House Bill No. 2247, introduced by Waldron, mandates the State Department of Education to develop specific standards aimed at implementing the least restrictive environment requirements as outlined in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This initiative is designed to ensure that students with special needs are not unnecessarily excluded from classroom settings, thereby promoting inclusivity in education.

The bill includes a provision for codification, indicating that the new standards will be formally integrated into the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 13-101A of Title 70. The effective date for this legislation is set for November 1, 2025, allowing time for the State Department of Education to prepare for the implementation of these standards.