ok-2320: State Regents for Higher Education — Student Financial Aid and Scholarships

Summary

The proposed rule revisions address the following issues to implement the changes created by House Bills 1727 and 1096 (2025): -Expanding the Application Window The rules change the Oklahoma’s Promise application submission deadline to December 31 of a student’s senior year of high school. -Teacher Eligibility Track The rules create a new eligibility track for children of certified classroom teachers. Children of traditionally or alternatively certified classroom teachers can enroll in the program if their family’s household income is less than seven hundred percent (700 percent) of the federal poverty level (FPL). Students will qualify for this track if one of their parents is traditionally or alternatively certified as a teacher in Oklahoma and employed in an Oklahoma public school district no less than ten years prior to the time of application submission. The ten years of certification and service do not need to be consecutive or at the same school district. School administrators will not qualify as certified classroom teachers for the program. Teachers must currently be employed at the time the application is submitted and remain teaching prior to any award distribution each year in which their child is enrolled at a college, university, or career technology institution. Parents will be asked to provide verifying documentation of their employment and certification record. Students enrolled under this eligibility track will also be subject to the second income check. However, instead of the $100,000 limit set for all other Oklahoma’s Promise recipients, these students’ household income must remain under the seven hundred percent (700 percent) FPL at the time they were enrolled in the program. -Age Parameters The rules change the age requirements of the program, prohibiting a student 21 years of age or older to be considered a high school student. -Exception Process The rules add an exception process for those who are unable to submit an application prior to December 31 of their senior year. The exception process will be on the basis of hardship circumstances and will allow students until February 1 of their senior year to request an exception. -CLT Exam The rules add the CLT exam as a qualifying option to this list. Students must have a CLT equivalent score of a 22 on the ACT. However, only CLT exams taken at an independently-run testing center operated by the CLT or any physical location where means of education are provided will qualify.

The agency’s own summary, as published.