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STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
SENATE BILL 1416 By: Alvord
AS INTRODUCED
An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Section 1210.229-6, which relates to character
education; naming language the Teaching Honesty,
Respect, Integrity, Virtue, and Excellence (THRIVE)
Act; providing short title; directing the State
Department of Education to develop certain program of
positive character traits and personal skills
education as part of certain subject matter
standards; providing for contents of program;
directing the Department to make certain information
available online prior to certain school year;
directing the Department not to include certain
programs, curricula, or materials in certain approved
list; removing language regarding distribution of
certain grants; directing the board of education of
each public school district and the governing body of
each public charter school to adopt certain program
and issue certain public notice; providing process to
opt child out of program; requiring the Department to
electronically submit and publish on its website
certain report within certain time period; providing
for contents of report; allowing acceptance of
certain funds; requiring the board of education of
each public school district and the governing body of
each public charter school to adopt certain policy
regarding availability of school premises; requiring
prior written notification regarding availability of
certain program; directing the State Board of
Education to approve and publish online certain list
of programs; providing certain construction;
providing for promulgation of rules; updating
statutory language; providing an effective date; and
declaring an emergency.
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.229-6,
is amended to read as follows:
Section 1210.229-6. A. This act shall be known and may be
cited as the “Teaching Honesty, Respect, Integrity, Virtue, and
Excellence (THRIVE) Act”.
B. The board of education of every school district in this
state may State Department of Education shall develop and implement
a comprehensive program for of positive character education in any
single grade or combination of traits and personal skills education
as part of the subject matter standards adopted by the State Board
of Education for grades, prekindergarten through twelfth twelve
pursuant to Sections 11-103.6 and 11-103.7 of this title. The
positive character traits and personal skills education program
shall focus on development of character traits in students. The
program of character education may program shall include, but shall
not be limited to, the voluntary reciting of the Pledge of
Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and consist
exclusively of instruction in the value of finishing high school,
working full-time, getting married before having children, and
instruction in the following character traits and fundamental values
deeply rooted in the history and tradition of the United States:
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1. Trustworthiness including honesty, reliability, punctuality,
and loyalty;
2. Responsibility including hard work, accountability,
diligence, good judgment, perseverance, and self-control;
3. Care for family including parents, siblings, and a future
spouse and children;
4. Kindness and generosity toward others;
5. Respect and care for human life;
6. Respect for parental authority;
7. Respect for parents’ obligations to their children;
8. Respect for the property of other people;
9. Respect for legitimate authority and law;
10. Respect for patriotism, service to the community, and
concern for the common good;
11. Respect for religious faith, morality, wisdom, and
knowledge;
12. Respect for lifelong marriage, sexual fidelity within
marriage, and sexual abstinence outside of marriage;
13. Gratitude;
14. Charity; and
15. Courage.
B. The C. Prior to the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year,
the State Department of Education shall develop and make available
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to all public school districts and public charter schools through an
Internet website, the following:
1. Technical assistance upon request of a public school
district or public charter school;
2. A list of approved research-based positive character traits
and personal skills education programs, curricula, and materials
that meet the requirements of this section which may be used by
public school districts and public charter schools;
3. A positive character traits and personal skills education
honor roll that will recognize public school districts and public
charter schools that have successfully implemented a comprehensive
school-district-wide program of positive character traits and
personal skills education and will highlight the positive impacts
the program has had on each public school or, public school
district, or public charter school; and
4. A positive character traits and personal skills education
reading list of books that may include, but is not limited to, books
that illustrate models of good character one or more of the
character traits and personal skills set forth in subsection B of
this section and books that relate to the development of good such
positive character traits and personal skills that may be used by
public schools in a character education program.
The State Department of Education shall not include any programs,
curricula, or materials in the list approved pursuant to this
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subsection that contradict or undermine respect for the character
traits and personal skills required to be taught pursuant to this
section. The Department’s approval of programs, curricula, or
materials pursuant to this subsection shall be ministerial only and
not discretionary. Public school districts and public charter
schools may only satisfy the requirements of this section by
adopting programs, curricula, or materials from the list approved
pursuant to this subsection.
C. Subject to the availability of funding, the State Board of
Education may award grants to ten school districts for the
establishment of pilot projects which align character education with
the state curriculum in reading, mathematics, science or social
studies and demonstrate how character education teaches life skills
that lead to career readiness. The amount of each grant shall be
One Thousand Dollars ($1,000.00). The projects shall be innovative
programs that will serve as models for other school districts.
Funding may cover the cost of purchasing curriculum, materials, or
training teachers. The Board shall determine pilot project criteria
and establish a process for the consideration of proposals. The
proposals for pilot projects shall be considered on a statewide
competitive basis. The Board shall promulgate rules for the
operation of the projects
D. The board of education of each public school district and
the governing body of each public charter school shall adopt the
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positive character traits and personal skills education program
prescribed by this section and adopt a process to issue a public
notice of implementation of the positive character traits and
personal skills education program required by this section, to make
curricula and materials available for public inspection, and to
provide parents and legal guardians a means to opt their child out
of participation in the positive character traits and personal
skills education program. The parent or legal guardian of a student
who does not want his or her child to participate in the program may
provide written notification to the public school district or public
charter school that the child is opting out of the program. No
student whose parent or legal guardian elects to opt the student out
of the program shall be required to participate in the program.
E. No later than sixty (60) days following the beginning of the
2027-2028 school year, and no later than sixty (60) days following
the beginning of each school year thereafter, the State Department
of Education shall publish on its website and electronically submit
a report to the Governor, the President Pro Tempore of the Senate,
the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the chairs of the
committees with responsibility over common education in both houses
of the Legislature. The report shall include:
1. The total number and names of public school districts and
public charter schools that have implemented the positive character
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traits and personal skills education program required by this
section;
2. The total number and names of public school districts and
public charter schools that have not implemented the positive
character traits and personal skills education program required by
this section and the reasons given for not complying with the
provisions of this section; and
3. Actions taken by the Department to bring public school
districts and public charter schools reported pursuant to paragraph
2 of this subsection into compliance with the provisions of this
section.
F. The State Department of Education, public school districts,
and public charter schools may accept federal or private funds to
implement the provisions of this section.
G. 1. Prior to the beginning of the 2026-2027 school year,
each public school district board of education and governing body of
a public charter school shall adopt a policy to make school premises
available for students to participate in voluntary after-school
instruction programs provided by third parties that instruct
students in the philosophical, historical, traditional, or religious
justifications for the positive character traits and personal skills
education program required by this section.
2. Written consent from a parent or legal guardian shall be
required to allow a student to participate in such instruction
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programs. Each public school district board of education and
governing body of a public charter school shall provide prior
written notification to the parent or legal guardian of a student
regarding the availability of the instruction program available
pursuant to this subsection, which shall include information to
parents and legal guardians on how to provide written consent for
student participation. Consent for a student’s participation may be
revoked at any time by the student or his or her parent or legal
guardian upon written notice to the public school district or public
charter school.
3. The State Board of Education shall approve and publish on
the State Department of Education’s website a list of after-school
instruction programs that comply with the provisions of this
subsection. Approval shall not be denied to a program based on its
viewpoint or on the grounds that it contains expression protected by
the Oklahoma Constitution or the United States Constitution.
H. In the event of a conflict between the provisions of this
section and any other provision in the Oklahoma Statutes or an
administrative rule, guidance, or policy, the provisions of this
section shall control.
I. The State Board of Education may promulgate rules to
implement the provisions of this section.
SECTION 2. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
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SECTION 3. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
60-2-2558 EB 1/5/2026 11:36:22 AM