This bill mandates that by January 1, 2026, all school district boards of education and charter school governing boards in Oklahoma must display the Ten Commandments in each classroom. The display must be a minimum size of 11 inches by 14 inches, with the text of the Ten Commandments as the central focus, printed in a large, easily readable font. Additionally, the display must include a context statement detailing the historical significance of the Ten Commandments in American public education. The bill also allows for the display of other historical documents, such as the Mayflower Compact and the Declaration of Independence, alongside the Ten Commandments. Importantly, the bill stipulates that these displays should be provided free of charge, either through donations or existing resources.
Furthermore, the bill extends the requirement for displaying the Ten Commandments to institutions of higher education within the Oklahoma State System, with similar stipulations regarding size and funding. The State Department of Education and the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are tasked with promulgating rules to ensure compliance with the provisions of the act. The bill is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.