[OKPromise-k12-counselors] OKPromise - legislative changes

[Alexander, Carol]

As you may remember, the Oklahoma Legislature passed legislation during
the 2007 legislative session restricting the eligibility of undocumented
immigrant students to receive state financial aid.  For all state
financial aid programs except Oklahoma's Promise, undocumented immigrant
students can be eligible only if they provide to the institution a copy
of a true and correct application or petition filed with the U.S.
Citizenship and Immigration Services to legalize the student's
immigration status.

 

For Oklahoma's Promise, a higher requirement was set for undocumented
immigrant students enrolling in the program after July 2, 2007.
Students enrolled by July 2, 2007 were "grandfathered" and remain fully
eligible to receive the program award.  Students who have enrolled in
Oklahoma's Promise in the 8th, 9th or 10th grade after July 2, 2007 must
be a United States citizen or lawfully present in the United States at
the time they enter college to receive the Oklahoma's Promise award.  

 

Please note that undocumented students that later become a United States
citizen or lawfully present may become eligible for the award at that
time; therefore; undocumented immigrant students in the 8th, 9th or 10th
grade are not restricted from enrolling in Oklahoma's Promise.

 

Some students in the 2010 high school graduation class of Oklahoma's
Promise students are the first students subject to this new requirement.
Of the approximately 10,000 students in the 2010 Oklahoma's Promise
graduating class, just over 3,700 enrolled as 10th-graders after July 2,
2007.  About two-thirds of the 2011 class, students that enrolled in 9th
or 10th grade, will be subject to this requirement.  Beginning with the
2012 class, all students in the graduating class will be subject to this
requirement.

 

In the eligibility letter we will send to each 2010 Oklahoma's Promise
graduating senior certifying their completion of the high school
requirements, we will also remind the student of this additional
condition for receiving the award.  In addition, the colleges and
universities will be provided with information regarding students who
enrolled after July 2, 2007 and are therefore subject to this
requirement.

 

If you have any questions, please contact the OKPromise office at
1.800.858.1840 or by e-mail at okpromise at osrhe.edu.

 

Carol Alexander 
Scholarship Coordinator 
Oklahoma's Promise
Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education 



 

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