Frequently Asked QuestionS
House Bill 1727
Application Process and Timing
When will the new Oklahoma’s Promise application be available?
The 2025-26 Oklahoma’s Promise application is coming soon! The application will be available this fall in time for high school seniors to apply before the Dec. 31 deadline.
Can students who graduated in May 2025 (or any previous year) still apply for Oklahoma’s Promise under the new eligibility track for children of teachers?
No. The new provisions related to HB 1727 are not retroactive. The new eligibility track will take effect beginning with students entering college in fall 2026 who apply for Oklahoma’s Promise during the 2025-26 school year.
What is the difference between the June 30 deadline and the Dec. 31 deadline?
The June 30 deadline is no longer the final deadline for students to apply. Dec. 31 of a student’s senior year is the new deadline for families to apply to the program. However, students are encouraged to apply early during their high school career, so that they ensure all program requirements are met before high school graduation.
Can students appeal if they miss the Dec. 31 deadline?
Yes, there is an exception process if a student misses the application deadline based on hardship circumstances. However, a student must have a completed application with documentation and be enrolled into the program prior to high school graduation. Please reach out to okpromise@osrhe.edu if you would like to pursue an exception to the Dec. 31 deadline.
What if a student is in a self-paced program and will likely graduate high school before the Dec. 31 deadline?
The student must submit a completed application prior to high school graduation.
Will there be a separate application for students applying under the teacher eligibility track?
No, all students will use the same application. It will have an option for applicants to indicate a parent is a teacher. The application will require additional information and documentation for teacher verification for students who apply under this provision.
I am a teacher, and I applied under the previous eligibility guidelines for my child before July 1, 2025, but want to switch our application to the teacher eligibility track. Do I need to resubmit my application?
You will not resubmit the application, but we are working on a process for you to move your application to the 2025-26 school year. This will be available on our website as soon as it is complete. Please understand that this change must be completed before Dec. 31 of the student’s senior year, and it cannot be changed after that date.
Can students who are not the child of a teacher still qualify for Oklahoma's Promise?
Yes. Oklahoma’s Promise still allows high school students from families meeting certain income eligibility requirements to earn a college or technology center tuition scholarship. The new teacher eligibility track allows children of certified classroom teachers to enter the program with higher income limits than the traditional program requirements.
Who Qualifies as a Teacher?
How many years of experience do I need for my child to qualify?
At the time an application is submitted, the parent must have completed 10 years as a full-time, certified public school teacher in Oklahoma. Those years do not have to be consecutive. The parent’s employment record will be checked each year when the child is enrolled in college to confirm the parent is still a full-time, certified public school teacher in Oklahoma.
Do I need to continue teaching after my child is enrolled?
Yes. The parent’s employment record will be checked each year when the child is enrolled in college to confirm the parent is still a full-time, certified public school teacher in Oklahoma.
Do my years as an alternative or emergency certified teacher count toward my 10 years of service?
Teachers who were alternatively certified can count those years toward their 10 years of service prior to applying for Oklahoma’s Promise. However, teachers with emergency certification may not count those years toward the 10-year service record.
Do private school teachers, career technology teachers, retired teachers or substitute teachers qualify?
No. The parent must be actively employed as a full-time teacher at an Oklahoma public school district.
Do counselors, librarians or other public school employees’ children qualify for the teacher eligibility track?
The children of school employees who hold valid Oklahoma certification in other roles may qualify for the teacher eligibility track if, as of the application date, the parent holds current Oklahoma teacher certification, is employed by an Oklahoma public school district, and has accumulated at least 10 years of service in both certification and district employment. The 10 years need not be consecutive or performed in the same district. Reach out to okpromise@osrhe.edu for more details if you are unsure if your child will qualify.
Do superintendents, principals, or other administrators’ children qualify for the teacher eligibility track?
Children of school administrators are not eligible for the scholarship under the teacher eligibility track, regardless of any teaching certifications these administrators might hold. However, if one parent is an eligible certified classroom teacher and the other is a school administrator, the child remains eligible for the scholarship through the qualifying teacher parent.
What documentation does Oklahoma's Promise use to evaluate the 10 years of certification and service?
Parents must submit copies of their employment and certification record. These documents should be available for download from the teacher’s Single Sign On account via the Oklahoma State Department of Education.
I meet the requirements for the teaching eligibility track. Will my stepchild qualify for this scholarship?
If the stepparent is a permanent legal guardian, the student could be eligible for the scholarship.
Financial Eligibility for the Teacher Eligibility Track
What is the maximum amount a family can make to get Oklahoma's Promise through the teacher eligibility track?
The household income needs to be under 700% of the federal poverty level. This level changes annually and is based on household size. The income level will be set at the time the student is enrolled in Oklahoma’s Promise.
Whose income is used to determine financial eligibility when the parents of the student are divorced?
The custodial parent’s household income will be used, regardless of which parent is the teacher. In the event that the noncustodial parent is the teacher, employment records from the Oklahoma State Department of Education will need to be submitted for the teacher parent.
When will the income level be checked?
Family income is checked at the time the student initially enrolls in the program and again each year the student is enrolled in college.
My student is already enrolled under the regular provisions of the program. I anticipate that our income may increase when my student goes to college. Do I need to reapply under the teacher eligibility track?
You have the option to move the student’s application to the 2025-26 school year under the teacher eligibility track. You will not resubmit the application, and we are currently working on a process. This will be available on our website as soon as it is complete. Please understand that this change must be completed before Dec. 31 of the student’s senior year, and it cannot be changed after that date.