Oklahoma House Committees Advance Bills on School Prayer, Reading Requirements

Legislation would mandate daily prayer periods, third-grade retention, and more instructional time in public schools

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A series of bills impacting K-12 education in Oklahoma advanced through House committees this week, including measures that would require a daily 'period of prayer' in public schools, mandate third-grade retention for students scoring below basic reading levels, and increase the number of instructional days in the school year.

Why it matters

These bills reflect ongoing debates around the role of religion in public schools, reading proficiency standards, and the optimal length of the academic calendar. The proposals aim to address perceived issues with student achievement and religious expression, but critics argue some measures are unnecessary or could face legal challenges.

The details

The House subcommittee on school funding passed a bill that would mandate a daily 'period of prayer' for students and staff, though parents could opt their children out. Another bill from the House Speaker would require third-grade retention for students scoring below basic reading levels, with interventions starting earlier. A separate measure would prevent districts from counting staff development days and parent-teacher conferences as instructional time, potentially adding up to 42 hours to school calendars. The leader of the education appropriations subcommittee also advanced a bill requiring districts to pay colleges for high school students taking concurrent enrollment courses.

  • The House subcommittee on school funding advanced the school prayer bill on Wednesday.
  • The House Speaker's third-grade reading retention bill passed the subcommittee on Monday.
  • The House Common Education Committee passed the bill restricting uncertified teachers in pre-K through 4th grade on Wednesday.
  • The bill adding instructional days passed the education appropriations subcommittee on Monday.
  • The concurrent enrollment bill passed the subcommittee on an unspecified date.

The players

Toni Hasenbeck

A Republican state representative who authored the bill mandating a daily 'period of prayer' in public schools.

Kyle Hilbert

The Republican Speaker of the Oklahoma House of Representatives, who authored bills on third-grade reading retention and restricting uncertified teachers.

Chad Caldwell

The Republican chair of the education appropriations subcommittee, who advanced a bill requiring districts to pay for high school students' concurrent enrollment courses.

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What they’re saying

“This is not sponsorship of religion. It is just allowing a public school child to practice their First Amendment right.”

— Toni Hasenbeck, State Representative (Oklahoma Voice)

“Advancing a child who cannot read is not compassionate, it is negligent. This legislation ensures students receive help early and intensively, rather than being passed along without the skills they need to succeed.”

— Kyle Hilbert, House Speaker (Oklahoma Voice)

“A huge part of, in my opinion, the achievement gap can be traced back to less time in front of a quality teacher in the classroom.”

— Rob Hall, State Representative (Oklahoma Voice)

“We are paying our schools to teach courses and classwork and students that they are not actually teaching. The net effect, the knock-on effect is we are paying twice to educate the same student because we are also paying when those students enroll in concurrent enrollment.”

— Chad Caldwell, Chair, Education Appropriations Subcommittee (Oklahoma Voice)

What’s next

The bills that advanced through House committees will next be considered by the full House Appropriations and Budget Committee.

The takeaway

These legislative proposals reflect ongoing debates in Oklahoma over the appropriate role of religion in public schools, the standards for student reading proficiency, and the optimal length of the academic calendar. While supporters argue the measures will improve educational outcomes, critics contend some bills are unnecessary or could face legal challenges.