This bill amends the accreditation standards for public school districts in Oklahoma, shifting the focus from individual public schools to entire school districts. The State Board of Education is directed to adopt new standards that address deficiencies and provide for the closure of districts that fail to maintain accreditation. Evaluations of school districts will occur every four years, starting in the 2025-2026 school year, with annual evaluations mandated for districts that receive one or more deficiencies. The bill also updates statutory language and references, ensuring that the accreditation standards align with nationally recognized benchmarks.

Key changes include the removal of language that allowed the State Board of Education to interrupt the evaluation schedule and the modification of reasons for annual evaluations. The bill stipulates that if a school district loses its accreditation, the State Board must close the district and reassign students to accredited districts. Additionally, the bill provides for the State Department of Education to investigate complaints regarding educational services and compliance with accreditation standards. The effective date for these changes is set for July 1, 2025, and an emergency clause is included to expedite implementation.