During the 2007 legislative session, the Oklahoma Legislature made several important changes to Oklahoma’s Promise with Senate Bill 820. One of the most significant changes was the authorization of a dedicated funding source for the Oklahoma’s Promise scholarship beginning in 2008-09. This change will ensure that the scholarship is fully funded each year. Other important changes include a second family income limit requirement when the student enters college, new minimum college GPAs, a new college conduct requirement, and eligibility for homeschool students to participate in the program. A further change restricts the eligibility of undocumented immigrant students to receive the scholarship. Each of these changes is discussed in more detail below.
- Beginning in 2008-09, Oklahoma’s Promise will be funded “off the top” from the state’s General Revenue Fund. This change ensures that the program will be fully funded each year from a stable source of revenue.
- For students receiving the award for the first time in 2009-10 (primarily high school graduates of 2009 and thereafter), the income of the student’s parents may not exceed $100,000 at the time the student goes to college. To enroll in the program in the eighth, ninth, or 10th grade, a student’s family income still must be under $50,000 at the time of application.
- Also effective for students receiving the award for the first time in 2009-10, a minimum college GPA of 2.0 will be required for courses taken during the sophomore year and a minimum 2.5 GPA required for courses taken during the junior year and thereafter.
- Effective Jan. 1, 2008, an Oklahoma’s Promise college student that is suspended for more than one semester for conduct reasons will lose the scholarship permanently.
- Beginning with students enrolling in 2007-08, students must be U.S. citizens or lawfully present in the United States to receive the award in college. Undocumented immigrant students can still enroll in the program in the eighth, ninth, or 10th grade but must attain lawful status before they can actually receive the award in college. Undocumented students already enrolled in the program by the end of 2006-07 are "grandfathered" into the program and not subject to this requirement.
- Homeschool students are now eligible to participate in Oklahoma’s Promise and receive the scholarship. Homeschool students must apply between the ages of 13 and 15. Like students attending non-accredited schools, homeschool students must also achieve at least a 22 ACT composite score on a test given on a national test date.
2008 Legislative Changes
