Read the full stored bill text
An Act
ENROLLED HOUSE
BILL NO. 1096 By: Hasenbeck and Hall of the
House
and
Pugh of the Senate
An Act relating to schools; amending 70 O.S. 2021,
Sections 6-194, as last amended by Section 2, Chapter
15, O.S.L. 2023, 6-195.1, 11-107.1, and 1210.508 (70
O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 6-194), which relate to
student testing; modifying certain goal for
professional development programs; modifying intent
of certain continuing education program; modifying
reference to certain exam; allowing certain exam
scores to be considered in determining whether a
student needs a remediation course; modifying
reference to certain average exam score to be used in
goal for subject matter standards; defining terms;
requiring students who take certain test to do so at
certain testing site; amending 70 O.S. 2021, Sections
2403 and 2603, as amended by Section 1, Chapter 440,
O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024, Section 2603), which
relate to eligibility for higher education
assistance; modifying reference to certain exam to
qualify for the Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic
Scholars Program; allowing certain equivalent scores
to be used to determine eligibility for the Oklahoma
Higher Learning Access Program; providing for
codification; providing an effective date; and
declaring an emergency.
SUBJECT: Schools
BE IT ENACTED BY THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF OKLAHOMA:
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 2
SECTION 1. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-194, as
last amended by Section 2, Chapter 15, O.S.L. 2023 (70 O.S. Supp.
2024, Section 6-194), is amended to read as follows:
Section 6-194. A. The district boards of education of this
state shall establish professional development programs for the
certified teachers and administrators of the district. Programs
shall be adopted by each board based upon recommendations of a
professional development committee appointed by the board of
education for the district.
B. Each professional development committee shall include
classroom teachers, administrators, school counselors or licensed
mental health providers, and parents, guardians, or custodians of
children in the school district and shall consult with a higher
education faculty. A majority of the members of the professional
development committee shall be composed of classroom teachers. The
teacher members shall be selected by a designated administrator of
the school district from a list of names submitted by the teachers
in the school district. The members selected shall be subject to
the approval of a majority vote of the teachers in the district.
C. In developing program recommendations, each professional
development committee shall annually utilize a data-driven approach
to analyze student data and determine district and school
professional development needs. The professional development
programs adopted shall be directed toward development of
competencies and instructional strategies in the core curriculum
areas for the following goals:
1. Increasing the academic performance data scores for the
district and each school site;
2. Closing achievement gaps among student subgroups;
3. Increasing student achievement as demonstrated on state-
mandated tests and the ACT nationally norm-referenced college
entrance exams;
4. Increasing high school graduation rates; and
5. Decreasing college remediation rates.
Each program may also include components on classroom management
and student discipline strategies, outreach to parents, guardians,
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 3
or custodians of students, special education, and racial and ethnic
education, which all personnel defined as teachers in Section 1-116
of this title shall be required to complete at a frequency as
determined by the board of education. The State Board of Education
shall provide guidelines to assist school districts in developing
and implementing racial and ethnic education components into
professional development programs.
D. A program which includes the following information shall be
completed the first year a certified teacher is employed by a school
district, and then once every fifth academic year:
1. Training on recognition of child abuse and neglect;
2. Recognition of child sexual abuse;
3. Proper reporting of suspected abuse; and
4. Available resources.
E. One time per year, beginning in the 2009-2010 school year,
training in the area of autism shall be offered and all resident
teachers of students in early childhood programs through grade three
shall be required to complete the autism training during the
resident year and at least one time every three (3) years
thereafter. All other teachers and education support professionals
of students in early childhood programs through grade three shall be
required to complete the autism training at least one time every
three (3) years. The autism training shall include a minimum
awareness of the characteristics of autistic children, resources
available, and an introduction to positive behavior supports to
challenging behavior. Each adopted program shall allow school
counselors to receive at least one-third (1/3) of the hours or
credit required each year through programs or courses specifically
designed for school counselors.
Districts are authorized to utilize any means for professional
development that is not prohibited by law including, but not limited
to, professional development provided by the district, any state
agency, institution of higher education, or any private entity.
F. One time per year, beginning in the 2020-2021 school year, a
dyslexia awareness program shall be offered. Beginning in the 2023-
2024 school year, the program shall include information and training
in dysgraphia. At a minimum, the program shall include:
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 4
1. Training in awareness of dyslexia characteristics in
students;
2. Training in effective classroom instruction to meet the
needs of students with dyslexia; and
3. Available dyslexia resources for teachers, students, and
parents.
G. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, each
certified teacher in this state shall be required by the district
board of education to meet the professional development requirements
established by the board, or established through the negotiation
process. Except as otherwise provided for in this subsection, the
professional development requirements established by each board of
education shall require every teacher to annually complete a minimum
number of the total number of points required to maintain
employment; provided, no more than a total of one hundred fifty
(150) hours of local, state, or federal professional development or
training shall be required for classroom teachers during any five-
year period. Failure of any teacher to meet district board of
education professional development requirements may be grounds for
nonrenewal of such teacher’s contract by the board. Such failure
may also be grounds for nonconsideration of salary increments
affecting the teacher. Teachers shall maintain written
documentation of all their completed professional development.
H. Each district shall annually submit a report to the State
Department of Education on the district level professional
development needs, activities completed, expenditures, and results
achieved for each school year by each goal as provided in subsection
C of this section. If a school district elects not to adopt and
offer a professional development program as provided for in
subsection A of this section, the district shall not be required to
submit an annual report as required pursuant to this subsection but
shall report to the State Department of Education its election not
to offer a program and all professional development activities
completed by teachers and administrators of the school district.
I. Subject to the availability of funds, the Department shall
develop an online system for reporting as required in subsection H
of this section. The Department shall also make such information
available on its website.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 5
SECTION 2. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 6-195.1, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 6-195.1. A. It is hereby declared to be the intent of
the Legislature to establish a continuing education program whereby
teachers employed to teach mathematics may obtain certification in
mathematics and teachers certified to teach mathematics in the state
may take higher education courses in order to obtain the
competencies needed to enable the teacher to successfully complete
the subject area examinations and become certified to teach any of
the core curriculum mathematics courses recommended by the American
College Test State Department of Education. The program shall pay
up to One Hundred Dollars ($100.00) per credit hour up to a maximum
of twenty-four (24) credit hours for a teacher to take higher
education courses in mathematics. Teachers required to gain
certification as provided in Section 6-189.1 of this title shall be
given priority in the funding for the continuing education program.
The purpose of the program is to improve the knowledge and skills of
teachers and to ensure that the children of the state are taught by
professional educators, fully prepared in the area of mathematics.
B. Implementation of this section shall be contingent upon the
appropriation of state funds by the Legislature for the specific
purpose of implementing this section. Nothing in this section shall
prevent the State Board of Education or a school district board of
education from utilizing private, local, or federal funds to
implement this section.
C. Implementation of this section shall be delayed until the
current expenditure per pupil in average daily attendance in public
elementary and secondary schools in unadjusted dollars for the 1998-
99 school year or any school year thereafter for Oklahoma, as
reported by the National Center for Education Statistics annually in
the Digest of Education Statistics, reaches at least ninety percent
(90%) of the regional average expenditure for that same year, and
funds are provided. For purposes of this section, the regional
average expenditure shall consist of the current expenditure per
pupil in average daily attendance in public elementary and secondary
schools in unadjusted dollars for each of the following states:
Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, New Mexico, Oklahoma, and
Texas, averaged together. By January 1 of each year, the State
Board of Education shall report whether or not the ninety-percent
expenditure level has been reached based on information reported
annually in the Digest of Education Statistics by the National
Center for Education Statistics. This section shall be implemented
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 6
on July 1 after the first January 1 report verifies that the ninety-
percent expenditure level has been reached and funds have been
provided for the specific purposes of this section.
SECTION 3. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 11-107.1, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 11-107.1. A. Each school district in this state may
offer a remediation course for high school students who score below
a nineteen (19) on the American College Testing (ACT) exam or below
an equivalent score on the SAT exam Scholastic Assessment Test (SAT)
or Classic Learning Test (CLT) exams.
B. Nothing in subsection A of this section shall be construed
to require that a teacher providing instruction in the remediation
course be certified in any subject matter that is tested on the ACT
or, SAT exam, or CLT exams.
SECTION 4. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 1210.508, is
amended to read as follows:
Section 1210.508. A. 1. By no later than December 31, 2016,
the State Board of Education shall adopt a statewide system of
student assessments in compliance with the Elementary and Secondary
Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as reauthorized and amended by P.L.
No. 114-95, also known as the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).
2. The statewide student assessment system adopted by the Board
pursuant to this subsection shall be aligned with the Oklahoma
Academic Standards as adopted by the Board and which prepare
students for college and careers.
B. 1. The Board shall issue a request for proposals for the
selection of assessments to be administered to students in grades
three through twelve as a part of the statewide student assessment
system adopted by the Board pursuant to this section.
2. The Board shall adopt assessments from the selected
proposals that were submitted pursuant to paragraph 1 of this
subsection. The adopted assessments shall be administered by the
Board for a period that is in coordination with the six-year subject
area textbook adoption cycle unless the vendor does not fulfill the
terms of the contract or fails to comply with or violates the terms
of the contract. The Board shall administer the assessments
beginning with the 2017-2018 school year.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 7
C. The statewide student assessment system adopted by the Board
pursuant to this section shall include assessments that:
1. Are aligned with the Oklahoma subject matter standards as
adopted by the Board;
2. Provide a measure of comparability among other states;
3. Yield both norm-referenced scores and criterion-referenced
scores;
4. Have a track record of statistical reliability and accuracy;
and
5. For assessments administered in high school, provide a
measure of future academic performance.
D. For the 2016-2017 school year, the Board shall administer
assessments in:
1. English Language Arts or Reading reading and Mathematics
mathematics in grades three through eight and at least once in high
school, during the grade span of nine through twelve;
2. Science not less than once during each grade span of three
through five, six through nine, and ten through twelve; and
3. United States History not less than once during the grade
span of nine through twelve.
E. 1. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the statewide
student assessment system shall include assessments in:
a. English Language Arts and Mathematics mathematics in
grades three through eight and at least once in high
school, during the grade span of nine through twelve,
b. Science science not less than once during each grade
span of three through five, six through nine, and ten
through twelve, and
c. United States History, with an emphasis on civics, not
less than once during the grade span of nine through
twelve.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 8
2. Beginning with the 2017-2018 school year, the statewide
student assessment system may include:
a. assessments in Reading reading and Writing writing in
certain grades as determined by the Board, and
b. contingent upon the availability of funds, an
additional nationally recognized college- and career-
readiness assessment or assessments as recommended by
the State Department of Education which will be
administered to students in high school at no cost to
the student.
F. 1. Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the
2017-2018 school year, each student shall take the assessment or
assessments included in the statewide student assessment system
adopted by the Board pursuant to subsection A of this section in
order to graduate from a public high school with a standard diploma.
All students shall take the assessment or assessments prior to
graduation, unless otherwise exempt by law.
2. Beginning with students entering the ninth grade in the
2017-2018 school year, each student, in addition to taking the
assessment or assessments included in the statewide student
assessment system adopted by the Board pursuant to subsection A of
this section, shall meet any other high school graduation
requirements adopted by the Board pursuant to Section 5 of Enrolled
House Bill No. 3218 of the 2nd Session of the 55th Oklahoma
Legislature in order to graduate from a public high school with a
standard diploma.
3. For students who start the ninth grade prior to or during
the 2016-2017 school year, school districts shall adopt a plan that
establishes the assessment or assessments those students are
required to take in order to graduate from a public high school with
a standard diploma. The plan may also include any or all of the
other high school graduation requirements adopted by the Board
pursuant to Section 5 of Enrolled House Bill No. 3218 of the 2nd
Session of the 55th Oklahoma Legislature that those students will be
required to meet in order to graduate from a public high school with
a standard diploma.
4. The Board shall promulgate rules to ensure that students who
transfer into an Oklahoma school district from out-of-state after
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 9
the junior year of high school shall not be denied the opportunity
to be awarded a standard diploma due to differing testing
requirements.
G. In order to provide an indication of the levels of
competency attained by the student in a permanent record for
potential future employers and institutions of higher education,
school districts shall report on the high school transcript of the
student the highest-achieved score on the assessment or assessments
included in the statewide student assessment system adopted by the
Board pursuant to subsection A of this section and any business- and
industry-recognized endorsements attained.
H. Students who do not perform at a proficiency level on
assessments shall be remediated as established in the assessment
requirements adopted by the Board pursuant to Section 5 of Enrolled
House Bill No. 3218 of the 2nd Session of the 55th Oklahoma
Legislature, subject to the availability of funding.
I. 1. All assessments required by this section shall measure
academic competencies in correlation with the subject matter
standards adopted by the Board pursuant to Sections 11-103.6 and 11-
103.6a of this title and referred to as the Oklahoma Academic
Standards. The State Board of Education shall evaluate the subject
matter standards to ensure the competencies reflect high standards,
are specific, well-defined, measurable, and challenging, and will
prepare elementary students for next-grade-level course work and
secondary students for postsecondary studies at institutions of
higher education or technology center schools without the need for
remediation. All subject matter standards shall reflect the goals
as set forth in Section 11-103.6 of this title and of improving the
state average ACT score of college entrance exam scores.
2. The State Department of Education shall annually evaluate
the results of the assessments. The State Board of Education shall
ensure that preliminary results for all statewide assessments are
reported to districts no later than June 20 of each year and are
presented in a manner that yields detailed, diagnostic information
for the purpose of guiding instruction and student remediation. As
improvements are made to the assessments required by this section,
the Board shall seek to increase the depth of knowledge assessed for
each subject. The State Board of Education shall seek to ensure
that data yielded from the assessments required in this section are
utilized at the school district level to inform instruction,
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 10
professional development, school improvement, and remediation for
students.
3. The Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability
shall determine the cut scores for the performance levels on all
statewide assessments. The Commission shall conduct an ongoing
review to compare the statewide assessment content and performance
descriptors with those of other states. Upon receipt of the review,
the Commission may adjust the cut scores as necessary.
4. The State Board of Education, for the purposes of conducting
reliability and validity studies, monitoring contractor adherence to
professionally accepted testing standards, and providing
recommendations for testing program improvement, shall retain the
services of an established, independent agency or organization that
is nationally recognized for its technical expertise in educational
testing but is not engaged in the development of aptitude or
achievement tests for elementary or secondary level grades. These
national assessment experts shall annually conduct studies of the
reliability and validity of the statewide assessments administered
pursuant to this section. Validity studies shall include studies of
decision validity and concurrent validity.
J. 1. The State Board of Education shall promulgate rules
setting the assessment window dates for each statewide assessment so
that the assessments are administered according to recommended
testing protocols, and so that the assessment results are reported
back to school districts in a timely manner. The vendor shall
provide a final electronic data file of all school site, school
district, and state results to the State Department of Education and
the Office of Educational Quality and Accountability prior to August
20 of each year. The Department shall forward the final data files
for each school district and each school site in that district to
the school district. The Board shall ensure the contract with the
vendor includes a provision that the vendor report assessment
results directly to the Office of Educational Quality and
Accountability at the same time it is reported to the Board.
2. State, district, and site level results of all assessments
required in this section shall be disaggregated by gender, race,
ethnicity, disability status, migrant status, English proficiency,
and status as economically disadvantaged, except that such
disaggregation shall not be required in a case in which the number
of students in a category is insufficient to yield statistically
reliable information or the results would reveal personally
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 11
identifiable information about an individual student. Each school
site shall notify the student’s parents or legal guardians of the
school’s performance levels in the Oklahoma School Testing Program
as reported in the Oklahoma Educational Indicators Program at the
end of each school year.
K. The State Board of Education shall be responsible for the
field-testing and validation of the statewide assessment system
required in subsection A of this section.
L. The State Board of Education shall develop, administer, and
incorporate as a part of the Oklahoma School Testing Program, other
assessment programs or procedures, including appropriate
accommodations for the assessment of students with disabilities as
required by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA),
20 U.S.C., Section 1400 et seq.
M. For purposes of developing and administering alternate
assessments for students with the most significant cognitive
disabilities, the State Board of Education shall not be subject to
subsections D and E of Section 11-103.6a of this title.
SECTION 5. NEW LAW A new section of law to be codified
in the Oklahoma Statutes as Section 1210.508-7 of Title 70, unless
there is created a duplication in numbering, reads as follows:
A. As used in this title:
1. “Classic Learning Test” or “CLT” means the Classic Learning
Test administered by Classic Learning Initiatives, LLC; and
2. “Testing site” means an independently run testing center
operated by the assessment company and any physical location where
means of education are provided including public school districts,
charter schools, private schools, institutions of higher education
within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, and private
institutions of higher education in this state.
B. Students in this state who take the Classic Learning Test
(CLT) shall only take the test in a brick-and-mortar testing site.
SECTION 6. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2403, is
amended to read as follows:
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 12
Section 2403. A. No person shall be eligible to participate in
the Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic Scholars Program unless the
person:
1. Has complied with all of the rules promulgated by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education pursuant to the
provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic Scholars Act,
Section 2401 et seq. of this title, for the award, regulation, and
administration of scholarships; and
2. Qualifies as one of the following:
a. an Individual Applicant Qualified Student, which shall
mean a student who is a resident of the State of
Oklahoma this state whose American College Testing
Program score or whose Scholastic Aptitude Test score
on a nationally norm-referenced college entrance exam
falls within the 99.5 to 100.0 percentile levels as
administered in the State of Oklahoma this state and
whose grade point average and/or class rank is
exceptional, as determined by the State Regents,
b. a Presidential Scholar, which shall mean a student
selected by the Commission on Presidential Scholars
administered by the United States Department of
Education,
c. a National Merit Scholar, which shall mean a student
designated as a National Merit Scholar by the National
Merit Scholarship Corporation,
d. a National Merit Finalist, which shall mean a student
designated as a National Merit Finalist by the
National Merit Scholarship Corporation, or
e. after October 1, 1999, an Institutional Nominee, which
shall mean a student nominated by an institution in
The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education:
(1) whose American College Testing Program or
Scholastic Aptitude Test score on a nationally
norm-referenced college entrance exam falls
within the 95.0 to 99.49 percentile levels, or
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 13
(2) who shows exceptional academic achievement as
evidenced by factors, including, but not limited
to, grade point average, class rank, national
awards, scholastic achievements, honors, and who
shows exceptional promise based on documentation
that may include, but not be limited to, teacher
recommendations, extracurricular activities, and
evidence of overcoming economic and social
obstacles as determined by the State Regents.
The State Regents shall ensure that standards of
high academic ability are documented.
Scholarship awards to Institutional Nominees
shall become effective when appropriate
documentation is verified by the State Regents.
B. No person shall be eligible to receive a scholarship
pursuant to the provisions of the Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic
Scholars Program unless the person is enrolled as a full-time
student at a public or private accredited institution of higher
education in Oklahoma.
C. The Oklahoma State Regents’ Academic Scholars Program shall
provide a scholarship in an amount not to exceed the average costs
of all enrollment fees, tuition and other fees, room and board, and
all required textbooks or materials for up to five (5) years of
undergraduate and/or graduate study at an accredited public or
private institution of higher education in Oklahoma as provided in
subsection E of this section. The State Regents may establish
separate scholarship award levels for each qualifying category.
D. If a person identifies himself or herself as a student with
a disability and requests consideration for a scholarship under the
Academic Scholars Program by means other than standard testing
procedures, the State Regents shall determine what means of
assessment are appropriate and upon the basis of said such
assessment results, determine what level of award, if any, shall be
made.
E. 1. If the student is attending an institution of The
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education, the total funding for the
scholarship provided in this section, exclusive of any internships,
shall not exceed the costs for items specified in subsection C of
this section at the institution attended as determined annually by
the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 14
2. If the student is attending a private institution of higher
education, the total funding for the scholarship provided in this
section, exclusive of any internships, shall not exceed the costs
for items specified in subsection C of this section at an
institution of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education of
comparable type which has the highest general enrollment fees of its
type institution in The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education as
determined annually by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education.
SECTION 7. AMENDATORY 70 O.S. 2021, Section 2603, as
amended by Section 1, Chapter 440, O.S.L. 2024 (70 O.S. Supp. 2024,
Section 2603), is amended to read as follows:
Section 2603. A. Except as otherwise provided for in
subsection B of this section and elsewhere in this section, to be
eligible to participate in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access
Program and to qualify for an award which includes payment of an
amount equivalent to resident tuition or other tuition pursuant to
Section 2604 of this title for the first semester or other academic
unit of postsecondary enrollment, a student shall:
1. Be a resident of this state or be enrolled in a school
district located in this state that serves students who reside in
both this state and an adjacent state pursuant to a contract as
authorized in Section 5-117.1 of this title;
2. Be a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United
States. A student who is not a United States citizen or lawfully
present in the United States shall not be eligible to participate in
the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an
award notwithstanding the provisions of Section 3242 of this title.
The provisions of this paragraph shall not apply to any student who
was enrolled in the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program prior to
the end of the 2006-2007 school year;
3. Have a record of satisfactory compliance with agreements
executed pursuant to Section 2605 of this title;
4. a. have graduated within the previous three (3) years
from a high school accredited by the State Board of
Education or the Oklahoma School of Science and
Mathematics with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
grades nine through twelve,
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 15
b. have graduated within the previous three (3) years
from a high school not accredited by the State Board
of Education with a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point
average on a 4.0 scale for all work attempted in
grades nine through twelve and have achieved a
composite score of 22 or higher on the ACT test or an
equivalent score on the SAT or CLT as determined by
the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education, or
c. have satisfactorily completed within the previous
three (3) years an educational program that was
provided through a means other than a public or
private school and have achieved a composite score of
22 or higher on the ACT test or an equivalent score on
the SAT or CLT as determined by the Oklahoma State
Regents for Higher Education;
5. Have completed the curricular requirements for admission to
an institution within The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education
and one additional unit or set of competencies in a course that
meets college admission requirements;, or have completed the core
curriculum and be seeking admission to a technology center school
overseen by the State Board of Career and Technology Education. The
curriculum requirements for admission to an institution within The
Oklahoma State System of Higher Education shall include two units or
sets of competencies in foreign or non-English language or
technology courses that meet the college admission requirements and
one unit or set of competencies of a fine arts course. Students
shall also have attained a 2.5 grade point average in the core
curriculum courses. Students who attended a high school which did
not offer all the core curriculum courses or students who were
educated by other means and were not offered all the core curriculum
courses shall be allowed to satisfy this curriculum requirement by
participating in a program approved by the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education for remediation of high school curricular
deficiencies;
6. Have satisfied admission standards as determined by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first-time-entering
students for the appropriate type of institution, or, if attending a
private institution, have satisfied admission standards as
determined by the private institution. No student participating in
the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be admitted into
an institution of higher education by special admission standards;
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 16
7. Have secured admission to, and enrolled in, an institution
which is a member of The Oklahoma State System of Higher Education,
a postsecondary vocational-technical program offered by a technology
center school that meets the requirements to be eligible for federal
student financial aid, or a private institution of higher learning
located within this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
this title; and
8. a. have established financial need according to the
provisions of subsection D of Section 2605 of this
title and standards and provisions promulgated by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education,
b. if the student was adopted between birth and twelve
(12) years of age while in the permanent custody of
the Department of Human Services, in the court-ordered
custody of a licensed private nonprofit child-placing
agency, or federally recognized Indian tribe, as
defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare Act of
1978, have established financial need according to the
provisions of paragraph 1 of subsection E of Section
2605 of this title and standards and provisions
promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education, or
c. if the student was adopted between thirteen (13) and
seventeen (17) years of age while in the permanent
custody of the Department of Human Services, in the
court-ordered custody of a licensed private nonprofit
child-placing agency, or federally recognized Indian
tribe, as defined by the federal Indian Child Welfare
Act of 1978, have established financial need according
to the provisions of paragraph 2 of subsection E of
Section 2605 of this title and standards and
provisions promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents
for Higher Education.
B. 1. A student shall be eligible to participate in the
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and to qualify for an award
which includes payment of an amount equivalent to resident tuition
or other tuition pursuant to Section 2604 of this title for the
first semester or other academic unit of postsecondary enrollment if
the student meets all of the following criteria:
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 17
a. is a child of any person killed after January 1, 2000,
in the line of duty in any branch of the United States
Armed Forces or who died after January 1, 2000, as a
result of an injury sustained while in the line of
duty in any branch of the United States Armed Forces
and the person who was killed or died filed an
individual or joint Oklahoma income tax return for the
tax year prior to the year during which the person was
killed or died,
b. is a resident of this state or is enrolled in a school
district located in this state that serves students
who reside in both this state and an adjacent state
pursuant to a contract as authorized in Section 5-
117.1 of this title,
c. enrolls in an institution within The Oklahoma State
System of Higher Education prior to reaching the age
of twenty-one (21),
d. has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education for first-
time-entering students for the appropriate type of
institution, or, if attending a private institution,
has satisfied admission standards as determined by the
private institution. No student participating in the
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program shall be
admitted into an institution of higher education by
special admission standards,
e. has secured admission to, and enrolled in, an
institution which is a member of The Oklahoma State
System of Higher Education, a postsecondary
vocational-technical program offered by a technology
center school that meets the requirements to be
eligible for federal student financial aid, or a
private institution of higher learning located within
this state and accredited pursuant to Section 4103 of
this title, and
f. executes an agreement pursuant to subsection C of
Section 2605 of this title.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 18
2. A student who is eligible to participate in the program
pursuant to this subsection shall not be required to meet the
eligibility requirements set forth in subsection A of this section.
C. To retain eligibility while pursuing the program of higher
learning in which enrolled, the student shall:
1. Meet the requirements for retention and degree completion as
established by the institution in which the student is enrolled;
2. Maintain good academic standing and satisfactory academic
progress according to standards of the Oklahoma State Regents for
Higher Education;
3. Maintain satisfactory academic progress as required for
eligibility for federal Title IV student financial aid programs.
The provisions of this paragraph shall become effective for the
2012-2013 school year;
4. Comply with the standards related to maintenance of
eligibility as promulgated by the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher
Education; and
5. Refrain from conduct that leads to expulsion or suspension
of more than one semester from an institution of higher education.
A student who violates the provisions of this paragraph shall
permanently lose eligibility for program benefits. The provisions
of this paragraph shall become effective January 1, 2008.
D. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education and the
State Board of Career and Technology Education shall promulgate
rules relating to maintenance of eligibility under the Oklahoma
Higher Learning Access Act by a student.
E. It is the intent of the Legislature that students in the
ninth grade for the 1992-93 school year who are determined to be
eligible Oklahoma Higher Learning Access students pursuant to the
Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Act shall be the first students
eligible for benefits from the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Trust
Fund.
F. The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education are
authorized to study, develop, and propose criteria for determining
award eligibility based upon the completion of seven semesters of
high school coursework by a student.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 19
SECTION 8. This act shall become effective July 1, 2025.
SECTION 9. It being immediately necessary for the preservation
of the public peace, health, or safety, an emergency is hereby
declared to exist, by reason whereof this act shall take effect and
be in full force from and after its passage and approval.
ENR. H. B. NO. 1096 Page 20
Passed the House of Representatives the 15th day of May, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the House
of Representatives
Passed the Senate the 8th day of May, 2025.
Presiding Officer of the Senate
OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR
Received by the Office of the Governor this ____________________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________
Approved by the Governor of the State of Oklahoma this _________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
_________________________________
Governor of the State of Oklahoma
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY OF STATE
Received by the Office of the Secretary of State this __________
day of ___________________, 20_______, at _______ o'clock _______ M.
By: _________________________________