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1 STATE OF OKLAHOMA
2 2nd Session of the 60th Legislature (2026)
3 HOUSE BILL 3963 By: Munson
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; changing term from
certified classroom teacher to school employee;
11 expanding eligibility to children of permanently
disabled veterans; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Section
12 2605, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter 485,
O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp. 2025, Section 2605), which
13 relates to participation in the program; changing
term from certified classroom teacher to school
14 employee; expanding definition to include school
support employees; providing an effective date; and
15 declaring an emergency.
16
17
18 BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
19 SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2603, as
20 last amended by Section 1, Chapter 485, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp.
21 2025, Section 2603), is amended to read as follows:
22 Section 2603. A. Except as otherwise provided for in
23 subsection B of this section and elsewhere in this section, to be
24 eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
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1 Program and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an
2 amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition pursuant to
3 Section 2604 of this title for the first semester or other academic
4 unit of postsecondary enrollment, a student shall:
5 1. Be a resident of this state or be enrolled in a school
6 district located in this state that serves students who reside in
7 both this state and an adjacent state pursuant to a contract as
8 authorized in Section 5-117.1 of this title;
9 2. Be a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United
10 States. A student who is not a United States citizen or lawfully
11 present in the United States shall not be eligible to participate in
12 the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an
13 award notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3242 of this title.
14 The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who
15 was enrolled in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program prior to
16 the end of the 2006-2007 school year;
17 3. Have a record of satisfactory compliance with agreements
18 executed pursuant to Section 2605 of this title;
19 4. a. Have graduated within the previous three (3) years
20 from a high school accredited by the State Board of
21 Education or the Oklahoma School of Science and
22 Mathematics with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
23 average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
24 grades nine through twelve,
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1 b. Have graduated within the previous three (3) years
2 from a high school not accredited by the State Board
3 of Education with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
4 average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
5 grades nine through twelve and have achieved a
6 composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT test, or
7 c. Have satisfactorily completed within the previous
8 three (3) years an educational program that was
9 provided through a means other than a public or
10 private school and have achieved a composite score of
11 22 or higher on the ACT test;
12 5. Have completed the curricular requirements for admission to
13 an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education.
14 Students shall also have attained a 2.5 grade point average in the
15 core curriculum courses. Students who attended a high school which
16 did not offer all the core curriculum courses or students who were
17 educated by other means and were not offered all the core curriculum
18 courses shall be allowed to satisfy this curriculum requirement by
19 participating in a program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents
20 for Higher Education for remediation of high school curricular
21 deficiencies;
22 6. Have satisfied admission standards as determined by the
23 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first-time-entering
24 students for the appropriate type of institution, or, if attending a
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1 private institution, have satisfied admission standards as
2 determined by the private institution. No student participating in
3 the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be admitted into
4 an institution of higher education by special admission standards;
5 7. Have secured admission to, and enrolled in, an institution
6 which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
7 a postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by a technology
8 center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
9 student financial aid, or a private institution of higher learning
10 located within this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
11 this title; and
12 8. a. Have established financial need according to the
13 provisions of subsection D of Section 2605 of this
14 title and standards and provisions promulgated by the
15 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
16 b. If the student was adopted between birth and twelve
17 (12) years of age while in the permanent custody of
18 the Department of Human Services, in the court-ordered
19 custody of a licensed private nonprofit child-placing
20 agency, or federally recognized Indian tribe, as
21 defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of
22 1978, have established financial need according to the
23 provisions of paragraph 1 of subsection E of Section
24 2605 of this title and standards and provisions
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1 promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
2 Education,
3 c. If the student was adopted between thirteen (13) and
4 seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent
5 custody of the Department of Human Services, in the
6 court-ordered custody of a licensed private nonprofit
7 child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
8 tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare
9 Act of 1978, have established financial need according
10 to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection E of
11 Section 2605 of this title and standards and
12 provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents
13 for Higher Education,
14 d. If the student was placed in the custody of the
15 Department of Human Services at any time during the
16 eighth, ninth, tenth, or eleventh grade and enrolls in
17 the program no later than his or her official date of
18 high school graduation, have established financial
19 need according to the provisions of paragraph 3 of
20 subsection E of Section 2605 of this title and
21 standards and provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma
22 State Regents for Higher Education, or
23 e. If the student is the child of a certified classroom
24 teacher school employee and meets the provisions of
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1 paragraph 5 of subsection E of Section 2605 of this
2 title. For the purposes of this paragraph, "certified
3 classroom teacher school employee" shall have the same
4 meaning as provided in subparagraph d of paragraph 5
5 of subsection E of Section 2605 of this title.
6 B. 1. A student shall be eligible to participate in the
7 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an award
8 which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition
9 or other tuition pursuant to Section 2604 of this title for the
10 first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if
11 the student meets all of the following criteria:
12 a. (1) is a child of any person killed after January 1,
13 2000, in the line of duty in any branch of the
14 United States Armed Forces or who died after
15 January 1, 2000, as a result of an injury
16 sustained while in the line of duty in any branch
17 of the United States Armed Forces and the person
18 who was killed or died filed an individual or
19 joint Oklahoma income tax return for the tax year
20 prior to the year during which the person was
21 killed or died, or
22 (2) is a child of any person who has been honorably
23 discharged from active service in any branch of
24 the Armed Forces of the United States or Oklahoma
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1 National Guard and who has been certified by the
2 United States Department of Veterans Affairs or
3 its successor to have a one-hundred-percent
4 (100%) permanent disability sustained through
5 military action or accident or resulting from
6 disease contracted while in such active service
7 and the person has filed an individual or joint
8 Oklahoma income tax return for the tax year prior
9 to the year the child is applying for
10 participation in the program,
11 b. is a resident of this state or is enrolled in a school
12 district located in this state that serves students
13 who reside in both this state and an adjacent state
14 pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 5-
15 117.1 of this title,
16 c. enrolls in an institution within The Oklahoma State
17 System of Higher Education prior to reaching the age
18 of twenty-one (21),
19 d. has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
20 Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first-
21 time-entering students for the appropriate type of
22 institution, or, if attending a private institution,
23 has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
24 private institution. No student participating in the
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1 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be
2 admitted into an institution of higher education by
3 special admission standards,
4 e. has secured admission to, and enrolled in, an
5 institution which is a member of The Oklahoma State
6 System of Higher Education, a postsecondary
7 vocational-technical program offered by a technology
8 center school that meets the requirements to be
9 eligible for federal student financial aid, or a
10 private institution of higher learning located within
11 this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
12 this title, and
13 f. executes an agreement pursuant to subsection C of
14 Section 2605 of this title.
15 2. A student who is eligible to participate in the program
16 pursuant to this subsection shall not be required to meet the
17 eligibility requirements set forth in subsection A of this section.
18 C. To retain eligibility while pursuing the program of higher
19 learning in which enrolled, the student shall:
20 1. Meet the requirements for retention and degree completion as
21 established by the institution in which the student is enrolled;
22 2. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic
23 progress according to standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for
24 Higher Education;
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1 3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as required for
2 eligibility for federal Title IV student financial aid programs.
3 The provisions of this paragraph shall become effective for the
4 2012-2013 school year;
5 4. Comply with the standards related to maintenance of
6 eligibility as promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
7 Education; and
8 5. Refrain from conduct that leads to expulsion or suspension
9 of more than one semester from an institution of higher education.
10 A student who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall
11 permanently lose eligibility for program benefits. The provisions
12 of this paragraph shall become effective January 1, 2008.
13 D. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the
14 State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate
15 rules relating to maintenance of eligibility under the Oklahoma
16 Higher Learning Access Act by a student.
17 E. It is the intent of the Legislature that students in the
18 ninth grade for the 1992-93 school year who are determined to be
19 eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access students pursuant to the
20 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act shall be the first students
21 eligible for benefits from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust
22 Fund.
23 F. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are
24 authorized to study, develop, and propose criteria for determining
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1 award eligibility based upon the completion of seven semesters of
2 high school coursework by a student.
3 SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2605, as
4 last amended by Section 2, Chapter 485, O.S.L. 2025 (70 O.S. Supp.
5 2025, Section 2605), is amended to read as follows:
6 Section 2605. A. Each school year, every fifth- through
7 eleventh-grade student in the public and private schools of this
8 state and students who are educated by other means and are in the
9 equivalent of the fifth through eleventh grade shall be apprised,
10 together with the parent, custodial parent, or guardian of the
11 student, of the opportunity for access to higher learning under the
12 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. The Oklahoma State Regents
13 for Higher Education and the State Board of Education shall develop,
14 promote, and coordinate a public awareness program to be utilized in
15 making students and parents aware of the Oklahoma Higher Learning
16 Access Program.
17 B. On a form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
18 Education, every public school district shall designate at least one
19 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program contact person, who shall be
20 a counselor or teacher, at each public school site in this state in
21 which eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade classes are taught.
22 When requested by the State Regents, the State Board of Education
23 shall assist the State Regents to ensure the designation of contact
24 persons. Private schools shall also designate at least one school
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1 official as a contact person. For students who are educated by
2 other means, a parent or guardian or other person approved by the
3 State Regents shall be designated the contact person.
4 C. 1. Students who qualify on the basis of financial need
5 according to subsection D or E of this section or who meet the
6 eligibility qualification set forth in subparagraph a of paragraph 1
7 of subsection B of Section 2603 of this title no later than December
8 31 of their twelfth-grade year or prior to reaching the age of
9 seventeen (17) and who qualify on the basis of the standards and
10 provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
11 Education shall be given the opportunity throughout the eighth-,
12 ninth-, tenth-, and eleventh-grade years and no later than December
13 31 of the twelfth-grade year, for students enrolled in a public or
14 private school, or between the ages of thirteen (13) and seventeen
15 (17), for students who are educated by other means, to enter into
16 participation in the program by agreeing to, throughout the
17 remainder of their school years or educational program:
18 a. attend school or an educational program regularly and
19 do homework regularly,
20 b. refrain from substance abuse,
21 c. refrain from commission of crimes or delinquent acts,
22 d. have school work and school records reviewed by
23 mentors designated pursuant to the program,
24
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1 e. provide information requested by the Oklahoma State
2 Regents for Higher Education or the State Board of
3 Education, and
4 f. participate in program activities.
5 2. Students who meet the eligibility qualification set forth in
6 subparagraph a of paragraph 1 of subsection B of Section 2603 of
7 this title after December 31 of their twelfth-grade year or after
8 reaching the age of eighteen (18) shall be given the opportunity
9 prior to reaching the age of twenty-one (21) to enter into
10 participation in the program and shall execute an agreement with
11 provisions as determined by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
12 Education.
13 3. The contact person shall maintain the agreements, which
14 shall be executed on forms provided by the Oklahoma State Regents
15 for Higher Education and managed according to regulations
16 promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, and
17 the contact person shall monitor compliance of the student with the
18 terms of the agreement. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
19 Education are authorized to process student agreements and verify
20 compliance with the agreements. Students failing to comply with the
21 terms of the agreement shall not be eligible for the awards provided
22 in Section 2604 of this title.
23
24
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1 4. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education may provide
2 an exception to the age limits provided for in paragraphs 1 and 2 of
3 this subsection pursuant to subsection L of this section.
4 5. Notwithstanding the provisions of Sections 5-132 and 5-132.1
5 of this title, a student who is age twenty-one (21) or older shall
6 not be eligible to enter into participation in the program.
7 D. Except as otherwise provided for in subsection E of this
8 section and except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B
9 of Section 2603 of this title, a student shall not be found to be in
10 financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
11 Program if:
12 1. Beginning with eighth-, ninth-, or tenth-grade students who
13 are enrolled in a public or private school or students between the
14 ages of thirteen (13) and fifteen (15) who are educated by other
15 means who apply for participation in the program in the 2017-2018
16 school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
17 parent(s) parents exceeds Fifty-five Thousand Dollars ($55,000.00)
18 per year;
19 2. Beginning with eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade
20 students who are enrolled in a public or private school or students
21 between the ages of thirteen (13) and sixteen (16) who are educated
22 by other means who apply for participation in the program in the
23 2021-2022 school year, the federal adjusted gross income of the
24
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1 student's parent(s) parents exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars
2 ($60,000.00) per year;
3 3. 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 2022-2023 school year:
8 a. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
9 parent(s) parents, who have two or fewer dependent
10 children, exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00)
11 per year,
12 b. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
13 parent(s) parents, who have three or four dependent
14 children, exceeds Seventy Thousand Dollars
15 ($70,000.00) per year, or
16 c. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
17 parent(s) parents, who have five or more dependent
18 children, exceeds Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00)
19 per year;
20 4. Beginning with eighth-, ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade
21 students or twelfth-grade students no later than December 31 of
22 their twelfth-grade year who are enrolled in a public or private
23 school or students between the ages of thirteen (13) and seventeen
24
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1 (17) who are educated by other means who apply for participation in
2 the program in the 2025-2026 school year:
3 a. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
4 parent(s) parents, who have two or fewer dependent
5 children, exceeds Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00)
6 per year,
7 b. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
8 parent(s) parents, who have three or four dependent
9 children, exceeds Seventy Thousand Dollars
10 ($70,000.00) per year, or
11 c. the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
12 parent(s) parents, who have five or more dependent
13 children, exceeds Eighty Thousand Dollars ($80,000.00)
14 per year;
15 5. Beginning with the 2018-2019 academic year, prior to
16 receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
17 for any year during which the student is enrolled in an institution
18 which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
19 a postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by a technology
20 center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
21 student financial aid, or a private institution of higher learning
22 located within this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
23 this title, the federal adjusted gross income of the student's
24
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1 parent(s) parents exceeds One Hundred Thousand Dollars ($100,000.00)
2 per year.
3 The determination of financial qualification as set forth in
4 this paragraph shall be based on the income of the student, not the
5 income of the parent(s) parents, if a student:
6 a. is determined to be independent of the student's
7 parents for federal financial aid purposes,
8 b. was in the permanent custody of the Department of
9 Human Services at the time the student enrolled in the
10 program, or
11 c. was in the court-ordered custody of a federally
12 recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal
13 Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978, at the time the
14 student enrolled in the program.
15 The provisions of this paragraph shall apply to any student who
16 has received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit
17 award after the 2017-2018 school year; and
18 6. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall review
19 the determination of financial qualification as set forth in
20 paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this subsection if the income from
21 taxable and nontaxable sources of the student's parent(s) parents
22 includes income received from nontaxable military benefits or income
23 received from the federal Social Security Administration due to the
24 death or disability of the student's parent(s) parents. If the
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1 income from taxable and nontaxable sources of the student's
2 parent(s) parents, excluding income received from nontaxable
3 military benefits or income received from the federal Social
4 Security Administration due to the death or disability of the
5 student's parent(s) parents, does not exceed the limitations set
6 forth by paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this subsection, the student
7 shall be determined to have met the financial qualification set
8 forth in paragraphs 1, 2, 3, and 4 of this subsection.
9 E. 1. A student who was adopted between birth and twelve (12)
10 years of age while in the permanent custody of the Department of
11 Human Services, in the court-ordered custody of a licensed private
12 nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
13 tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of 1978,
14 shall not be found to be in financial need for purposes of the
15 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the time the student
16 begins postsecondary education and prior to receiving any Oklahoma
17 Higher Learning Access Program benefit award, the federal adjusted
18 gross income of the student's parent(s) parents exceeds One Hundred
19 Fifty Thousand Dollars ($150,000.00) per year. The provisions of
20 this paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
21 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
22 2012-2013 school year.
23 2. A student who was adopted between thirteen (13) and
24 seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent custody of the
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1 Department of Human Services, in the court-ordered custody of a
2 licensed private nonprofit child-placing agency, or federally
3 recognized Indian tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child
4 Welfare Act of 1978, shall not be found to be in financial need for
5 purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program if at the
6 time the student begins postsecondary education and prior to
7 receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award,
8 the federal adjusted gross income of the student's parent(s) parents
9 exceeds Two Hundred Thousand Dollars ($200,000.00) per year. The
10 provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who has
11 received an Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award
12 prior to the 2012-2013 school year.
13 3. A student who was placed in the custody of the Department of
14 Human Services at any time during the eighth, ninth, tenth, or
15 eleventh grade and enrolls in the program no later than his or her
16 official date of high school graduation shall not be found to be in
17 financial need for purposes of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
18 Program if the federal adjusted gross income of the student exceeds
19 Sixty Thousand Dollars ($60,000.00) per year.
20 4. Except for students who qualify pursuant to subsection B of
21 Section 2603 of this title, the determination of financial
22 qualification as set forth in this subsection shall be based on the
23 income of the student, not the income of the parent(s) parents, if
24 the student is determined to be independent of the student's parents
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1 for federal financial aid purposes. A determination of financial
2 qualification shall not be required for the student who meets the
3 criteria set forth in this subsection at the time the student
4 applies for participation in the program. The provisions of this
5 paragraph shall not apply to any student who has received an
6 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award prior to the
7 2008-2009 school year.
8 5. a. A student who is the child of a certified classroom
9 teacher school employee at the time the student
10 applies for participation in the Oklahoma Higher
11 Learning Access Program shall not be found to be in
12 financial need for the purposes of the Oklahoma Higher
13 Learning Access Program if, beginning with eighth-,
14 ninth-, tenth-, or eleventh-grade students or twelfth-
15 grade students no later than December 31 of their
16 twelfth-grade year who are enrolled in a public or
17 private school or students between thirteen (13) and
18 seventeen (17) years of age who are educated by other
19 means, who apply for participation in the program in
20 the 2025-2026 school year, the household income of the
21 student's parent(s) parents is equal to or greater
22 than seven hundred percent (700%) of the federal
23 poverty level (FPL).
24
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1 b. Prior to receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
2 Program benefit award for any year during which the
3 student is enrolled in an institution that is a member
4 of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, a
5 postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by
6 a technology center school that meets the eligibility
7 requirements for federal student financial aid, or a
8 private institution of higher learning located within
9 this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
10 this title, the household income of the parent(s)
11 parents of a student who qualifies pursuant to this
12 paragraph shall not be equal to or greater than seven
13 hundred percent (700%) of the federal poverty level
14 (FPL).
15 c. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education shall
16 verify the full-time employment status of the
17 student's parent(s) parents prior to a student who
18 qualifies pursuant to this paragraph receiving any
19 Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program benefit award.
20 d. For the purposes of this paragraph, "certified
21 classroom teacher school employee" means a certified,
22 full-time classroom teacher who has been employed as a
23 teacher in a public school district classroom person
24 defined as a teacher in paragraph 1 of Section 1-116
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1 of this title who has taught in this state for a
2 minimum of ten (10) years prior to his or her child
3 applying for participation in the program or a person
4 defined as a support employee in paragraph 9 of
5 Section 1-116 of this title who has been employed by a
6 school district in this state for a minimum of ten
7 (10) years prior to his or her child applying for
8 participation in the program. The teacher is school
9 employee shall not be required to have been employed
10 by the same public school district for ten (10)
11 consecutive years. Certified classroom teacher does
12 not mean a certified teacher School employee shall not
13 include any person who is employed as a school
14 district superintendent, principal, or any other
15 position within the administration of a public school
16 district when his or her child applies for
17 participation in the program or prior to his or her
18 child receiving any Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
19 Program benefit award.
20 F. The financial qualification of a student as set forth in
21 subsections D and E of this section shall be certified by the
22 contact person or by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education
23 on the agreement form provided by the Oklahoma State Regents for
24 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
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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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10 60-2-15248 AQH 12/30/25
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