House Bill No. 1096 amends various sections of the Oklahoma Statutes concerning student testing and professional development for educators. The bill establishes professional development programs for certified teachers and administrators, which must be informed by a committee that includes classroom teachers and parents. It updates the goals of these programs to enhance academic performance, close achievement gaps, and boost graduation rates. The legislation replaces references to the ACT with "nationally norm-referenced college entrance exams" and allows for the use of equivalent exam scores, such as those from the SAT and Classic Learning Test (CLT), to assess student remediation needs.

Additionally, the bill modifies eligibility criteria for higher education assistance programs, ensuring that assessments align with Oklahoma Academic Standards and mandating that students take these assessments to graduate from high school. It tasks the State Board of Education with evaluating assessment results and ensuring they meet high standards for postsecondary readiness. The bill also introduces requirements for disaggregating assessment results by demographic factors and mandates that schools inform parents or guardians about school performance levels. 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