This bill amends Section 14-135 of Title 70 of the Oklahoma Statutes, shifting the responsibility for approving career-readiness assessments from the Oklahoma Department of Commerce to the State Department of Education. It removes the previous stipulation that such approval was subject to funding availability and establishes that beginning in the 2026-2027 school year, assessments will be made available to students in grades ten through twelve at least once before graduation. The assessments are designed to measure foundational workplace skills and will be administered at no cost to students who choose to participate.

Additionally, the bill directs the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education to create rules that allow institutions within the Oklahoma State System of Higher Education to grant college credit based on the assessment-based credentials and scores earned from these career-readiness assessments. The act is set to take effect on July 1, 2026, and includes an emergency clause for immediate implementation upon passage and approval.