This bill amends Section 3-134 of the Oklahoma Statutes regarding the application process for establishing charter schools. It removes the requirement for applicants to submit their applications to the school district first, allowing them the option to submit directly to a proposed sponsor or the Statewide Charter School Board. The bill outlines the approval and denial procedures for both routes, including timelines for responses and the possibility for applicants to submit revised applications if initially rejected. Additionally, it mandates that applicants complete training provided by the Statewide Charter School Board before submitting their applications.

The bill also establishes that beginning July 1, 2026, applicants may choose to submit their applications to a proposed sponsor, which must respond within 90 days. If rejected, the sponsor must provide written reasons, and applicants can resubmit revised applications within 30 days. Furthermore, the bill includes provisions for binding arbitration in case of disputes regarding rejected applications. The effective date of the bill is set for July 1, 2026, and it declares an emergency for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.