Both chambers of the Oklahoma Legislature are moving forward with proposals aimed at improving early literacy and ensuring more students are reading at grade level by the end of third grade.
In the Senate, Oklahoma Senator Adam Pugh is advancing Senate Bill 1778, which focuses on strengthening the state’s Strong Readers Act through earlier identification of reading deficiencies and targeted intervention for young students.
“Reading is the foundation for all learning, and if we don’t get literacy right in the early years, we are setting students up to struggle,” Pugh said.
The measure would streamline literacy screening into a single statewide assessment, require consistent intervention for students in first through third grades, and increase communication with parents on student progress. It also includes expanded teacher training and additional oversight of educator preparation programs.
Meanwhile, the Oklahoma House has approved its own comprehensive reading proposal.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert led House Bill 4420, which passed with broad bipartisan support. The legislation includes statewide screening, science of reading-based instruction, expanded teacher training, and new accountability measures tied to student reading performance.
“Our goal is to have the strongest reading bill in the country,” Hilbert said. “This bill is not a partisan issue. We all want our kids to read by the third grade.”
House Bill 4420 also creates a new funding structure to provide additional resources for students needing extra support and encourages public-private partnerships to strengthen literacy efforts.
Lawmakers cited declining reading performance as a key concern, noting that only 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders are currently reading at or above grade level.
Senate Bill 1778 now moves to the House for consideration, while House Bill 4420 advances to the Senate.
