House Bill No. 1096 amends Oklahoma's education law to improve student testing and professional development for educators. The bill replaces references to the ACT with "nationally norm-referenced college entrance exams," introducing the SAT and Classic Learning Test (CLT) as acceptable alternatives for assessing student remediation needs. It emphasizes data-driven approaches in professional development, requiring committees to analyze student data to enhance academic performance. Additionally, the legislation mandates that students take certain tests at designated sites and allows for equivalent exam scores to be considered for higher education assistance programs.

The bill also establishes a continuing education program for mathematics teachers, providing financial support for higher education courses to enhance their skills. It outlines remediation course requirements for high school students scoring below specified thresholds on standardized tests and mandates the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to set cut scores for statewide assessments. The State Board of Education is tasked with retaining an independent agency for reliability and validity studies on these assessments, and assessment results must be disaggregated by demographic factors. The bill updates eligibility criteria for scholarship programs, including the acceptance of scores from the SAT, ACT, and CLT, while ensuring appropriate assessment means for students with disabilities and those who were adopted. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage.

Statutes affected:
Introduced: 70-2603
House Committee Substitute: 70-2603
Senate Committee Substitute for House Bill: 70-2603
Floor (House): 70-2603
Floor (Senate): 70-2603
Engrossed: 70-2603
Amended And Engrossed: 70-2603
Enrolled (final version): 70-2603