OklahomaHB 1940Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionHouse

Charter schools; sponsorship; adding county to certain sponsor; effective date; emergency.

Sponsored By: Danny Sterling (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

4 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 1 costs, 0 mixed.

Charter sponsors favor at-risk students

Sponsors that are not school districts must give priority to charter schools that serve at-risk students or students from low-performing public schools. They must also favor applicants with a proven record of running a successful school serving similar students. Before approving a new site, sponsors must check six things: student results, finances, growth plan, ability to copy successful practices, the track record of any management group, and that each campus keeps its own funds. This steers new charters toward community need and operators with strong results.

Counties can sponsor juvenile-justice charters

Beginning July 1, 2024, a county may sponsor a charter school when the applicant is the Office of Juvenile Affairs (OJA) or has a contract with OJA. This applies when the school serves youth in the custody or supervision of the state or county. The new county option can help such schools open closer to the communities they serve.

Emergency clause: law takes effect now

The act declares an emergency and takes effect upon passage and approval. Its rules apply right away unless a specific part of the law sets a different date.

Cap on new charters in small counties

In counties with fewer than 500,000 people, the Statewide Charter School Board may sponsor no more than five new charter schools each year. Charter schools it already sponsors do not count toward this limit. Families in these counties may see fewer new Board-sponsored charter options each year.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

Danny Sterling
Republican • House

Cosponsors

Brenda Stanley
Republican • Senate

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 189 • No: 1

Senate vote • 5/1/2025

THIRD READING

Yes: 43 • No: 0

Senate vote • 5/1/2025

SENATE

Yes: 33 • No: 0

Senate vote • 4/8/2025

Committee vote: Education

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote • 3/12/2025

THIRD READING

Yes: 85 • No: 1

House vote • 2/26/2025

DO PASS

Yes: 9 • No: 0

House vote • 2/19/2025