OKLAHOMA CITY — An Oklahoma Senate bill that would curtail school districts’ use of virtual instruction days is expected to make a comeback in the 2025 Legislative Session.

The bill would forbid public schools from scheduling at-home, online learning days except in cases of inclement weather, staff shortages, illnesses, building maintenance issues, or if school administrators deem it necessary and the Oklahoma State Department of Education approves.

Last session’s version, Senate Bill 1768, passed the Senate but failed to get a hearing on the House floor.

One of the bill’s authors, Sen. Lonnie Paxton, RTuttle, is now the Senate’s top lawmaker.

Paxton and co-author Sen. Kristen Thompson, R-Edmond, announced on Thursday their plans to refile the bill for next session, which begins Feb. 3.

“We continue to see the disastrous and inefficient effects virtual learning is having on our children,” Paxton said. “We also continue to see school districts across the state plan their calendars for next year that include even more virtual days. Children learn best when they are in the classroom.”

Some school districts replicate four-day school weeks by scheduling a virtual school day once a week throughout the academic year, totaling 20 or more days of at-home learning. Many districts, though, use them sparingly on days of staff training, parent-teacher conferences or emergency situations.

Virtual school days detract from educational quality and strain working parents, Paxton and Thompson said.

The legislation would impact only traditional brick-and-mortar schools. Schools that primarily conduct online education, like virtual charter schools, would be unaffected.

Schools that use a virtual instruction day would have to notify the state Education Department within 72 hours, according to the text of the previous bill. The state agency would be responsible for reviewing whether the school did so for a permissible reason, and if the school had not, it would have to schedule an extra day of in-person classes.

“This is necessary legislation to ensure students are getting the best education possible, which is in-person and in the classroom,” Thompson said. “I have seen firsthand the lack of quality instruction that occurs on a remote learning day. We have a responsibility to our children that they get the best education possible. I look forward to filing this measure again.”