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OklahomaSB 710Oklahoma 2026 Regular SessionSenate

Teacher preparation; establishment of TeachForwardOK; allowing Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to select more than one applicant under certain circumstances. Emergency.

Sponsored By: Ally Seifried (Republican)

Signed by Governor

Senate Committee

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

2 provisions identified: 2 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.

Grants and $500,000 awards for teacher prep

The Commission awards grants to approved teacher education programs, if funds are available, to join TeachForwardOK and hire a technical assistance provider. It may select one approved program to receive $500,000 to carry out its plan, and may fund more than one if money allows. Money can come from donations, grants, and legislative appropriations.

Two-year TeachForwardOK pilot to train teachers

The law creates TeachForwardOK, a two-year pilot run by the state’s education quality commission. It builds new, high‑quality paths into teaching and aims to grow Oklahoma’s teacher workforce. Within 30 days of August 29, 2025, the Commission issues an RFP to pick evaluators for accredited teacher education programs in the state system. Evaluators must review recruitment and completion, how well programs prepare candidates, workforce needs, and ways to recruit nontraditional candidates. Evaluators send reports to the program and the Commission. Programs must respond within 90 days with plans that include clear pathways (high school to paraprofessional, paraprofessional to teacher, bachelor’s to teacher), intensive on‑the‑job training, mastery‑based checkpoints, and schedules that allow full‑time work during apprenticeships and flexible hours for paraprofessionals. The Commission sets rules to run the pilot. The act takes effect immediately. The Commission reports findings by December 31, 2027.

Sponsors & Cosponsors

Sponsor

  • Ally Seifried

    Republican • Senate

Cosponsors

  • Chad Caldwell

    Republican • House

Roll Call Votes

All Roll Calls

Yes: 183 • No: 4

House vote • 5/6/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 92 • No: 0

House vote • 4/13/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 8 • No: 1

House vote • 4/13/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 8 • No: 1

House vote • 4/8/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 10 • No: 0

House vote • 4/8/2026

DO PASS

Yes: 10 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/16/2026

THIRD READING

Yes: 47 • No: 0

Senate vote • 3/3/2026

Committee vote: Education

Yes: 8 • No: 2

Actions Timeline

  1. Approved by Governor 05/12/2026

    5/13/2026Senate

  2. Sent to Governor

    5/6/2026Senate

  3. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/6/2026House

  4. Enrolled, to House

    5/6/2026Senate

  5. Referred for enrollment

    5/6/2026Senate

  6. Signed, returned to Senate

    5/6/2026House

  7. Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 92 Nays: 0

    5/6/2026House

  8. General Order

    5/6/2026House

  9. CR; Do Pass Education Oversight Committee

    4/13/2026House

  10. Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Common Education

    4/9/2026House

  11. Referred to Common Education

    3/30/2026House

  12. Second Reading referred to Education Oversight

    3/30/2026House

  13. First Reading

    3/17/2026House

  14. Engrossed to House

    3/17/2026Senate

  15. Referred for engrossment

    3/16/2026Senate

  16. Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 47 Nays: 0

    3/16/2026Senate

  17. General Order, Considered

    3/16/2026Senate

  18. Coauthored by Representative Caldwell (Chad) (principal House author)

    3/10/2026Senate

  19. Placed on General Order

    3/5/2026Senate

  20. Emergency added

    3/3/2026Senate

  21. Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education committee; CR filed

    3/3/2026Senate

  22. Second Reading referred to Education

    2/4/2025Senate

  23. Authored by Senator Seifried

    2/3/2025Senate

  24. First Reading

    2/3/2025Senate

Bill Text

  • Enrolled (final version)

    5/6/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (House)

    4/13/2026

    PDF

  • House Committee Report

    4/13/2026

    PDF

  • House Policy Committee Report

    4/9/2026

    PDF

  • Engrossed

    3/17/2026

    PDF

  • Floor (Senate)

    3/4/2026

    PDF

  • Committee Substitute

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • Senate Committee Report

    3/3/2026

    PDF

  • Introduced

    1/15/2025

    PDF

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