HB 2153 Summary

• Authorizes charter schools to give enrollment preference to siblings of currently enrolled students, which may supersede all other enrollment preferences.

• Clarifies enrollment preference order for brick-and-mortar charter schools: district residents, students from schools identified as in need of improvement, and optionally siblings of current students.

• Defines statewide virtual charter schools with geographic boundaries as state borders, effective July 1, 2024, restricting full-time students from participating in Oklahoma Secondary School Activities Association activities.

• Establishes virtual charter school transfer procedures allowing one transfer per school year (July 1-June 30) with a 15-day grace period for withdrawal without penalty; subsequent transfers require resident district and receiving school concurrence.

• Adds eligibility for military families transferred to Oklahoma installations to enroll in statewide virtual charter schools with flexible residency proof requirements (on-base housing, purchased/leased homes, or federal military housing).

• Takes effect July 1, 2025, with emergency declaration for immediate enactment upon passage.