[Oasfaa] Tulsa World Editorial on OHLAP expansion

[Fair, Bryce]

I overlooked this editorial this morning from the Tulsa World.

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Free tuition 
By World's Editorial Writers 
4/5/2006 

Proposal would boost eligibility 

If it survives the legislative process, a proposed law would make it easier for more Oklahoma high school students to take advantage of the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program. 

That program permits students with good grades and conduct to receive free, in-state tuition if their family's gross annual income is $50,000 or less. A proposal that so far has passed the Oklahoma Senate would boost that income limit to $75,000. 

Fifty-five percent of high school students qualify for the program. About 75 percent of students would be eligible for the program if the income limit was increased by $25,000. 

About 12,000 students are enrolled in the free tuition program this year, up from about 9,100 last school year. 

Some lawmakers support recipients staying in Oklahoma a certain number of years before they leave. That certainly sounds like a reasonable requirement. 

As Rep. John Wright, R-Broken Arrow, observed: "Right now, the state is picking up the tab, and the student is then picking up and hitting the road. That is not prudent. There comes a time we need to quit playing the taxpayer for a fool." 

Rep. Randy Terrill, R-Moore, supports including an income sliding scale that considers how many children a family has in college. He also would like to see the requirements on grades and conduct extended into college. 

The major problem with increasing the eligibility limit is that even with the lower eligibility requirement the program is not yet fully funded. This fiscal year $4.6 million in supplemental funding was needed for the program. 

Terrill is proposing OHLAP dip into excess oil and natural gas tax revenue to supplement state appropriations. 

OHLAP is one of the state's greatest economic development generators. It's not only students who are rewarded; Oklahoma is rewarded by increasing its number of college graduates. 

The Legislature should find a way to see that this program is fully funded at the higher level. OHLAP is and will continue to be a relatively expensive program to maintain. But the dividends of having a better educated population and workforce will raise this state's stature many times over. 

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Bryce Fair 
Assoc. Vice Chancellor for Scholarships & Grants 
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 
Phone:  (405) 225-9162 
Fax:  (405) 225-9230 
E-mail:  bfair at osrhe.edu 

Mailing Address: 
P.O. Box 108850 
Oklahoma City, OK  73101-8850 

Street Address: 
655 Research Parkway, Suite 200 
Oklahoma City, OK  73104