House Bill No. 1408, introduced by Grego, aims to enhance the reporting process for student departures from public schools in Oklahoma. The bill provides public school administrators with the option to report when a student leaves to attend a private school or is educated by other means. To facilitate this, the State Department of Education is required to create an online reporting portal for administrators. Additionally, the bill amends existing law regarding school dropout reports by clarifying the definition of a "school dropout" and excluding students whose departures have been reported through the new portal from this classification.

The amendments to 70 O.S. 2021, Section 35e, include the removal of certain language and the addition of new provisions that specify that students who have been reported as having left a public school will not be counted as dropouts. This change aims to provide a more accurate representation of student retention and dropout rates. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.