Oklahoma allows vaccine exemptions for school children based on personal, religious, and medical reasons. In addition to exemption law, there is a more recent section of law that requires school districts to inform parents of exemption options.
Per SB 658, which went into effect July 1st 2021,
“The State Department of Education shall provide and ensure that each school district in this state provides, on the school district website and in any notice or publication provided to parents regarding immunization requests, the following information regarding immunization requirements for school attendance:
“For school enrollment, a parent or guardian shall provide one of the following:
1. Current, up-to-date immunization records; or
2. A completed and signed exemption form.”
Is your school following the law?
We have received an unprecedented number of reports this year of schools that are violating state law. We need your help to make sure that this important section of state law is followed. We have included sample email and phone scripts as well as contact information to make this as easy as possible!
If your school district is not in compliance with SB 658, please contact the following:
- Because the State Department of Education is supposed to ENSURE that this law is followed by all school districts, please contact State Superintendent of Education Joy Hoffmeister at 405-521-3301 first.
- Email the State Board of Education by copy and pasting the following email addresses.
carlisha@impacttulsa.com, jmonies@saxum.com, estelaokc@gmail.com, brianrichardbobek@gmail.com, trentsmith88@me.com, sarahtlepak@gmail.com - Your local school district’s Superintendent, School Board, Principal, and or school nurse. You should be able to find their contact information by searching your school districts website. if you need assistance with this, reach out to your OKHPR Senate District Captain. (If you do not know who your OKHPR Senate District Captain is, email us at captains@okhpr.com.)
- Governor Kevin Stitt at 405-521-2342 or online HERE.
- The following legislators
Please feel free to use the following phone or email scripts if you are unsure what to say.
Phone script for Joy Hoffmeister’s office
“Hi I am calling because I am a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that they are in violation of SB 658 because they are not informing parents about vaccine exemptions on their website or in a notice sent out on (date). I understand that it is the State Department of Education’s job to ensure that school districts are following SB 658, so I wanted to contact your office to ensure that this is addressed.”
Email script for the Oklahoma State Board of Education
“To whom it may concern,
I am emailing because I am a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that the school is in violation of SB 658. This law went into effect on July 2021 and it states that Schools and universities must notify parents and students that they may opt-out of vaccination mandates using legally allowed exemptions on their website and in all notices regarding vaccine requirements. The law also states that it is the State Department of Education’s job to ensure that school districts are following SB 658.
The violation I noticed is on the schools website/ notice sent out on (date). I wanted to bring this violation to your attention.
Please let me know what is being done to bring the school district into compliance with the law.
Name
Address”
Script for your local school district’s Superintendent, School Board, Principal, or school nurse
Phone:
“Hi I am calling because I am a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that the school is in violation of SB 658. This law went into effect on July 2021 and it states that Schools and universities must notify parents and students that they may opt-out of vaccination mandates using legally allowed exemptions on their website and in all notices regarding vaccine requirements. The violation I noticed is on the schools website/ notice sent out on (date). I wanted to bring this violation to your attention so that it can be addressed.”
Email:
“To whom it may concern,
I am emailing because I am a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that the school is in violation of SB 658. This law went into effect on July 2021 and it states that Schools and universities must notify parents and students that they may opt-out of vaccination mandates using legally allowed exemptions on their website and in all notices regarding vaccine requirements.
You can read the full law here: http://webserver1.lsb.state.ok.us/cf_pdf/2021-22%20ENR/SB/SB658%20ENR.PDF. Please see section 1, E.
The violation I noticed is on the schools website/ notice sent out on (date). I wanted to bring this violation to your attention.
Please let me know what is being done to bring the school district into compliance with the law.
Name
Address”
Script for Governor Stitt, President Pro Tempore Greg Treat and Speaker of the House Charles McCall.
Phone:
“Hi I am calling because I am a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that they are in violation of SB 658 because they are not informing parents about vaccine exemptions on their website or in a notice sent out on (date). I wanted to contact your office to ensure that this is addressed.”
Email:
“I am emailing because I am a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that the school is in violation of SB 658. The violation I noticed is on the schools website/ notice sent out on (date). I wanted to bring this violation to your attention. so that it can be addressed
Name
Address”
Script for YOUR State Legislators
Phone:
“Hi I am calling because I am a constituent and a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that they are in violation of SB 658 because they are not informing parents about vaccine exemptions on their website or in a notice sent out on (date). I wanted to contact your office to ensure that this is addressed.”
Email:
“Subject line: From your constituent
Dear Senator or Representative _______
I am constituent of your district and a resident of _______ school district. I noticed that the school is in violation of SB 658. The violation I noticed is on the schools website/ notice sent out on (date). I wanted to bring this violation to your attention. so that it can be addressed
Name
Address”
Lastly, share this blog and the image at the top of this page with your friends and family to spread the word that ‘No Shots, No School, Not True!”
Resources related to vaccine law can be found on the resources page of our website. Here you will find the Oklahoma vaccine exemption form (which is used for school or daycare entry), read vaccine law, and read our vaccine exemption FAQ which includes information on what facilities are required to accept a vaccine exemption, how to fill out the form, what to do if your exemption is denied, and how to report a school that is violating the law.
