Bergstrom Introduces Legislation to Strengthen Classroom Integrity and Transparency

OKLAHOMA CITY – Sen. Micheal Bergstrom, R-Adair, has filed two pieces of legislation aimed at enhancing student safety and ensuring transparency and accountability in Oklahoma’s classrooms.

Senate Bill 346 seeks to address teacher accountability by requiring full-time teachers seeking new employment or substitute teaching roles to provide a written statement to potential school districts. This letter would attest to whether there were any allegations of inappropriate behavior between the teacher and students or if there is a pending or ongoing investigation into such behavior. This measure applies to teachers who have had a criminal history record check within the preceding five years.

"Bouncing predators and problem teachers from school to school must come to an end," Bergstrom said. "SB 346 is a way to help stop this from happening."

Senate Bill 348 focuses on the responsibility of school district boards and administrators to oversee instructional materials available in classrooms and libraries. The bill requires districts to adopt policies for handling objections to instructional materials, ensuring a timely resolution process. Under this legislation, materials subject to objection must be removed within five school days and remain unavailable until the issue is resolved. Parents, legal guardians, and district residents would also have the right to contest the adoption of instructional materials or read passages from them during the objection process.

Additionally, SB 348 strengthens the duties of review teams under the State Textbook Committee, requiring that textbooks selected be free from obscene content.

"Parents should always have access to the materials their children are exposed to in our schools and inappropriate materials need to be exposed and removed from the classroom and libraries," Bergstrom said. "Senate Bill 348 provides the means to this end."

These bills can be considered when the legislative session begins on February 3, 2025.

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For more information, contact: Sen. Micheal Bergstrom at 405-521-5561 or email Micheal.Bergstrom@oksenate.gov