Title 70, Schools

This act shall be known as the Oklahoma School Code. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 1-101, eff. July 2, 1971.

The purpose of the Oklahoma School Code is to provide for a state system of public school education and for the establishment, organization, operation and support of such state system. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 1-102, eff. July 2, 1971.

If any section or part of the Oklahoma School Code is found to be ambiguous or otherwise subject to more than one interpretation, such section shall be liberally construed to the extent that the general purpose of the entire Code and of public education may be advanced. Added by …

Nothing in the Oklahoma School Code shall be interpreted as repealing or modifying any law in effect in the State of Oklahoma relative to the collection of any taxes unless specifically provided for herein, and all appropriations existing at the time this Code becomes effective s…

A. The State Department of Education is that department of the state government in which the agencies created or authorized by the Constitution and Legislature are placed and charged with the responsibility of determining the policies and directing the administration and supervis…

The public schools of Oklahoma shall consist of all free schools supported by public taxation and shall include nurseries, kindergartens, elementary, which may include either K-6 or K-8, secondary schools and technology center schools, not to exceed two (2) years of junior colleg…

Either in conjunction with public schools or otherwise under the control and supervision of school agencies and officials provided by law for the control and supervision of public schools, other educational services may include health activities, school lunch programs, audiovisua…

A. Unless otherwise specifically defined, technology is applied knowledge. For educational and governmental purposes, technology shall include but not be limited to information technology, telecommunications technology and implemental technology. Information technology shall incl…

A school district is defined as any area or territory comprising a legal entity, whose primary purpose is that of providing free school education, whose boundary lines are a matter of public record, and the area of which constitutes a complete tax unit. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281…

A. For all public schools in this state, school shall actually be in session and classroom instruction offered: 1. For not less than one hundred eighty-one (181) days; 2. For not less than one thousand eighty-six (1,086) hours each school year, if a district board of education ad…

A. School districts shall have the option of establishing and offering an extended school year according to the provisions of this section. The Optional Extended School Year Program provided in paragraph 15 of subsection A of Section 109 of this act means those programs which sch…

A. Except as otherwise provided for by law, a school day shall consist of not less than six (6) hours devoted to school activities. A district board of education may elect to extend the length of one (1) or more school days to more than six (6) hours and reduce the number of scho…

School taught on Saturday shall not be counted for attendance purposes in meeting the school year requirements as set forth in Section 1-109 of this title. School taught on Saturday may be substituted for regular school days during which school has been or will be closed upon app…

A. When used in this section, the residence of any child for school purposes shall be: 1. The legal residence of the parents, guardian, or person having legal custody. Each school district board of education shall adopt a policy establishing the requirements for student residency…

A. All children between the ages of five (5) years on or before September 1 and twenty-one (21) years on or before September 1 shall be entitled to attend school free of charge in the district in which they reside. B. All children who are at least four (4) years of age but not mo…

Unless otherwise prohibited by federal law, school districts may: 1. Only have to accept exchange students on J-1 visas, issued pursuant to paragraph (a) (15) (J) of Section 1101 of Title 8 of the United States Code, which hold the sponsoring organization responsible; 2. Not have…

Any school district is hereby authorized to operate as a grantee of a federal Head Start program. For purposes of calculating state aid a school district may not count any child enrolled in or teacher employed by a Head Start program operated by the district for the portion of th…

The public school system in Oklahoma shall be administered by the State Department of Education, State Superintendent of Public Instruction, boards of education of school districts, and superintendents of school districts. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 1-115, eff. July 2, 1971. A…

As used in this title: 1. "Teacher" means any person who is employed to serve as district superintendent, principal, supervisor, counselor, librarian, school nurse, athletic trainer, or classroom teacher or in any other instructional, supervisory or administrative capacity. The p…

A teaching principal, as defined in Section 1-116 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shall be permitted to devote less than one- half (1/2) the time school is in session to classroom teaching only when it has been determined by the State Board of Education that such action is …

A. A school nurse, or in the absence of such nurse, an administrator or designated school employees, pursuant to the written authorization of the parent or guardian of the student, may: 1. Administer a nonprescription medicine; 2. Assist a student in applying sunscreen, a compoun…

A. Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1-116.2 of this title, the board of education of each school district shall adopt a policy on or before September 1, 2008, that permits the self- administration of inhaled asthma medication by a student for treatment of asthma, the sel…

A. The general fund of any school district is hereby defined as a current expense fund and shall consist of all revenue or monies that can legally be expended within a certain specified fiscal year, but shall not be considered as including any money derived from a special buildin…

The building fund of any school district shall consist of all monies derived from the proceeds of a building fund levy of not to exceed five (5) mills in any year, voted by the people of a school district pursuant to the provisions of Article X, Section 10 of the Oklahoma Constit…

The building fund of any technology center school district shall consist of all monies derived from the proceeds of a building fund levy not to exceed five (5) mills in any year, voted by the people of a school district pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 of Article X of the…

The sinking fund of any district shall consist of all money derived from ad valorem taxes or otherwise as provided by law for the payment of bonds and judgments and interest thereon. Added by Laws 1971, c. 281, § 1-119, eff. July 2, 1971.

The provisions of this act shall control over any conflicting provisions in the laws of this state. Laws 1976, Chapter 1, Section 2. Laws 1976, c. 1, § 2.

A. Each individual taxpayer required to file a state income tax return and each corporation required to file a corporate tax return who desires to contribute to the Public School Classroom Support Revolving Fund created in Section 1-123 of this title may designate the contributio…

A. There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Board of Education to be designated the "Public School Classroom Support Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies r…

A. Unless otherwise specifically defined, "per-pupil expenditure" shall mean the aggregate current expenditures of school districts, from all funding sources including federal funds, state funds and local funds, plus the direct support aggregate current expenditures of the state …

A. As used in this section: 1. "Sex" means the physical condition of being male or female based on genetics and physiology, as identified on the individual’s original birth certificate; 2. "Multiple occupancy restroom or changing area" means an area in a public school or public c…

A. As used in this section: 1. “Bell to bell” means the time between the first bell ringing at the start of the school day to begin instructional time until the dismissal bell at the end of the school day to end instructional time; and 2. “Personal electronic device” means a pers…

Sections 2-110 through 2-119 of this title shall be the provisions of the Local Government Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act applicable to technology center districts and independent school districts and shall be known as the “Technology Center District and Independen…

A. Definitions of terms used in the Technology Center District and Independent School District Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act shall be the same as those terms are defined in Rules of the Ethics Commission promulgated pursuant to Section 3 of Article XXIX of the Okl…

The Technology Center District and Independent School District Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act shall apply to all technology center districts and shall apply to all independent school districts. Added by Laws 2014, c. 313, § 23, eff. Jan. 1, 2015.

Each campaign committee shall file a statement of organization with the Ethics Commission subject to the same requirements as set forth for candidate committees for state office required to file statements of organization under Rules of the Ethics Commission promulgated pursuant …

Every school district political committee shall file a statement of organization with the Ethics Commission subject to the same requirements as set forth for political committees required to file statements of organization under Rules of the Ethics Commission promulgated pursuant…

Every campaign committee and every school district political committee shall file a report of contributions and expenditures with the Ethics Commission subject to the same requirements as set forth for candidate committees and political action committees, respectively, required t…

Statements of organization and reports of contributions and expenditures required to be filed with the Ethics Commission under the Technology Center District and Independent School District Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act shall be public records. The Ethics Commissi…

All candidates for school district office and all elected school district officers shall be required to file a statement of financial interests with the Ethics Commission subject to the same requirements as set forth for candidates for state office required to file statements of …

Statements of financial interests required to be filed with the Ethics Commission under the Technology Center District and Independent School District Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act shall be public records. The Ethics Commission shall maintain statements of financi…

The Technology Center District and Independent School District Campaign Finance and Financial Disclosure Act shall be enforced by the Ethics Commission in the same manner as Rules of the Ethics Commission promulgated pursuant to Section 3 of Article XXIX of the Oklahoma Constitut…

A. The State Board of Education shall consist of seven (7) members. The State Superintendent of Public Instruction shall be a member and the chairperson of the Board. The remaining six members shall be appointed by the Governor by and with the advice and consent of the Senate. Ex…

The State Board of Education shall meet in regular session once each month. Special meetings may be called by the president or by a majority of the members of the Board. Laws 1971, c. 281, § 3-102, eff. July 2, 1971.

A quorum of the State Board of Education shall consist of four members. No business may be transacted at any meeting unless a quorum is present and every act of said Board shall be approved by a majority of the membership of said Board. Laws 1971, c. 281, § 3-103, eff. July 2, 19…

See the following versions: OS 70-3-104v1 (SB 553, Laws 2025, c. 101, § 1) OS 70-3-104v2 (HB 1277, Laws 2025, c. 445, § 1) §70-3-104v1. State Board of Education - Powers and duties. A. The supervision of the public school system of Oklahoma shall be vested in the State Board of E…

No person shall receive a certificate for an instructional, supervisory, or administrative position in an accredited school of this state who has been convicted of a felony, any crime involving moral turpitude, knowingly and willfully failing to report suspected abuse or neglect …

A. The Imagination Library Revolving Fund created pursuant to Section 2 of this act shall be used to promote and foster the development of the Oklahoma Imagination Library Program, which shall be a statewide program for encouraging pre-school children to read by providing age-app…

There is hereby created in the State Treasury a revolving fund for the State Department of Education to be designated the "Imagination Library Revolving Fund". The fund shall be a continuing fund, not subject to fiscal year limitations, and shall consist of all monies received by…

A. The Legislature, recognizing its obligation to the children of this state to ensure their opportunity to receive an excellent education, and recognizing its obligation to the taxpayers of this state to ensure that schooling is accomplished in an efficient manner, hereby establ…