Pugh proposes state-level safeguard for special education

Paige Orr, Fox 23

Mar 2, 2026 

OKLAHOMA CITY — State lawmakers are moving to establish a state-level safety net for the more than 116,000 Oklahoma students who rely on special education services as uncertainty grows over the future of federal oversight.

According to the latest Oklahoma State Report Card, nearly 17% of the entire student population, roughly one out of every six kids in a typical classroom, currently receives services under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Senate Bill 1489, authored by Senator Adam Pugh (R-Edmond), seeks to move those federal protections directly into Oklahoma state law.

Pugh said he began visiting with the Federal Department of Education in Washington, D.C., last summer to prepare for potential shifts in how federal dollars and responsibilities are managed.

"I had a lot of parents that voiced a lot of concern, and their concern was just the unknowns of what would that look like," Pugh said. "You know, the dollars will still be there, but we needed to make sure that we were prepared as a state to be able to continue to administer these programs."

The proposed legislation would ensure that if federal enforcement is scaled back, Oklahoma has its own legal structure to maintain current standards. Lisa Kelly, CEO of The Arc of Oklahoma, which advocates for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, says without this state-level backup, five decades of educational progress are at stake.

"The president's potential dismantling of the Department of Education at the federal level, the threat of 50 years of progress as a result of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is now a real threat," Kelly said. "If we don't have an office at the federal government to enforce that, we're proud that Oklahoma is taking that next step to be able to have some type of protections and guidance at the state level."

In addition to legal protections, the bill introduces new requirements for school leadership. If passed, all principals and superintendents in the state would be required to undergo specific training on special education law and parental rights.

"Having that knowledge at the administrative level is key," Kelly said. "When a principal understands the rights of the student and the family, the entire culture of that school changes. It becomes about inclusion rather than just compliance."

Pugh emphasized that the state has already reworked its funding formula to ensure money follows the student based on their specific needs.

"I just want to stress that there'll be no interruption of services," Pugh said. "I know there was a lot of angst when there was a discussion about [the department] more than likely being descoped to some degree, but we're going to make sure that the state of Oklahoma is prepared to receive those dollars from the feds and provide those educational services no matter what happens in Washington, D.C."

Senate Bill 1489 has already cleared the Senate Education Committee and is now headed to the Senate floor for a full vote. Because the bill includes an emergency clause, the protections would take effect immediately upon being signed into law.