transparency, lawful governance, and schools that prioritize education, not government‑run medical operations. You can make your voice heard on this topic Monday, February 2nd, at the OK State Capital.
In a press release yesterday, The Mizel Jewish Community Day School questions a proposal for a Jewish Charter School writing, “Jewish education flourishes when it is built in partnership with the community it intends to serve. The Jewish community of Oklahoma is deeply committed to Jewish education and serving the needs of our community. Our local boards, organizations, and donors have invested heavily in our local Jewish educational system through a dedication to learning. This investment can be seen by the vibrant Mizel Jewish Community Day School in Tulsa and the plethora of offerings from our synagogues and communal organizations.”
How Ineffective Programs Continue to Waste Taxpayer Dollars Post-Strong Readers Act
The recently released Oklahoma State Department of Education’s 2025 Public School Report Cards lay bare a system in distress: a D in academic achievement, with just 26% of students proficient in English Language Arts (ELA) and math, and 30% in science.
Graduation rates stagnate at 82% for the class of 2025—well below the state’s 90% goal—while chronic absenteeism grips 19% of students, earning another D. Academic growth inched up by 3% to 56% across ELA, math, and science, but these marginal gains mask deeper failures. With 697,186 students enrolled statewide and an approved $4 billion budget for FY27, this data demands scrutiny of the choices perpetuating low proficiency, especially in literacy.
Moms for Liberty – Tulsa County is asserting “a serious governance failure” at Tulsa Classical Academy (TCA) as the administration eliminated public comment from its school board meetings. This is a significant departure from the standard practice of publicly funded schools allowing citizen input. As an independent charter district, TCA operates without the standard oversight, electoral accountability or established grievance pathways found in most public school districts. Legislators say this makes openness even more essential – not optional and many are speaking out on the troubling change of procedure.
