Senate Bill No. 797 amends Section 3-104 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, enhancing the powers and duties of the State Board of Education. The bill requires the Board to electronically submit an annual report to the Governor and the Legislature, which will include statistics and recommendations regarding the public school system. It also stipulates that the Board can only revoke or suspend a teaching certificate for specific reasons, such as willful violations of law or child abuse, and prohibits summary revocation without due process. Teachers must be notified at least five days prior to any action, and the Board is required to act within sixty days of notification.

Additionally, the bill establishes the framework for the Redbud School Grants, aimed at providing financial support to school districts and eligible charter schools in Oklahoma. The State Department of Education will determine grant amounts based on specific revenue calculations, and eligible charter schools must offer in-person or blended instruction to a majority of their students. The bill mandates the creation of a dedicated webpage for grant recipients and requires annual estimates of grant allocations to be provided to the chairs of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees. It also includes provisions for the administration of the Statistical Services Revolving Fund and clarifies the oversight role of the Director of the Department of Corrections regarding schools in state reformatories. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2025, with an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.