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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 2954 By: Rosecrants
4
5
6
7 AS INTRODUCED
8 An Act relating to Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2603, as last
9 amended by Section 1, Chapter 485, O.S.L. 2025 (70
O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 2603), which relates to
10 eligibility requirements; updating language; amending
70 O.S. 2021, Section 2605, as last amended by
11 Section 2, Chapter 485, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp.
2025, Section 2605), which relates to participation
12 in the program; changing term from certified
classroom teacher to teacher; modifying definition;
13 providing an effective date; and declaring an
emergency.
14
15
16 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
17 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2603, as
18 last amended by Section 1, Chapter 485, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp.
19 2025, Section 2603), is amended to read as follows:
20 Section 2603. A. Except as otherwise provided for in
21 subsection B of this section and elsewhere in this section, to be
22 eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
23 Program and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an
24 amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition pursuant to
Req. No. 14473 Page 1
1 Section 2604 of this title for the first semester or other academic
2 unit of postsecondary enrollment, a student shall:
3 1. Be a resident of this state or be enrolled in a school
4 district located in this state that serves students who reside in
5 both this state and an adjacent state pursuant to a contract as
6 authorized in Section 5-117.1 of this title;
7 2. Be a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United
8 States. A student who is not a United States citizen or lawfully
9 present in the United States shall not be eligible to participate in
10 the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an
11 award notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3242 of this title.
12 The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who
13 was enrolled in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program prior to
14 the end of the 2006-2007 school year;
15 3. Have a record of satisfactory compliance with agreements
16 executed pursuant to Section 2605 of this title;
17 4. a. Have graduated within the previous three (3) years
18 from a high school accredited by the State Board of
19 Education or the Oklahoma School of Science and
20 Mathematics with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
21 average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
22 grades nine through twelve,
23 b. Have graduated within the previous three (3) years
24 from a high school not accredited by the State Board
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1 of Education with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
2 average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
3 grades nine through twelve and have achieved a
4 composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT test, or
5 c. Have satisfactorily completed within the previous
6 three (3) years an educational program that was
7 provided through a means other than a public or
8 private school and have achieved a composite score of
9 22 or higher on the ACT test;
10 5. Have completed the curricular requirements for admission to
11 an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
12 Students shall also have attained a 2.5 grade point average in the
13 core curriculum courses. Students who attended a high school which
14 did not offer all the core curriculum courses or students who were
15 educated by other means and were not offered all the core curriculum
16 courses shall be allowed to satisfy this curriculum requirement by
17 participating in a program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents
18 for Higher Education for remediation of high school curricular
19 deficiencies;
20 6. Have satisfied admission standards as determined by the
21 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first-time-entering
22 students for the appropriate type of institution, or, if attending a
23 private institution, have satisfied admission standards as
24 determined by the private institution. No student participating in
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1 the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be admitted into
2 an institution of higher education by special admission standards;
3 7. Have secured admission to, and enrolled in, an institution
4 which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
5 a postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by a technology
6 center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
7 student financial aid, or a private institution of higher learning
8 located within this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
9 this title; and
10 8. a. Have established financial need according to the
11 provisions of subsection D of Section 2605 of this
12 title and standards and provisions promulgated by the
13 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
14 b. If the student was adopted between birth and twelve
15 (12) years of age while in the permanent custody of
16 the Department of Human Services, in the court-ordered
17 custody of a licensed private nonprofit child-placing
18 agency, or federally recognized Indian tribe, as
19 defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of
20 1978, have established financial need according to the
21 provisions of paragraph 1 of subsection E of Section
22 2605 of this title and standards and provisions
23 promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
24 Education,
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1 c. If the student was adopted between thirteen (13) and
2 seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent
3 custody of the Department of Human Services, in the
4 court-ordered custody of a licensed private nonprofit
5 child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
6 tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare
7 Act of 1978, have established financial need according
8 to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection E of
9 Section 2605 of this title and standards and
10 provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents
11 for Higher Education,
12 d. If the student was placed in the custody of the
13 Department of Human Services at any time during the
14 eighth, ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade and enrolls in
15 the program no later than his or her official date of
16 high school graduation, have established financial
17 need according to the provisions of paragraph 3 of
18 subsection E of Section 2605 of this title and
19 standards and provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma
20 State Regents for Higher Education, or
21 e. If the student is the child of a certified classroom
22 teacher and meets the provisions of paragraph 5 of
23 subsection E of Section 2605 of this title. For the
24 purposes of this paragraph, "certified classroom
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1 teacher" shall have the same meaning as provided in
2 subparagraph d of paragraph 5 of subsection E of
3 Section 2605 of this title.
4 B. 1. A student shall be eligible to participate in the
5 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an award
6 which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition
7 or other tuition pursuant to Section 2604 of this title for the
8 first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if
9 the student meets all of the following criteria:
10 a. is a child of any person killed after January 1, 2000,
11 in the line of duty in any branch of the United States
12 Armed Forces or who died after January 1, 2000, as a
13 result of an injury sustained while in the line of
14 duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces
15 and the person who was killed or died filed an
16 individual or joint Oklahoma income tax return for the
17 tax year prior to the year during which the person was
18 killed or died,
19 b. is a resident of this state or is enrolled in a school
20 district located in this state that serves students
21 who reside in both this state and an adjacent state
22 pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 5-
23 117.1 of this title,
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1 c. enrolls in an institution within The Oklahoma State
2 System of Higher Education prior to reaching the age
3 of twenty-one (21),
4 d. has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
5 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first-
6 time-entering students for the appropriate type of
7 institution, or, if attending a private institution,
8 has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
9 private institution. No student participating in the
10 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be
11 admitted into an institution of higher education by
12 special admission standards,
13 e. has secured admission to, and enrolled in, an
14 institution which is a member of The Oklahoma State
15 System of Higher Education, a postsecondary
16 vocational-technical program offered by a technology
17 center school that meets the requirements to be
18 eligible for federal student financial aid, or a
19 private institution of higher learning located within
20 this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
21 this title, and
22 f. executes an agreement pursuant to subsection C of
23 Section 2605 of this title.
24
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1 2. A student who is eligible to participate in the program
2 pursuant to this subsection shall not be required to meet the
3 eligibility requirements set forth in subsection A of this section.
4 C. To retain eligibility while pursuing the program of higher
5 learning in which enrolled, the student shall:
6 1. Meet the requirements for retention and degree completion as
7 established by the institution in which the student is enrolled;
8 2. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic
9 progress according to standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for
10 Higher Education;
11 3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as required for
12 eligibility for federal Title IV student financial aid programs.
13 The provisions of this paragraph shall become effective for the
14 2012-2013 school year;
15 4. Comply with the standards related to maintenance of
16 eligibility as promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
17 Education; and
18 5. Refrain from conduct that leads to expulsion or suspension
19 of more than one semester from an institution of higher education.
20 A student who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall
21 permanently lose eligibility for program benefits. The provisions
22 of this paragraph shall become effective January 1, 2008.
23 D. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the
24 State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate
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1 rules relating to maintenance of eligibility under the Oklahoma
2 Higher Learning Access Act by a student.
3 E. It is the intent of the Legislature that students in the
4 ninth grade for the 1992-93 school year who are determined to be
5 eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access students pursuant to the
6 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act shall be the first students
7 eligible for benefits from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust
8 Fund.
9 F. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are
10 authorized to study, develop, and propose criteria for determining
11 award eligibility based upon the completion of seven semesters of
12 high school coursework by a student.
13 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2605, as
14 last amended by Section 2, Chapter 485, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp.
15 2025, Section 2605), is amended to read as follows:
16 Section 2605. A. Each school year, every fifth- through
17 eleventh-grade student in the public and private schools of this
18 state and students who are educated by other means and are in the
19 equivalent of the fifth through eleventh grade shall be apprised,
20 together with the parent, custodial parent, or guardian of the
21 student, of the opportunity for access to higher learning under the
22 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. The Oklahoma State Regents
23 for Higher Education and the State Board of Education shall develop,
24 promote, and coordinate a public awareness program to be utilized in
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1 making students and parents aware of the Oklahoma Higher Learning
2 Access Program.
3 B. On a form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
4 Education, every public school district shall designate at least one
5 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program contact person, who shall be
6 a counselor or teacher, at each public school site in this state in
7 which eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade classes are taught.
8 When requested by the State Regents, the State Board of Education
9 shall assist the State Regents to ensure the designation of contact
10 persons. Private schools shall also designate at least one school
11 official as a contact person. For students who are educated by
12 other means, a parent or guardian or other person approved by the
13 State Regents shall be designated the contact person.
14 C. 1. Students who qualify on the basis of financial need
15 according to subsection D or E of this section or who meet the
16 eligibility qualification set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 1
17 of subsection B of Section 2603 of this title no later than December
18 31 of their twelfth-grade year or prior to reaching the age of
19 seventeen (17) and who qualify on the basis of the standards and
20 provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
21 Education shall be given the opportunity throughout the eighth-,
22 ninth-, tenth-, and eleventh-grade years and no later than December
23 31 of the twelfth-grade year, for students enrolled in a public or
24 private school, or between the ages of thirteen (13) and seventeen
Req. No. 14473 Page 10
1 (17), for students who are educated by other means, to enter into
2 participation in the program by agreeing to, throughout the
3 remainder of their school years or educational program:
4 a. attend school or an educational program regularly and
5 do homework regularly,
6 b. refrain from substance abuse,
7 c. refrain from commission of crimes or delinquent acts,
8 d. have school work and school records reviewed by
9 mentors designated pursuant to the program,
10 e. provide information requested by the Oklahoma State
11 Regents for Higher Education or the State Board of
12 Education, and
13 f. participate in program activities.
14 2. Students who meet the eligibility qualification set forth in
15 subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection B of Section 2603 of
16 this title after December 31 of their twelfth-grade year or after
17 reaching the age of eighteen (18) shall be given the opportunity
18 prior to reaching the age of twenty-one (21) to enter into
19 participation in the program and shall execute an agreement with
20 provisions as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
21 Education.
22 3. The contact person shall maintain the agreements, which
23 shall be executed on forms provided by the Oklahoma State Regents
24 for Higher Education and managed according to regulations
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1 promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and
2 the contact person shall monitor compliance of the student with the
3 terms of the agreement. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
4 Education are authorized to process student agreements and verify
5 compliance with the agreements. Students failing to comply with the
6 terms of the agreement shall not be eligible for the awards provided
7 in Section 2604 of this title.
8 4. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may provide
9 an exception to the age limits provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of
10 this subsection pursuant to subsection L of this section.
11 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 5-132 and 5-132.1
12 of this title, a student who is age twenty-one (21) or older shall
13 not be eligible to enter into participation in the program.
14 D. Except as otherwise provided for in subsection E of this
15 section and except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B
16 of Section 2603 of this title, a student shall not be found to be in
17 financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
18 Program if:
19 1. Beginning with eighth-, ninth-, or tenth-grade students who
20 are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the
21 ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other
22 means who apply for participation in the program in the 2017-2018
23 school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
24
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1 parent(s) parents exceeds Fifty-five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00)
2 per year;
3 2. Beginning with eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade
4 students who are enrolled in a public or private school or students
5 between the ages of thirteen (13) and sixteen (16) who are educated
6 by other means who apply for participation in the program in the
7 2021-2022 school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the
8 student's parent(s) parents exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars
9 ($60,000.00) per year;
10 3. Beginning with eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade
11 students who are enrolled in a public or private school or students
12 between the ages of thirteen (13) and sixteen (16) who are educated
13 by other means who apply for participation in the program in the
14 2022-2023 school year:
15 a. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
16 parent(s) parents, who have two or fewer dependent
17 children, exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00)
18 per year,
19 b. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
20 parent(s) parents, who have three or four dependent
21 children, exceeds Seventy Thousand Dollars
22 ($70,000.00) per year, or
23 c. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
24 parent(s) parents, who have five or more dependent
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1 children, exceeds Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00)
2 per year;
3 4. Beginning with eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade
4 students or twelfth-grade students no later than December 31 of
5 their twelfth-grade year who are enrolled in a public or private
6 school or students between the ages of thirteen (13) and seventeen
7 (17) who are educated by other means who apply for participation in
8 the program in the 2025-2026 school year:
9 a. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
10 parent(s) parents, who have two or fewer dependent
11 children, exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00)
12 per year,
13 b. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
14 parent(s) parents, who have three or four dependent
15 children, exceeds Seventy Thousand Dollars
16 ($70,000.00) per year, or
17 c. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
18 parent(s) parents, who have five or more dependent
19 children, exceeds Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00)
20 per year;
21 5. Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, prior to
22 receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
23 for any year during which the student is enrolled in an institution
24 which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
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1 a postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by a technology
2 center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
3 student financial aid, or a private institution of higher learning
4 located within this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
5 this title, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
6 parent(s) parents exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00)
7 per year.
8 The determination of financial qualification as set forth in
9 this paragraph shall be based on the income of the student, not the
10 income of the parent(s) parents, if a student:
11 a. is determined to be independent of the student's
12 parents for federal financial aid purposes,
13 b. was in the permanent custody of the Department of
14 Human Services at the time the student enrolled in the
15 program, or
16 c. was in the court-ordered custody of a federally
17 recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal
18 Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, at the time the
19 student enrolled in the program.
20 The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any student who
21 has received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit
22 award after the 2017-2018 school year; and
23 6. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall review
24 the determination of financial qualification as set forth in
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1 paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this subsection if the income from
2 taxable and nontaxable sources of the student's parent(s) parents
3 includes income received from nontaxable military benefits or income
4 received from the federal Social Security Administration due to the
5 death or disability of the student's parent(s) parents. If the
6 income from taxable and nontaxable sources of the student's
7 parent(s) parents, excluding income received from nontaxable
8 military benefits or income received from the federal Social
9 Security Administration due to the death or disability of the
10 student's parent(s) parents, does not exceed the limitations set
11 forth by paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this subsection, the student
12 shall be determined to have met the financial qualification set
13 forth in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this subsection.
14 E. 1. A student who was adopted between birth and twelve (12)
15 years of age while in the permanent custody of the Department of
16 Human Services, in the court-ordered custody of a licensed private
17 nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
18 tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978,
19 shall not be found to be in financial need for purposes of the
20 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the time the student
21 begins postsecondary education and prior to receiving any Oklahoma
22 Higher Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal adjusted
23 gross income of the student's parent(s) parents exceeds One Hundred
24 Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) per year. The provisions of
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1 this paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
2 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
3 2012-2013 school year.
4 2. A student who was adopted between thirteen (13) and
5 seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent custody of the
6 Department of Human Services, in the court-ordered custody of a
7 licensed private nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally
8 recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child
9 Welfare Act of 1978, shall not be found to be in financial need for
10 purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the
11 time the student begins postsecondary education and prior to
12 receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award,
13 the federal adjusted gross income of the student's parent(s) parents
14 exceeds Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year. The
15 provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who has
16 received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
17 prior to the 2012-2013 school year.
18 3. A student who was placed in the custody of the Department of
19 Human Services at any time during the eighth, ninth, tenth, or
20 eleventh grade and enrolls in the program no later than his or her
21 official date of high school graduation shall not be found to be in
22 financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
23 Program if the federal adjusted gross income of the student exceeds
24 Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year.
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1 4. Except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B of
2 Section 2603 of this title, the determination of financial
3 qualification as set forth in this subsection shall be based on the
4 income of the student, not the income of the parent(s) parents, if
5 the student is determined to be independent of the student's parents
6 for federal financial aid purposes. A determination of financial
7 qualification shall not be required for the student who meets the
8 criteria set forth in this subsection at the time the student
9 applies for participation in the program. The provisions of this
10 paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
11 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
12 2008-2009 school year.
13 5. a. A student who is the child of a certified classroom
14 teacher at the time the student applies for
15 participation in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
16 Program shall not be found to be in financial need for
17 the purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
18 Program if, beginning with eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or
19 eleventh-grade students or twelfth-grade students no
20 later than December 31 of their twelfth-grade year
21 who are enrolled in a public or private school or
22 students between thirteen (13) and seventeen (17)
23 years of age who are educated by other means who apply
24 for participation in the program in the 2025-2026
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1 school year, the household income of the student's
2 parent(s) parents is equal to or greater than seven
3 hundred percent (700%) of the federal poverty level
4 (FPL).
5 b. Prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
6 Program benefit award for any year during which the
7 student is enrolled in an institution that is a member
8 of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, a
9 postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by
10 a technology center school that meets the eligibility
11 requirements for federal student financial aid, or a
12 private institution of higher learning located within
13 this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
14 this title, the household income of the parent(s)
15 parents of a student who qualifies pursuant to this
16 paragraph shall not be equal to or greater than seven
17 hundred percent (700%) of the federal poverty level
18 (FPL).
19 c. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
20 verify the full-time employment status of the
21 student's parent(s) parents prior to a student who
22 qualifies pursuant to this paragraph receiving any
23 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award.
24
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1 d. For the purposes of this paragraph, "certified
2 classroom teacher" means a certified, full-time
3 classroom teacher who has been employed as a teacher
4 in a public school district classroom person defined
5 as a teacher in Section 1-116 of this title who has
6 taught in this state for a minimum of ten (10) years
7 prior to his or her child applying for participation
8 in the program. The teacher is shall not be required
9 to have been employed by the same public school
10 district for ten (10) consecutive years. Certified
11 classroom teacher does not mean a certified teacher
12 Teacher shall not include any person who is employed
13 as a school district superintendent, principal, or any
14 other position within the administration of a public
15 school district when his or her child applies for
16 participation in the program or prior to his or her
17 child receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
18 Program benefit award.
19 F. The financial qualification of a student as set forth in
20 subsections D and E of this section shall be certified by the
21 contact person or by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
22 on the agreement form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for
23 Higher Education. The form shall be retained in the permanent
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1 record of the student and a copy forwarded to the Oklahoma State
2 Regents for Higher Education.
3 G. Agreements shall be witnessed by the parent, custodial
4 parent, or guardian of the student, who shall further agree to:
5 1. Assist the student in achieving compliance with the
6 agreements;
7 2. Confer, when requested to do so, with the school contact
8 person, other school personnel, and program mentors;
9 3. Provide information requested by the Oklahoma State Regents
10 for Higher Education or the State Board of Education; and
11 4. Assist the student in completing forms and reports required
12 for program participation, making applications to institutions and
13 schools of higher learning, and filing applications for student
14 grants and scholarships.
15 H. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
16 promulgate rules for the determination of student compliance with
17 agreements made pursuant to this section.
18 I. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
19 designate personnel to coordinate tracking of program records for
20 the years when students participating in the program are still in
21 the schools or are being educated by other means, provide staff
22 development for contact persons in the schools, and provide liaison
23 with the State Board of Education and local organizations and
24 individuals participating in the program.
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1 J. The school district where an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
2 Program student is enrolled when the student begins participation in
3 the program and any subsequent school district where the student
4 enrolls shall forward information regarding participation by the
5 student in the program to a school to which the student transfers
6 upon the request of the school for the records of the student.
7 K. Students participating in the Oklahoma Higher Learning
8 Access Program shall provide their Social Security number or their
9 student identification number used by their school to the Oklahoma
10 State Regents for Higher Education. The State Regents shall keep
11 the numbers confidential and use them only for administrative
12 purposes.
13 L. The State Regents may provide an exception to the age limits
14 provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of subsection C of this section
15 to a student due to hardship circumstances and allow an application
16 to the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program for twelfth-grade
17 students enrolled in a public or private school and students who are
18 educated by other means and are in the equivalent of twelfth grade.
19 Provided, however, the exception due to hardship circumstances shall
20 not apply to:
21 1. A student enrolled in a public or private school after the
22 student's official date of high school graduation;
23 2. A student educated by other means who is age nineteen (19)
24 or older; or
Req. No. 14473 Page 22
1 3. Any student who is age twenty-one (21) or older.
2 The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall promulgate
3 rules to implement the provisions of this subsection.
4 SECTION 3. This act shall become effective July 1, 2026.
5 SECTION 4. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
6 of the public peace, health or safety, an emergency is hereby
7 declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
8 be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
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Req. No. 14473 Page 23Every fact on this page links to its source, starting with the official bill record.