EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

EDUCATION DEPARTMENT

POLICY ALERT
May 25, 2023
            On May 25, 2023, Oklahoma Senate Bill 429 became law, overriding the Oklahoma Governor’s veto. The bill will protect for the right of students to wear tribal regalia during official graduation ceremonies. Oklahoma Governor Kevin Stitt had previously vetoed the bill despite popular and bipartisan support in the state legislature. To achieve the override both chambers of the legislature needed a two-thirds majority vote which was achieved by a wide margin in the Senate and the House of Representatives.             SB 429 creates additional clarity and guarantees the right for students in Oklahoma K-12 public schools, charter schools, technical schools and universities to wear tribal regalia during official graduation ceremonies. Many graduation dress codes do not recognize sacred and cultural items Native students wear in times of ceremonies and honor. As a result, students and families are confronted by school officials and forced to remove items of religious and cultural significance. SB 429 makes it clear that schools must allow Native students to wear tribal regalia at graduation ceremonies.             NIEA celebrates Oklahoma as the latest state in a national movement protecting Native students’ right to celebrate their graduation through honoring their heritage, traditions, community, and ancestors by wearing tribal regalia. For more information, please contact NIEA Tribal State Policy Associate, Waquin Preston, wpreston@NIEA.org