OKLAHOMA CITY — A bill allocating more than $40 million for reading instruction and several millions more for teacher training and reading initiatives was signed by Gov. Kevin Stitt this week.
Stitt said the measure during an event at Oklahoma City’s John Rex Elementary School.
The measure, Senate Bill 1778, is one of the Legislature’s key components in a plan conceived this year to improve the state’s K-12 education system with a focus on literacy. The effort follows the resignation of then-school chief Ryan Walters, who many lawmakers criticized for his handling of the common education system.
Records show that Oklahoma has consistently ranked near the bottom (between 48th and 50th) in national education rankings due to falling standardized test scores, chronic underfunding and low teacher pay.
The state once ranked in the top half of the country in education but saw a sharp decline since 2015 due to poor performance in math and reading, according to the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Stitt praised the measure, saying, “Reading paves the way for bright futures.”
“That’s why I’m proud to sign a bill that helps ensure our kids learn this foundational skill by the end of third grade,” the governor said. “This is about early support, strong instruction, and giving parents the information they need to keep their kids on track. Because with a strong foundation, the next generation of Oklahomans can chase their American Dream. I thank Speaker Hilbert and Senator Pugh for leading on this important issue.”
Echoing Stitt, State Superintendent Lindel Fields, called the measure “one of the strongest, most comprehensive literacy reform efforts in the country.”
“It reflects a thoughtful, collaborative process and a clear commitment to ensuring every child in Oklahoma has the opportunity to read and succeed,” Fields said. “This bill invests in literacy coaches, targeted interventions, and highquality teacher training so we can meet students where they are and help them grow. Retention is not the goal, rather a last resort after the right supports have been put in place.”
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, R-Bristow, the bill’s House author, said the new law implements strategic programs “that have proven to show real, data-driven results and take a critical step in strengthening Oklahoma’s student outcomes and future workforce.”
“This was my top priority this session,” Hilbert said in a media statement about the measure. “We have to follow the data and pursue policies that produce better outcomes for our students. The status quo has not been good enough, and this legislation is about ensuring every Oklahoma child has the strong foundation they need to succeed.”
Hilbert said the bill includes “significant investments” in literacy initiatives, including more than $43 million for reading instruction and interventions in schools, $5 million in supplemental funding for teacher training academies this summer, and $5 million in ongoing annual funding for teacher training programs. Additional funding will support reading-athome initiatives and statewide math and reading screeners to help educators identify student learning needs earlier.
The bill’s Senator author, Sen Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, said parent involvement is key to the success of the legislation.
“By identifying reading challenges early and providing meaningful, targeted support before students fall behind, we are ensuring children will be equipped to read to learn,” Pugh said. “A major key to this legislation is involving parents in the process. This legislation has been designed so Oklahoma will have the strongest literacy program in the country. We should not accept anything less than every single child being able to read at grade level. This measure ensures we are giving every child that opportunity.”
Pugh said testing from 2025 showed just 27% of Oklahoma’s third graders were reading at or above grade level.
Senate Pro Tempore Lonnie Paxton, R-Tuttle, said the bill was a major step forward in ensuring every Oklahoma child has the foundational reading skills they need to succeed.
“By setting clear expectations, strengthening early intervention and giving parents more involvement, we’re making it clear that reading proficiency by third grade is not optional, it’s essential,” Paxton said. “This legislation reflects a strong commitment to accountability and results, and I appreciate the overwhelming support from both chambers as the governor signs this today.”
Oklahoma’s legislative session will officially end at 5 p.m. May 29th.
M. Scott Carter is an award-winning political and investigative reporter with more than 40 years’ experience covering federal and state government and politics in Oklahoma. He can be reached at scott. carter@ swoknews.com.