More of Oklahoma’s students will soon be able to take advantage of Oklahoma’s Promise, the state’s free tuition program, following the signing of Senate Bill 132.

The bill’s author, Sen. David Bullard, R-Durant, said it will provide students more time to decide whether they want to go to college or a career tech by allowing public and private school students to apply up through the 11th grade or up to the age of 17 for home-schooled students.

Currently, public and private school students can apply for the state tuition scholarship program, also known as the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program (OHLAP) any time between their 8th and 10th grade years while nontraditional students can apply up to the age of 16.

The bill expands eligibility to 11th grade public and private school students and 17-year-old home-schooled students. Applicants must also be an Oklahoma resident and have a federally adjusted annual gross family income of $55,000 or less, which will increase to $60,000 starting with the 2021-2022 school year.

There are about 30,000 high school students enrolled in the program and around 15,000 students attending college on an OHLAP scholarship.

The new law will be effective July 1.