OKLAHOMA CITY (April 22, 2026)—Oklahoma’s new reading law puts the state on a path to much-improved literacy rates and therefore greater future prosperity, Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (OCPA) President Jonathan Small said today.

“Oklahoma’s reading outcomes are among the worst in the nation and have remained there even as per-pupil revenue surged more than 50 percent in recent years,” Small said. “The passage of reading reforms this year promises to change our trajectory and make Oklahoma a place where children of all backgrounds learn to read and pursue their dreams when they reach adulthood.”

Senate Bill 1778, which was signed into law this week, mandates targeted and intensive early intervention for children who struggle to read in the first and second grades, and it also prevents a child from being socially promoted to the fourth grade if the child does not read at a second-grade level or better.

The law is based, in part, on a wildly successful program in Mississippi that moved that state from one of the worst for fourth-grade reading outcomes to the top 10.

“Too often, people have blamed Oklahoma’s poor outcomes on funding or poverty rates, but Mississippi’s demographics and spending are similar to Oklahoma’s, yet they have far outpaced our state when it comes to literacy,” Small said. “There’s no reason to claim Oklahoma children cannot be taught to read.”

Based on Spring 2025 state tests, just 27 percent of Oklahoma third graders read at or above grade level. National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) tests show only 23 percent of fourth-grade students scored at or above proficient in 2024. Only two states did worse.

“The changes mandated by SB 1778, if maintained, will have generational impact,” Small said. “The more children who read at grade level, the greater their lifelong potential. By passing reading reform, Oklahoma policymakers have sent a signal that they want our state to be one where all children can prosper, not just a lucky few. All those who supported this bill deserve our thanks, but especially those who led the way, including House Speaker Kyle Hilbert, state Sen. Adam Pugh, Senate Pro Tem Lonnie Paxton, state Rep. Rob Hall, state Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, and Governor Kevin Stitt.”