This booklet provides an overview of Oklahoma's educational policy, highlighting historical efforts, current initiatives, future plans, and existing challenges to educational reform. It begins with a brief description of the demographics, economic status, and educational system of the state. A narrative is then provided that is organized around five major recommendations of the National Commission on Teaching and America's Future. Finally, the booklet describes challenges and needs of the future as a way of considering the priority issues impacting Oklahoma's educational reform. The five chapters are: (1) "Get Serious about Standards for Both Students and Teachers"; (2) "Reinvent Teacher Preparation and Professional Development"; (3) "Overhaul Teacher Recruitment and Put Qualified Teachers in Every Classroom"; (4) "Encourage and Reward Knowledge and Skill"; and (5) "Create Schools that are Organized for Student and Teacher Success." Eight appendixes examine the history of education reforms since 1980, ITBS national percentage ranks/core curriculum test results, OSRHE external review recommendations; general competencies for teacher licensure and certification, general competencies for professional development, reciprocity agreement, district revenue and faculty salary data, and Oklahoma subject area tests. A separately published summary is included. (Contains 11 references.) (SM)