Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt has signed a major overhaul of the state’s Strong Readers Act, aiming to improve early literacy and ensure more students are reading on grade level by third grade.
The measure, Senate Bill 1778, focuses on earlier intervention, stronger classroom instruction, and increased parental involvement when students begin to fall behind.
“This is about early support, strong instruction, and giving parents the information that they need to stay involved in their child’s progress,” Stitt said during the ceremonial signing at John Rex Charter School.
State leaders say the changes come as Oklahoma continues to struggle with reading proficiency. Lawmakers cited data showing roughly 27 percent of third graders are currently reading at grade level.
House Speaker Kyle Hilbert said the legislation is designed to reverse that trend by strengthening standards and focusing on proven strategies used in other states.
“We have to do better, and we can do better,” Hilbert said, pointing to states like Mississippi that have improved outcomes through early literacy efforts.
The bill builds on previous reading reforms but adds expanded support for teachers, including training aligned with the science of reading, as well as structured interventions for struggling students starting in early grades.
Senate Education Chairman Adam Pugh, the bill’s author, said the goal is for every student to read on grade level by the end of third grade, with parents playing a more direct role in tracking progress.
“This doesn’t work if families aren’t involved,” Pugh said, emphasizing the law’s requirement for ongoing parental engagement.
The legislation also includes accountability measures tying funding to student growth and requiring oversight of teacher preparation programs to ensure they align with reading instruction standards.
State Superintendent of Public Instruction Lindell Fields said implementation will begin immediately, with plans to expand literacy programs, hire instructional coaches, and increase training for educators statewide.
While leaders say some improvements could be seen quickly, they acknowledge it may take several years before measurable statewide gains are reflected in testing data.
The new law takes effect as state officials begin rolling out the updated literacy framework ahead of the next school year.
You can watch Stitt’s ceremonial signing of Senate Bill 1778 below.
