OKLAHOMA CITY (April 28, 2021) – State Superintendent of Public Instruction Joy Hofmeister today commended Gov. Kevin Stitt for signing Senate Bill 89 into law. The measure creates the Health Education Act, requiring that all PreK-12 students receive instruction on the Oklahoma Health Academic Standards beginning in the 2023-2024 school year. It also creates professional development programs to help teachers provide health education instruction.

“Given the overall discouraging health outcomes in Oklahoma, the Health Education Act will make a lasting impact on our students and the state as a whole,” Hofmeister said. “Health education helps students gain knowledge and skills they need to make health-positive decisions, achieve health literacy and promote the health of others. We are grateful to the bill’s authors, Sen. John Haste and Rep. Rhonda Baker, the Oklahoma Legislature and Gov. Stitt for ensuring this far-reaching measure is now state law.”