Oklahoma’s Promise 101

1. Oklahoma’s Promise 101 Encyclo-Media 30 October 7, 2010 Carol Alexander and Lynn Dennis Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education

2. Oklahoma’s Promise • Purpose • To increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma. • To encourage more students from families with limited income to aspire for college, prepare for college academically, and earn college degrees. • Legislative Commitment • Beginning in 2008-09, the program was funded “off the top” from the state’s General Revenue Fund. This ensures that the program will be fully funded each year from a stable source of revenue.

3. Application Requirements • Student must currently be attending the 8th, 9th or 10th grade • Student’s family household income must be $50,000 or less • Must be an Oklahoma resident • Application must be submitted with a postmark on or before June 30, 2011.

4. Additional Requirements • Graduate from an Oklahoma high school (or other education program for homeschool students) • Complete the 17 unit curriculum with at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in these units • Achieve at least a 2.5 cumulative GPA in overall courses for grades 9-12 • Attend school regularly • Refrain from substance abuse • Don’t commit criminal or delinquent acts

5. Conduct Standards • According to the OKPromise rules, “Compliance with the program requirements for attending school regularly, refraining from substance abuse, and refraining from criminal or delinquent acts shall be determined according to the local school district's policy.” • Notify OKPromise as soon as possible, so that we can notify the student

6. Curriculum – 17 units • 4 English • 3 Lab Science • 3 Mathematics • 3 History and Citizenship Skills • 2 Foreign or Non-English Language OR Computer Technology • 1 Additional Unit of any of the subjects listed above • 1 Fine Arts or Speech

7. Parents’ Responsibilities • Provide proof of income • Sign the agreement • Promise to help the student meet the goals of the program • Provide information for second income limit upon graduation from high school

8. Benefits • Pays tuition only (fees are not included) at an Oklahoma public college or university; a portion of tuition at an Oklahoma private college or university or qualified career technology programs • Pays for the actual hours enrolled; recommend full-time enrollment • May be used until the completion of a bachelor’s degree or five consecutive years, whichever comes first

9. Second Income Limit • Initial income limit at the time of application is still $50,000 • Family income at the time the student enters college cannot exceed $100,000 • Applies to students who enter college for the first time in the fall 2012

10. Minimum College GPA • 2.0 GPA for courses taken through the sophomore year • 2.5 GPA for courses taken during the junior year and thereafter • Applies to students who enter college for the first time in the fall 2010

11. Award Rate • Fall 2008 – Guaranteed tuition rate went into effect at public 4-year institutions (tuition lock) • Effective 2009-10 and thereafter, OKPromise awards will be paid at the “non-guaranteed” tuition rate only.

12. Applications • Ways to Apply • Paper applications • Download application from the website • Online application • www.okpromise.org • Look for the Big Blue Button

13. Online Application • Provides immediate e-mail notification that the application has been submitted • Don’t have to hand-write forms • All correspondence from our office handled by e-mail

14. Online Application • Initial application has been received when they click submit. (met the deadline) • They must print the signature page and mail with income documentation • The application is not officially complete until all documentation has been received and an e-mail confirmation has been sent.

17. Good to Know • Recommend the online application • Suggest parents send all apps directly to OKPromise • If you do accept applications, please keep a copy • Remind them to expect a confirmation letter or e-mail • Never assume a student is enrolled • Lists available by e-mail anytime (okpromise@osrhe.edu) • Student/parent isn’t going to apply or follow through with an incomplete application because of different plans following graduation – encourage completion

18. Foster Care Students andStudents with Legal Guardians • Students in the foster care system should contact DHS for an OKPromise application at 405.521.4077. • Legal Guardian • No proof of income at the time of application • Documentation issued by a court of law authorizing legal guardianship is required

19. Adopted Students • Adopted Students – Expanded Income Eligibility • Applies only to students adopted while: • In the permanent custody of Oklahoma DHS; or • In the court-ordered custody of a licensed, private, non-profit child-placing agency; or • In the court-ordered custody of a federally recognized Indian tribe. • No initial income requirement at the time of application; proof of legal adoption required • 2nd income limit levels at the time of college enrollment • Birth to age 12 - $150,000 • Ages 13-17 - $200,000

20. Undocumented Immigrant Students • Undocumented Immigrant status – Students may enroll in OKPromise, however they must attain legal status before they will be eligible to receive awards in college. (Legal status does not apply to undocumented students who enrolled in the program prior to 2007-08.)

21. Total Family Income • Must be $50,000 or less • Includes taxed and untaxed income • Any money received by the parents is “income” for OKPromise purposes • Income that does not need to be reported to the IRS is still considered for OKPromise

22. Income Reported to the IRS • Form 1040, line 22 (total income) • Form 1040A, line 15 (total income) • Form 1040EZ, line 4 (adj. gross income) • If they do not file a tax return, they should check the box in Section 1 indicating this

23. What year’s income is used? • Income must be 2009 or 2010 income. • After April 15, 2011, we will be using the 2010 tax return and income only.

24. Untaxed Income • Untaxed Wages • Public Assistance • Social Security • Child Support • Veteran’s payments • Disability payments • Worker’s compensation

25. Whose income do we use? • Parents are divorced. Student lives with custodial parent and step-parent. • Parents are divorced. Student lives with non-custodial parent. • Parents are divorced with joint custody • Parents are separated but not divorced • Student in foster care (DHS, tribal, other)

26. Whose income? (cont.) • Incarcerated parent • Student has a legal guardian • Student lives with grandparents but do not have legal custody • Undocumented parent(s)

29. Curriculum Checklist – Why? • Tracking from time of signing up • Speeds up the final paperwork • Students know where they stand • Shows both GPAs • Helps the OKPromise office during evaluation • http://www.okhighered.org/okpromise/required-courses.shtml

30. Will a class count? • Check “What HS Courses Count...” on the OKPromise website: www.okpromise.org. • Is this considered a college-prep course? • Will the local college/university accept it toward college admission? • Does the NCAA accept this course? (This does not guarantee that the course will count, however if it does not count; chances are strong that it will not count for OKPromise.) [Exception: Computer Technology]

34. GPAs • Overall GPA – taken from school’s calculation on the transcript • Core GPA – calculated from 17 units (only) of the OKPromise curriculum • Honors/AP classes – the grading scale must be on the transcript to weight these courses • Cumulative GPA but not by subject area

35. Pass/Fail Grades • For purposes of calculating the GPA for the 17-unit core curriculum, all courses except fine arts or speech, that are transcripted with a P shall be assigned a grade level of D or the lowest passing grade assigned by the high school.

36. Ideas & Suggestions • Students (& parents) sign an agreement if they change/drop/add a course that will affect their OKPromise. (Be sure all school personnel are on the same page.) • Student is on track for OKPromise but decides to go into the military or attend college out of state after high school. -- Encourage the student to complete the OKPromise requirements to have something to fall back on in case the other plans don’t work out.

37. Other Issues • OKPromise students must meet the regular admission requirements in order to be eligible for the OKPromise award. • Students on IEPs (language from website) • “... to qualify for the scholarship, the core courses completed by the student must have the same academic content and be of the same academic rigor as the regular college preparatory core courses offered by the high school in the same academic subject.”

38. Electronic Transcript update • Service provided as part of Okcollegestart.org (student portal) • Allows transcripts to be transferred from HS to college electronically (no paper!) • Currently transferred as a .pdf (data file is coming) • Can be set up by the HS to auto update transcripts as they are available • OKPromise is moving to electronic evaluation and will be using this service

39. Electronic Transcript (cont.) For more information and contact information, please visit our website. • https://secure.okcollegestart.org/For_Educators/Transcript_Exchange_System.aspx

40. Contact Information okpromise@osrhe.edu OR 1.800.858.1840 (option 2) Lynn Dennis: ldennis@osrhe.edu Carol Alexander: calexander@osrhe.edu