Tweaks may be coming to the state scholarship program known as Oklahoma’s Promise.
Among the provisions of Senate Bill is a stipulation the scholarships can’t be spent on remedial courses that don’t earn college credits.
"Put that remedial support within the context of a credit-earning course so that student is making progress but is getting those supplemental academic supports that they need," said Bryce Fair, who oversees grants and scholarships for the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
SB529 ties financial eligibility for the Oklahoma’s Promise program to federal adjusted gross income and institutes a stepped increase in the maximum income. As things are, the state will spend $75.5 million on tuition for just under $18,000 students in the coming years.
Rep. Katie Henke said altogether, the changes are a good deal.
"By about the year 2022, we'll have 1,050 more students on than we are now, and it will only cost $2.6 million more," Henke said.
The bill also changes academic eligibility so students must meet degree standards of the postsecondary institution they’re attending rather than carry a 2.5 GPA, may encourage students to pursue more difficult but in-demand majors.
"So, when we're looking at wanting to make sure we have more and more students that are graduating with STEM degrees, basically, we don't want them to do, you know, underwater basket weaving instead," Henke said.
SB529 passed an education subcommittee and now goes to the full House appropriations and budget committee.
