OklahomaState colleges must train graduate students who teach undergraduate courses
Graduate students teaching undergraduate courses at covered Oklahoma state colleges would receive formal training that includes teaching practices and student free-speech protections.
What it does
State-system colleges that use graduate students to teach undergraduate courses would have to provide training on teaching, grading, student rights, and school policies.
Argument forTraining on teaching methods and student rights could help graduate instructors handle classes more consistently and protect lawful student expression.
Argument againstColleges may need to create and maintain new training programs, which could require staff time and other resources.
More detail
Each covered institution must establish and maintain a formal training program for graduate student instructors. The requirement applies to Oklahoma State System of Higher Education institutions that use graduate students as instructors of record or primary classroom instructors in undergraduate courses. Training must cover teaching methods, classroom management, grading, student accommodations, academic integrity, and applicable institutional, state, and federal policies. Training must address students’ free-speech, free-inquiry, and viewpoint-neutrality rights. Graduate instructors may not penalize or disadvantage students in grading, participation, or evaluation because of lawful expression. The text states that the act takes effect July 1, 2026, and separately declares an emergency requiring it to take effect upon passage and approval; the supplied text does not resolve the conflict.
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Where it stands
- Introduced
- Passed Senate
- Passed House
- To Governor
- Became Law
Looking ahead
No hearings or votes scheduled.
History
- 2026
- May 29Approved by Governor Kevin Stitt 05/22/2026Became Law
- May 14Sent to GovernorTo Governor
- Vote recorded Fourth Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- May 14Signed, returned to Senate
- May 14Enrolled, to House
- May 14Referred for enrollment
- May 14Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 39 Nays: 7Major
- May 14HAs adoptedMajor
- May 6HAs read
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Lower
- May 6Engrossed, signed, to SenateMajor
- May 6Referred for engrossment
- May 6Third Reading, Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 78 Nays: 15Major
- May 6General Order
- Apr 14Title restored
- Apr 14CR; Do Pass, amended by committee substitute Education Oversight CommitteeMinor
- Apr 13
- Vote recorded Education Oversight Committee: Do Pass As Amended By Cs. Result: pass.Lower
- Apr 7Policy recommendation to the Education Oversight committee; Do Pass Postsecondary EducationMinor
- Vote recorded Postsecondary Education Committee: Do Pass. Result: pass.Lower
- Mar 30Referred to Postsecondary EducationMinor
- Mar 30Second Reading referred to Education OversightMinor
- Mar 26First ReadingMinor
- Mar 26Engrossed to HousePassed House
- Mar 25Referred for engrossment
- Vote recorded Third Reading. Result: pass.Upper
- Mar 25Measure and Emergency passed: Ayes: 41 Nays: 7Passed Senate
- Mar 25General Order, Considered
- Mar 12Coauthored by Representative Caldwell (Chad) (principal House author)
- Feb 16Placed on General Order
- Feb 16Withdrawn from Appropriations committee
- Feb 10Referred to AppropriationsMinor
- Vote recorded Education. Result: pass.Upper
- Feb 10Title stricken
- Feb 10Reported Do Pass as amended Education committee; CR filedMinor
- Feb 3Second Reading referred to Education Committee then to Appropriations CommitteeMinor
- Feb 2Authored by Senator Daniels
- Feb 2First ReadingIntroduced
EducationCivil Rights & VotingEmergency Management