Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Oklahoma Legislature, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
1
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
2
3 SENATE BILL 1790 By: Deevers
3
4
4
5
5
6 AS INTRODUCED
6
7 An Act relating to schools; creating the Protected
7 Learning Environment Act; providing short title;
8 stating legislative findings; defining terms;
8 directing the State Department of Education to
9 develop and publish certain discipline matrix;
9 requiring school districts to comply with the matrix
10 by certain school year; requiring the matrix to
10 comply with certain acts; providing for contents of
11 matrix; requiring school district boards of education
11 to take certain actions; directing placement of
12 certain student in certain alternative setting;
12 directing school district boards of education to
13 create certain removal procedures; providing for a
13 student who has committed certain number of
14 infractions in a semester; requiring documentation of
14 certain incidents and electronic reporting to the
15 Department; requiring electronic submission of
15 certain annual report by certain date; providing for
16 contents of report; providing circumstances under
16 which a teacher may remove a student from class;
17 directing the Department to provide certain support;
17 requiring certain parents and legal guardians to
18 attend certain conferences; providing
18 responsibilities of students; providing for
19 codification; providing an effective date; and
19 declaring an emergency.
20
20
21
21
22 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
22
23
23
24
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 1
1 SECTION 1. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
1
2 in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 6-113.2 of Title 70, unless
2
3 there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
3
4 A. This act shall be known and may be cited as the "Protected
4
5 Learning Environment Act".
5
6 B. The Legislature finds that:
6
7 1. Every student in this state has the right to learn in a
7
8 safe, orderly, distraction-free environment;
8
9 2. Teachers and school staff have the right to work in secure,
9
10 predictable, and well-managed classrooms;
10
11 3. Disruptive, aggressive, or unsafe behaviors significantly
11
12 impair academic progress, teacher retention, and school climate;
12
13 4. A statewide standardized discipline matrix shall:
13
14 a. ensure fairness and consistency across all districts,
14
15 b. reduce subjective or unequal discipline practices,
15
16 c. support students with clear expectations and
16
17 appropriate interventions,
17
18 d. protect instructional time, and
18
19 e. strengthen school safety; and
19
20 5. It is necessary to establish uniform behavioral
20
21 expectations, clear consequences, and required safety protocols for
21
22 all public schools in this state.
22
23 C. For the purposes of this section:
23
24
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 2
1 1. "Discipline matrix" means an evidence-based, tiered system
1
2 that outlines behaviors, consequences, and interventions for
2
3 students in grades prekindergarten through twelve;
3
4 2. "Protected learning environment" (PLE) means a structured
4
5 classroom setting where students can learn without disruption,
5
6 threat, or interference;
6
7 3. "Major infraction" includes, but is not limited to,
7
8 violence, threats, weapons, sexual misconduct, repeated aggression,
8
9 vandalism, harassment, and any action that jeopardizes the safety of
9
10 students or staff;
10
11 4. "Minor infraction" includes behaviors such as off-task
11
12 conduct, disrespect, dress code violations, classroom disruptions,
12
13 and noncompliance with instructions;
13
14 5. "Immediate removal" means the temporary removal of a student
14
15 from the learning environment to ensure safety and instructional
15
16 continuity; and
16
17 6. "Restorative supports" means interventions such as
17
18 counseling, skill-building, mediation, and behavior contracts.
18
19 D. The State Department of Education shall develop and publish
19
20 on its website a standardized discipline matrix with which all
20
21 school districts shall comply by the 2027-2028 school year. The
21
22 matrix shall comply with provisions of the Individuals with
22
23 Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Family Educational Rights
23
24 and Privacy Act of 1974 (FERPA). The matrix shall provide for
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 3
1 trauma-informed, developmentally appropriate interventions, an
1
2 accountability framework, and a zero-tolerance standard for violence
2
3 or threats. The matrix shall consist of the following tiers:
3
4 1. Tier 1: Classroom-managed behaviors that can be managed by
4
5 a teacher including, but not limited to:
5
6 a. specific examples of minor infractions such as off-
6
7 task behavior, minor disrespect, tardiness, or failure
7
8 to follow directions,
8
9 b. clear teacher-implemented strategies and
9
10 interventions,
10
11 c. documentation requirements,
11
12 d. progressive consequences for repeated infractions, and
12
13 e. a maximum threshold before referral to a school
13
14 administrator;
14
15 2. Tier 2: Administrator-managed behaviors including, but not
15
16 limited to:
16
17 a. specific examples of moderate or repeated behaviors
17
18 such as repeated minor infractions, verbal conflicts,
18
19 or minor vandalism,
19
20 b. in-school interventions with progressive consequences,
20
21 c. mandatory notification of a student's parent or legal
21
22 guardian, and
22
23 d. behavioral skill-building plans; and
23
24
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 4
1 3. Tier 3: Serious or dangerous behaviors to be managed by a
1
2 school administrator including, but not limited to:
2
3 a. specific examples of serious or dangerous major
3
4 infractions such as fighting, threats, bullying, or
4
5 possession of prohibited items,
5
6 b. mandatory immediate removal from an instructional
6
7 setting with progressive consequences including
7
8 potential out-of-school suspension or alternative
8
9 placement,
9
10 c. required investigation and safety assessment, and
10
11 d. multi-agency collaboration when necessary.
11
12 E. Each school district board of education in this state shall:
12
13 1. Adopt the discipline matrix developed pursuant to subsection
13
14 D of this section without lessening or weakening any of its
14
15 requirements;
15
16 2. Train all school district staff annually on implementation
16
17 of the discipline matrix;
17
18 3. Provide parents and legal guardians of students enrolled in
18
19 the school district access to the matrix;
19
20 4. Apply consequences provided for in the discipline matrix
20
21 consistently and without discrimination; and
21
22 5. Ensure teachers have the authority to remove a student when
22
23 safety or learning is compromised.
23
24
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 5
1 F. A student who is removed from class due to Tier 2 or Tier 3
1
2 behaviors shall be placed in a protected learning environment (PLE)
2
3 alternative setting to ensure continued instruction. Each school
3
4 district board of education shall create classroom removal
4
5 procedures that:
5
6 1. Guarantee minimal disruption to instructional time;
6
7 2. Ensure timely administrative response to requests for
7
8 immediate removal; and
8
9 3. Support teachers in maintaining classroom authority.
9
10 G. A student who commits three or more Tier 3 infractions
10
11 within a semester shall be subject to:
11
12 1. A mandatory behavior conference;
12
13 2. A functional behavior assessment, if applicable; and
13
14 3. Possible placement in a structured alternative education
14
15 program.
15
16 H. All incidents requiring Tier 2 or Tier 3 intervention shall
16
17 be documented by the school district and electronically reported to
17
18 the State Department of Education. By July 31, 2028, and by July 31
18
19 each year thereafter, the Department shall publish an annual Safe
19
20 Schools Report that shall:
20
21 1. Include the number and types of infractions and related
21
22 response actions reported by each school district in the previous
22
23 school year;
23
24 2. Include information on trends in school safety and climate;
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 6
1 3. Include information on school district compliance with the
1
2 discipline matrix developed pursuant to subsection D of this
2
3 section; and
3
4 4. Not include personally identifiable student information.
4
5 All reports shall comply with FERPA.
5
6 I. 1. Pursuant to the discipline matrix developed pursuant to
6
7 subsection D of this section, a teacher may remove a student from
7
8 class who:
8
9 a. poses a safety threat,
9
10 b. repeatedly disrupts learning despite Tier 1
10
11 interventions, or
11
12 c. demonstrates aggressive or defiant behavior toward
12
13 school staff or students.
13
14 2. A teacher who removes a student from class pursuant to
14
15 paragraph 1 of this subsection shall not face disciplinary action
15
16 from the district for enforcing the discipline matrix.
16
17 J. The State Department of Education shall provide support to
17
18 school districts in implementing the provisions of this act
18
19 including staff training on the discipline matrix developed pursuant
19
20 to subsection D of this section, behavior interventions, restorative
20
21 supports, and school safety enhancements. The Department shall
21
22 provide the support using existing resources such as federal grants,
22
23 assistance from the Oklahoma School Security Institute, and any
23
24 other currently available state and federal programs for school
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 7
1 safety and student support. Districts shall be encouraged to apply
1
2 for and use existing grants and programs to meet the requirements of
2
3 this act.
3
4 K. The parent or legal guardian of a student who exhibits
4
5 repeated or serious behaviors shall be required to attend
5
6 conferences with school district staff.
6
7 L. Students enrolled in a public school in this state shall be
7
8 responsible for:
8
9 1. Following school rules;
9
10 2. Respecting the authority of school staff; and
10
11 3. Engaging in assigned interventions or supports. Failure to
11
12 participate in required interventions or supports may result in
12
13 escalated responses outlined in the discipline matrix developed
13
14 pursuant to subsection D of this section.
14
15 SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
15
16 SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
16
17 of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
17
18 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
18
19 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
19
20
20
21 60-2-3448 EB 1/14/2026 6:52:38 PM
21
22
22
23
23
24
24
Req. No. 3448 Page 8Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.