Oklahoma House Bill 2249, designed to increase the number of students who qualify for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, passed on a 96-3 vote Wednesday.
The bill, proposed by State Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, will increase the number of families eligible for the program. The current nontaxable income cutoff is $50,000, but if Terrill’s bill passes the Oklahoma State Senate, requirements would change to include children from a family of four with a gross annual income of $57,000, or children from a family of six making $64,000.
“We know that many middle-class parents, particularly those with several children at home, will struggle to pay for their children’s education,” Terrill said in a press release. “They make too much money to qualify for most financial aid programs, but not enough to cover the cost for several children to go to college. This bill will help children from those hard-working families.”
In order for students to receive aid from OHLAP, they must meet the income requirements, complete a core college curriculum, maintain a 2.5 grade-point average and exhibit good behavior during their high school careers.
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