Governor Kevin Stitt recently signed House Bill 1727, expanding the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP)—a.k.a. Oklahoma’s Promise—to include the children of career classroom educators. The program covers tuition costs for eligible students at public colleges and universities across the state, as well as approved career tech programs and some private institutions.
House Bill 1727 will take effect on Tuesday, July 1, 2025. However, the application cycle for career educators will not open until fall 2025.
I. What is Oklahoma’s Promise?
Oklahoma’s Promise is a state scholarship program that pays tuition for Oklahoma students who meet certain academic and income criteria. Students must apply in 8th–11th grade (or by December 31 of their 12th-grade year), sign a participation agreement, and maintain good behavior and grades.
II. Who Qualifies as a “Career Classroom Teacher”?
Starting with the 2025–2026 school year, children of career classroom teachers will now be eligible for Oklahoma’s Promise. A career classroom teacher is defined as:
- An individual who holds an active teaching certificate, who is employed full-time on a teacher contract at an Oklahoma public school, and who holds no administrative position;
- With at least 10 years of classroom teaching experience in Oklahoma (not necessarily consecutive or in the same district);
The above eligibility requirements may include positions such as speech-language pathologists, school counselors, and librarians as long as the individual is employed on a teaching contract and performs duties in accordance with their teaching certificate, as opposed to an administrative contract or employed as a third-party contractor. However, the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education have not yet released official eligibility criteria. We expect an update from the Regents this July.
III. Other Eligibility Requirements:
In addition to being a career educator, there are a few other eligibly requirements:
- The total household income of a career classroom teacher must be less than 700% of the federal poverty level (FPL) when applying.
- To receive the scholarship benefits while attending college, the household income must remain below 700% of the FPL.
- The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education will verify the teacher’s full-time employment status to confirm eligibility at the beginning of each school year while participating in the program.
IV. Career Educators: What You Should Do
- Check if your child is in 8th–11th grade (or 12th grade before December 31, 2025).
- Ensure your employment and teaching credentials are up to date for eligibility verification.
- Visit www.okpromise.org or contact your school’s Oklahoma Promise representative for application information.
- Prepare all required documents and be ready to apply this fall.
Again, HB 1727 will take effect July 1, 2025, and the application cycle will open this fall, so families should start preparing now to take full advantage!