Dorman Praises OHLAP Reforms

Dorman Praises OHLAP Reforms
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: State Rep. Joe Dorman
Capitol: (405) 557-7305
Email: joedorman@okhouse.gov
Dorman Praises OHLAP Reforms
OKLAHOMA CITY – Legislation that ensures continued funding of a state scholarship program approved today will benefit Oklahoma for years, state Rep. Joe Dorman said today.
"Education is a right that every American should enjoy and the Oklahoma Legislature took a huge step forward today by guaranteeing access to even the poorest of our state," said Dorman, a Rush Springs Democrat who co-authored the bill.
Senate Bill 820 provides a permanent funding source for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (also known as "Oklahoma's Promise") and implements new accountability and performance standards for the scholarship program. The bill passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 98-0 vote. It now goes to the governor for his signature.
OHLAP pays the college tuition of students from families earning less than $50,000 per year who take a rigorous college curriculum, maintain a 2.5 grade point average and exhibit good behavior during their high school years.
However, the program has been underfinanced in recent years. Senate Bill 820 corrects that situation by taking the money needed for scholarships "off the top" of general revenue collections each year.
The bill also contains several major reforms. One of the most contentious reforms is the implementation of a grade-point-average requirement for recipients. Currently, scholarship recipients continue receiving state aid even if they are failing most classes.
The new law will require OHLAP students to maintain the minimum GPA required by the State Regents for Higher Education during their freshman year, with a 2.0 minimum imposed during the sophomore year and at least a 2.5 GPA required for classes taken during the junior and senior years.
"Students should not lose their only chance at a college education because of one bad semester," Dorman said. "The compromise plan included in Senate Bill 820 provides a safety net. OHLAP was established to help low-income students whose high school grades aren't high enough to secure an academic scholarship. Those students will continue to have that opportunity under Senate Bill 820 even if they have an 'off' semester."
Dorman noted that he had experienced "one bad semester" in his junior year of college when he become too active in student groups and associations and let his grades slip.
"I was on OTAG and if there had been a grade requirement, I would have lost my access to funding," Dorman said. "I lost my priorities for one year and placed student government and other events above my classes. I fixed that after the sharp realization of seeing my grades, but this happens too often when students get away from home for the first time. They need to chance to succeed if they mess up once and this bill allows that now."
The legislation contains other reforms, including limiting scholarship eligibility to U.S. citizens or other individuals who are legally present in the country. Children who are home schooled would be eligible for the program for the first time under the bill if they meet all other requirements and score a 22 or higher on the ACT test. Senate Bill 820 also extends the "good conduct" requirements throughout a student's college years and includes an "anti-windfall" provision barring scholarships to students with family income greater than $100,000 at the time they start college.
"This is program allows students to live their dream to go to college without facing enormous debt upon graduation," Dorman said. "Senate Bill 820 will help create a higher-educated workforce in Oklahoma and allow the state attract more employers.
"This bill will do more good than any of the previous laws passed over the last decade to increase economic development. This was a true bipartisan effort to advance Oklahoma's promise to the next generation for a well-educated citizenry."
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Contact: Ray Carter, House Media
Capitol: (405) 557-7421
Contact: State Rep. Randy Terrill
Contact: State Rep. Tad Jones
Capitol: (405) 557-7346
Capitol: (405) 557-7380
House Approves OHLAP Reforms
OKLAHOMA CITY (May 25, 2007) – Lawmakers voted today to provide a permanent funding source for the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (also known as "Oklahoma's Promise") and implements new accountability and performance standards for the scholarship program.
Senate Bill 820 passed the Oklahoma House of Representatives on a 98-0 vote. It now goes to the governor for his signature.
"OHLAP students work hard and play by the rules to qualify for these scholarships. This legislation ensures that the state keeps its promise to those students by paying for their education," said state Rep. Tad Jones, a Claremore Republican who carried the bill in the House. "This legislation guarantees no qualified student is ever denied an education because of financial problems."
"Senate Bill 820 keeps 'Oklahoma's Promise,'" said state Rep. Randy Terrill, a Moore Republican who chairs the House Revenue and Taxation Subcommittee. "We're telling Oklahoma students that we will pay their tuition if they stay out of trouble and maintain their grades."
OHLAP pays the college tuition of students from families earning less than $50,000 per year who take a rigorous college curriculum, maintain a 2.5 grade point average and exhibit good behavior during their high school years.
However, the program has been underfinanced in recent years. Senate Bill 820 corrects that situation by taking the money needed for scholarships "off the top" of general revenue collections each year.
The bill also contains several major reforms. First, the legislation limits scholarship eligibility to U.S. citizens or other individuals who are legally present in the country.
Children who are home schooled would be eligible for the program for the first time under the bill if they meet all other requirements and score a 22 or higher on the ACT test.
"In Oklahoma, home-schooling is a constitutionally protected right," Terrill said. "It has always been the position of the House Republican caucus that government should not be in the business of discriminating against families who choose to educate their children by other means."
Senate Bill 820 extends the "good conduct" requirements throughout a student's college years. Current law applies that requirement only to the high school years.
Under the bill, any student who is expelled from college or suspended for more than one semester would lose his or her scholarship.
"When kids sign up for OHLAP in high school, they promise not to commit any criminal or delinquent acts or have substance abuse problems. We should expect the same from those students when they attend college," Terrill said. "Your conduct should live up to a certain standard if you want to go to school on the taxpayers' dime."
The bill also includes an "anti-windfall" provision barring scholarships to students with family income greater than $100,000 at the time they start college. Currently, the $50,000 income threshold applies only to the time of application.
The means test will not be applied to foster children.
"The bill allows for reasonable income growth between the time you apply for a scholarship and the time you begin receiving aid," Terrill said. "At the same time, it prevents people from gaming the system by manipulating their income tax returns."
Perhaps the most significant reform is a grade-point-average requirement. Currently, scholarship recipients continue receiving state aid even if they are failing most classes.
The new law will require OHLAP students to maintain the minimum GPA required by the State Regents for Higher Education during their freshman year, with a 2.0 minimum imposed during the sophomore year and at least a 2.5 GPA required for classes taken during the junior and senior years.
Terrill noted that other state scholarship programs, such as those offered in Georgia and Tennessee, impose higher GPA requirements.
"The purpose of the OHLAP program isn't simply to produce more college graduates; it's also to produce a better-quality college graduate," Terrill said. "Students will perform to expectations. We hope to incentivize better academic performance from OHLAP students."
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