In 2000, Governor Frank Keating issued an Executive Order establishing the Governor's Task Force on Early Childhood Education. The task force was directed, "to bring forth ideas and recommendations for improving the methods currently used to prepare children for the learning experience." The following year, the task force published their findings as both an executive summary and a full report.

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​​The work of the Governor's Task Force resulted in the filing of House Bill 1094 in 2003, creating our organization, the Oklahoma Partnership for School Readiness (OPSR). This legislation recognized that more state-level action is required to successfully support families and children from birth to five-years-old. At this state level, OPSR engages and informs policymakers and the public on how to improve children’s health and development. Together, we lead public and private partnerships, so that children arrive at school with the knowledge, skills, and physical and emotional health to achieve success. We also utilize data, research, and best practices that engage parents, nonprofit leaders, community partners, and business leaders to inform recommendations to the Governor and legislature.​​

 

The Oklahoma School Readiness Pathway serves as our roadmap to identify, monitor and report how Oklahoma is or isn’t meeting school readiness benchmarks. This pathway brings the latest research to the forefront and identifies areas for improvement in programs, policies and funding. Ultimately, our goal is for Oklahoma’s early childhood system to be coordinated, aligned and adequately funded.