OKLAHOMA CITY (OBV) — Leaders of the Oklahoma Senate Education Committee announced a slate of education legislation for the 2026 legislative session focused on literacy, teacher workforce needs, student development and classroom learning conditions.
Senate Education Committee Chairman Sen. Adam Pugh, R-Edmond, and Vice Chair Sen. Ally Seifried, R-Claremore, outlined their priorities during a press conference at the State Capitol on Thursday.
“The policy priorities announced today are the culmination of hundreds of hours of work and meeting with teachers, schools and parents,” Pugh said. “We have laid out a comprehensive roadmap for success that focuses on strengthening education at every level. We want to ensure students gain the skills, knowledge and foundation they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. We also have to focus on recruiting and retaining the best and brightest, while incentivizing them to stay teaching in the classroom. These measures will achieve these goals and more.”
The policy priorities announced today are the culmination of hundreds of hours of work and meeting with teachers, schools and parents. We have laid out a comprehensive roadmap for success that focuses on strengthening education at every level. We want to ensure students gain the skills, knowledge and foundation they need to succeed in the classroom and beyond. We also have to focus on recruiting and retaining the best and brightest, while incentivizing them to stay teaching in the classroom. These measures will achieve these goals and more.
– Senator Adam Pugh
2026 Senate education priorities include legislation to:
- Expand literacy initiatives and reading intervention
- Address teacher recruitment and retention
- Extend school security funding
- Increase opportunities for student fitness, play and recess
- Provide additional benefits and professional development for teachers
- Make cell phone restrictions in schools permanent
- Strengthen math education support for struggling students
- Prioritize developmentally appropriate recess time for younger students
“This slate of legislation puts students first,” Seifried said. “Getting cellphones out of our schools has been an overwhelming success. We’re making this policy permanent at the request of parents, teachers and education groups across the state who already see the benefits in every school. These bills also create a support system to help kids struggling in math and prioritize the healthy development of young students by ensuring they have dedicated time to run and play during the school day.”
This slate of legislation puts students first. Getting cellphones out of our schools has been an overwhelming success. We’re making this policy permanent at the request of parents, teachers and education groups across the state who already see the benefits in every school. These bills also create a support system to help kids struggling in math and prioritize the healthy development of young students by ensuring they have dedicated time to run and play during the school day.
– Senator Ally Seifried
The measures introduced by Pugh and Seifried will be eligible for consideration during the 2026 legislative session, which begins Feb. 2.
