District staff outlines impacts of new state education laws

District staff told the school board on Tuesday that several pieces of recently enacted and proposed state legislation will require policy updates and budget adjustments for the 2026–27 and 2027–28 school years.

The presentation opened with the 2026 teacher pay increase under Senate Bill 2011. “The new state minimum teacher salary is 41,601 and our new minimum teacher salary is 47,100,” the presenter said, adding the district negotiated to raise its floor roughly $5,500 above the state minimum.

The presenter reviewed numerous other bills: House Bill 2288, which allows retired educators to return to district work after a six‑month sit‑out and removes prior earnings caps; House Bill 4427, which will bar hiring adjuncts for core PK–5 instruction (with waiver options for current staff); and House Bill 3151, which increases the statewide school-year requirement and will require the district to add two days to some employees’ calendars. Staff warned the calendar changes will affect teacher contracts, site secretaries and other schedules and carry an added cost.

Staff also described State Question 844 (on the August ballot), which would let the legislature set the methodology for ad valorem reimbursement — the district received about $535,000 this year under the current formula — and State Question 847 (a November measure tied to SJR 39) that would tighten limits on annual taxable-value growth for homestead and other properties. “The county assessor’s estimate shows several millions of dollars in potential loss to the district,” staff said.

On academic policy, the district previewed the Oklahoma Math Achievement and Proficiency Act (HB 1360), which will create a state Office of Mathematics Improvement and mandate statewide math screening instruments. Staff flagged the Strong Readers Act, which will require a single statewide screening instrument for reading, monthly parent check‑ins for targeted interventions, summer programs and, notably, a proficiency requirement for promotion to fourth grade. The presenter said the law will also require a third‑grade assessment to be given to some second‑grade students for practice and growth measurement, a detail that prompted questions from board members.

Board members asked whether the state used data to inform these changes; the presenter replied that while some bills cite statewide averages and research, many implementation details and funding levels remain to be clarified and may depend on upcoming statewide elections and the next legislature.

The presentation concluded with operational impacts: the cell‑phone ban in schools (HB 1276) is now permanent, and a vetoed Senate bill means the district must administer the state‑required ACT during a regular school day rather than use a virtual day. District staff said they will develop plans for scheduling and bargaining-unit discussions before negotiations next year.

The board did not vote on the policy items presented; staff said formal policy updates and budget proposals will return to the board in upcoming meetings.