1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 1st Session of the 59th Legislature (2023)
3 HOUSE BILL 2158 By: Lowe (Dick)
4
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
7 An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 11-103.6, as amended by Section 51, Chapter
8 228, O.S.L. 2022 (70 O.S. Supp. 2022, Section 11-
103.6), which relates to subject matter standards;
9 modifying graduation requirement to complete a
personal financial literacy course; specifying grade-
10 level eligibility to fulfill requirement; amending 70
O.S. 2021, Section 11-103.6h, which relates to
11 personal financial literacy education; modifying
areas of instruction; requiring certain students to
12 complete certain financial literacy course to
graduate; mandating instruction to be provided in
13 separate semester course; allowing districts to
integrate instruction in certain grades with other
14 courses; deleting provision for identification of
online curricula; providing resources to assist
15 schools; identifying resources for certain students;
updating statutory citation; modifying how Department
16 may use certain funds; modifying requirements for
students who transfer in-state after certain grade
17 level; removing authorization to use certain online
assessment in certain circumstances; permitting
18 districts to develop certain assessment; allowing
teachers with certain certifications to teach
19 personal financial literacy; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 11-103.6h-1, which relates to the Personal
20 Financial Literacy Education Revolving Fund; updating
statutory references; providing an effective date;
21 and declaring an emergency.
22
23
24 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
Req. No. 5536 Page 1
1 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 11-103.6, as
2 amended by Section 51, Chapter 228, O.S.L. 2022 (70 O.S. Supp. 2022,
3 Section 11-103.6), is amended to read as follows:
4 Section 11-103.6 A. 1. The State Board of Education shall
5 adopt subject matter standards for instruction of students in the
6 public schools of this state that are necessary to ensure there is
7 attainment of desired levels of competencies in a variety of areas
8 to include language, mathematics, science, social studies,
9 communication, and health and physical education.
10 2. School districts shall develop and implement curriculum,
11 courses and instruction in order to ensure that students meet the
12 skills and competencies as set forth in this section and in the
13 subject matter standards adopted by the State Board of Education.
14 3. All students shall gain literacy at the elementary and
15 secondary levels. Students shall develop skills in reading,
16 writing, speaking, computing and critical thinking. For purposes of
17 this section, critical thinking means a manner of analytical
18 thinking which is logical and uses linear factual analysis to reach
19 a conclusion. They shall learn about cultures and environments -
20 their own and those of others with whom they share the earth. All
21 students shall receive the instruction needed to lead healthy and
22 physically active lifestyles. Students, therefore, shall study
23 social studies, literature, languages, the arts, health, mathematics
24 and science. Such curricula shall provide for the teaching of a
Req. No. 5536 Page 2
1 hands-on career exploration program in cooperation with technology
2 center schools.
3 4. The subject matter standards shall be designed to teach the
4 competencies for which students shall be tested as provided in
5 Section 1210.508 of this title, and shall be designed to prepare all
6 students for active citizenship, employment and/or successful
7 completion of postsecondary education without the need for remedial
8 coursework at the postsecondary level.
9 5. The subject matter standards shall be designed with rigor as
10 defined in paragraph 3 of subsection G of this section.
11 6. The subject matter standards for English Language Arts shall
12 give Classic Literature and nonfiction literature equal
13 consideration to other literature. In addition, emphasis shall be
14 given to the study of complete works of literature.
15 7. At a minimum, the subject matter standards for mathematics
16 shall require mastery of the standard algorithms in mathematics,
17 which is the most logical, efficient way of solving a problem that
18 consistently works, and for students to attain fluency in Euclidian
19 geometry.
20 8. The subject matter standards for history, social studies and
21 United States Government shall include study of important historical
22 documents, including the United States Constitution, Declaration of
23 Independence, Emancipation Proclamation, Federalist Papers and other
24 documents with significant history and heritage of the United
Req. No. 5536 Page 3
1 States, and the content of the United States naturalization test,
2 with an emphasis on the specific content of the test and the ideas
3 and concepts it references. Beginning with the 2022-2023 school
4 year, the United States naturalization test shall be administered in
5 accordance with subsection F of this section.
6 9. The subject matter standards for United States Government
7 shall include an emphasis on civics, the structure and relationship
8 between the national, state, county and local governments and
9 simulations of the democratic process. For the purposes of this
10 section, "civics" means the study of the rights and duties of
11 Oklahoma and United States citizens and of how those governments
12 work.
13 10. The subject matter standards for health and physical
14 education shall include but not be limited to the domains of
15 physical, emotional, social and intellectual health. Health
16 literacy shall include the ability to obtain, process and understand
17 basic health information and services needed to make appropriate
18 health decisions. Health shall also include the importance of
19 proper nutrition and exercise, mental health and wellness, substance
20 abuse, coping skills for understanding and managing trauma,
21 establishing and maintaining positive relationships and responsible
22 decision making. Physical literacy shall include the ability to
23 move with competence and confidence in a wide variety of physical
24
Req. No. 5536 Page 4
1 activities in multiple environments that benefit the healthy
2 development of the whole person.
3 B. Subject to the provisions of subsection C of this section,
4 in order to graduate from a public high school accredited by the
5 State Board of Education with a standard diploma, students shall
6 complete the following college preparatory/work ready curriculum
7 units or sets of competencies at the secondary level:
8 1. Four units or sets of competencies of English to include
9 Grammar, Composition, Literature, or any English course approved for
10 college admission requirements;
11 2. Three units or sets of competencies of mathematics, limited
12 to Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Math Analysis,
13 Calculus, Advanced Placement Statistics, or any mathematics course
14 with content and/or rigor above Algebra I and approved for college
15 admission requirements;
16 3. Three units or sets of competencies of laboratory science
17 approved for college admission requirements including one unit or
18 set of competencies of life science meeting the standards for
19 Biology I; one unit or set of competencies of physical science,
20 meeting the standards for Physical Science, Chemistry or Physics;
21 and one unit or set of competencies from the domains of physical
22 science, life science or earth and space science such that the
23 content and rigor is above Biology I or Physical Science;
24
Req. No. 5536 Page 5
1 4. Three units or sets of competencies of history and
2 citizenship skills, including one unit of American History, one-half
3 unit of Oklahoma History, one-half unit of United States Government
4 and one unit from the subjects of History, Government, Geography,
5 Economics, Civics, or non-Western culture and approved for college
6 admission requirements;
7 5. Two units or sets of competencies of the same world or non-
8 English language or two units of computer technology approved for
9 college admission requirements, whether taught at a high school or a
10 technology center school, including computer programming, hardware,
11 and business computer applications, such as word processing,
12 databases, spreadsheets, and graphics, excluding keyboarding or
13 typing courses;
14 6. One additional unit or set of competencies selected from
15 paragraphs 1 through 5 of this subsection or career and technology
16 education courses, concurrently enrolled courses, Advanced Placement
17 courses or International Baccalaureate courses approved for college
18 admission requirements; and
19 7. One-half (1/2) unit or set of competencies of personal
20 financial literacy, as provided in the Passport to Financial
21 Literacy Act, whether taught as an elective course or when taught
22 during instruction as provided in and subject to the standards of
23 subsection A of Section 11-103.6h of this title in coursework
24 offered by the school district or partnering technology center
Req. No. 5536 Page 6
1 school by a teacher certified in a relevant secondary subject area
2 and taken in the tenth, eleventh, or twelfth grade; and
3 8. One unit or set of competencies of fine arts, such as music,
4 art, or drama, or one unit or set of competencies of speech.
5 C. In lieu of the requirements of subsection B of this section
6 which requires a college preparatory/work ready curriculum, a
7 student may enroll in the core curriculum as provided in subsection
8 D of this section upon written approval of the parent or legal
9 guardian of the student. For students under the age of eighteen
10 (18) school districts shall require a parent or legal guardian of
11 the student to meet with a designee of the school prior to
12 enrollment in the core curriculum. The State Department of
13 Education shall develop and distribute to school districts a form
14 suitable for this purpose, which shall include information on the
15 benefits to students of completing the college preparatory/work
16 ready curriculum as provided for in subsection B of this section.
17 D. For those students subject to the requirements of subsection
18 C of this section, in order to graduate from a public high school
19 accredited by the State Board of Education with a standard diploma,
20 students shall complete the following core curriculum units or sets
21 of competencies at the secondary level:
22 1. Language Arts – Four units or sets of competencies, to
23 consist of one unit or set of competencies of grammar and
24
Req. No. 5536 Page 7
1 composition, and three units or sets of competencies which may
2 include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
3 a. American Literature,
4 b. English Literature,
5 c. World Literature,
6 d. Advanced English Courses, or
7 e. other English courses with content and/or rigor equal
8 to or above grammar and composition;
9 2. Mathematics – Three units or sets of competencies to consist
10 of one unit or set of competencies of Algebra I or Algebra I taught
11 in a contextual methodology, and two units or sets of competencies
12 which may include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
13 a. Algebra II,
14 b. Geometry or Geometry taught in a contextual
15 methodology,
16 c. Trigonometry,
17 d. Math Analysis or Precalculus,
18 e. Calculus,
19 f. Statistics and/or Probability,
20 g. Computer Science or acceptance and successful
21 completion of one (1) year of a full-time, three-hour
22 career and technology program leading to an industry
23 credential/certificate or college credit. The State
24 Board of Career and Technology Education shall
Req. No. 5536 Page 8
1 promulgate rules to define the provisions of this
2 section related to the accepted industry-valued
3 credentials which are industry-endorsed or industry-
4 aligned. The list of accepted industry-valued
5 credentials shall be reviewed annually and updated at
6 least every three (3) years by the Board,
7 h. (1) contextual mathematics courses which enhance
8 technology preparation, or
9 (2) a science, technology, engineering and math
10 (STEM) block course meeting the requirements for
11 course competencies listed in paragraph 2 of
12 subsection B of this section, whether taught at
13 a:
14 (a) comprehensive high school, or
15 (b) technology center school when taken in the
16 tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade, taught by
17 a certified teacher, and approved by the
18 State Board of Education and the independent
19 district board of education,
20 i. mathematics courses taught at a technology center
21 school by a teacher certified in the secondary subject
22 area when taken in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth
23 grade upon approval of the State Board of Education
24 and the independent district board of education, or
Req. No. 5536 Page 9
1 j. any other mathematics course with content and/or rigor
2 equal to or above Algebra I;
3 3. Science – Three units or sets of competencies to consist of
4 one unit or set of competencies of Biology I or Biology I taught in
5 a contextual methodology, and two units or sets of competencies in
6 the areas of life, physical, or earth science or technology which
7 may include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
8 a. Chemistry I,
9 b. Physics,
10 c. Biology II,
11 d. Chemistry II,
12 e. Physical Science,
13 f. Earth Science,
14 g. Botany,
15 h. Zoology,
16 i. Physiology,
17 j. Astronomy,
18 k. Applied Biology/Chemistry,
19 l. Applied Physics,
20 m. Principles of Technology,
21 n. qualified agricultural education courses,
22 o. (1) contextual science courses which enhance
23 technology preparation, or
24
Req. No. 5536 Page 10
1 (2) a science, technology, engineering and math
2 (STEM) block course meeting the requirements for
3 course competencies listed in paragraph 3 of
4 subsection B of this section, whether taught at
5 a:
6 (a) comprehensive high school, or
7 (b) technology center school when taken in the
8 tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade, taught by
9 a certified teacher, and approved by the
10 State Board of Education and the independent
11 district board of education,
12 p. science courses taught at a technology center school
13 by a teacher certified in the secondary subject area
14 when taken in the tenth, eleventh or twelfth grade
15 upon approval of the State Board of Education and the
16 independent district board of education, or
17 q. other science courses with content and/or rigor equal
18 to or above Biology I;
19 4. Social Studies – Three units or sets of competencies, to
20 consist of one unit or set of competencies of United States History,
21 one-half (1/2) to one unit or set of competencies of United States
22 Government, one-half (1/2) unit or set of competencies of Oklahoma
23 History, and one-half (1/2) to one unit or set of competencies which
24 may include, but are not limited to, the following courses:
Req. No. 5536 Page 11
1