OklahomaOklahoma schools must screen young students for eye coordination problems
A two-year Oklahoma program requires schools to check students in kindergarten, first grade, and third grade for trouble focusing both eyes together, beginning in the 2026–2027 school year.
What it does
Beginning in the 2026–2027 school year, schools must screen all students in kindergarten, first grade, and third grade within 90 days of the school year’s start under a two-year pilot.
A dedicated state fund holds money the Legislature assigns to the screening program. Money carries over between budget years and must add to existing school vision screening funding.
The State Department of Education must report on the screening program by November 1, 2028, including any recommendations for legislation, and publish the report on its website.
Argument forScreening every child in the covered grades could help identify students whose eyes struggle to work together when looking at nearby objects.
Argument againstSchools could face extra scheduling work because they must arrange additional screenings with registered personnel within 90 days.
More detail
The State Department of Education must establish the two-year Binocular Vision Screening Program with advice from the State Department of Health. Screenings cover all students in kindergarten, first grade, and third grade and check for trouble keeping both eyes focused together on nearby objects. Personnel on the State Department of Health’s statewide screening registry must perform the screenings. These checks are required in addition to other school vision screenings required by state law. The screening requirement begins with the 2026–2027 school year, with checks due within 90 days of each school year’s start during the pilot.
The State Department of Education may spend money in the Binocular Screening Revolving Fund to establish and maintain the screening program. The fund supports the State Department of Education’s Binocular Vision Screening Program. The fund receives money the Legislature assigns to the program; the law specifies no dollar amount. This money must add to existing school vision screening funding rather than replace it. Payments require approval through the state’s claims process. Money in the fund remains available across budget years.
The State Department of Education must send state leaders a report on the Binocular Vision Screening Program and post it on its website. The report goes to the Governor and the leaders of the Oklahoma Senate and House. The report must include any recommendations for legislation. The department must electronically submit the report by November 1, 2028.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed House
- Passed Senate
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 11Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/11/2026Became Law
- May 5Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- May 5Enrolled measure signed, returned to House
- May 5Enrolled, signed, to Senate
- May 4Referred for enrollment
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 4Fourth Reading, Measure and Emergency Passed: Ayes: 84 Nays: 5Major
- May 4Coauthored by Representative(s) Provenzano
- May 4SA's read, adoptedMajor
- Apr 27SA's received
- Apr 27Engrossed to HouseMajor
- Apr 23Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 23Coauthored by Senator Pederson
- Apr 23Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 34 Nays: 10Major
- Apr 23Enacting clause restored
- Apr 23Title restored
- Apr 23General Order, Amended
- Apr 20Placed on General Order
- Apr 20Withdrawn from Appropriations committee
- Apr 14Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Education. Result: pass.Upper
- Apr 14Enacting clause stricken
- Apr 14Emergency added
- Apr 14Reported Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education committee; CR filedMinor
- Apr 1Second Reading referred to Education Committee then to Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Mar 26First ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Engrossed, signed, to SenatePassed Senate
- Mar 25Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 25Third Reading, Measure passed: Ayes: 82 Nays: 7Passed House
- Mar 25Title stricken
- Mar 25AmendedMajor
- Mar 25Authored by Senator Hicks (principal Senate author)
- Mar 25General Order
- Mar 5Emergency removed
- Mar 5CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Appropriations and Budget CommitteeMinor
- Mar 4
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 10Recommendation to the full committee; Do Pass Appropriations and Budget Health SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 9
- Vote recorded Appropriations And Budget Health Subcommittee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Feb 3Referred to Appropriations and Budget Health SubcommitteeMinor
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Appropriations and BudgetMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Representative Dobrinski
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
EducationHealthcare