Senate Leaders Vow Full Funding for OHLAP

Senate Leaders Friday pledged once again to fully fund the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program and said that they are insulted by suggestions that the program is floundering.

“No qualifying student has ever been turned down for an OHLAP scholarship and no qualified student ever will be,” said Senate Appropriations Chairman Mike Morgan, D-Stillwater. “My commitment and the commitment of Senate Leadership to this vital program has been unwavering from its inception and we remain committed to expanding the opportunity for higher education to even more Oklahoma students.”

Senate President Pro Tempore Cal Hobson and Senator Johnnie Crutchfield, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Education, joined Morgan Friday in vowing to ensure that OHLAP is fully funded.

“One published news story makes the claim that Oklahoma can no longer afford to fund the program from the state’s general fund. We can’t afford not to fund this program from the general fund or whatever means necessary. We have to do all we can to increase the number of college graduates in Oklahoma and offering a college education to more qualifying high school graduates is the best way to accomplish that,” said Hobson, D-Lexington.

OHLAP provides tuition scholarships for students who maintain a minimum grade point average, complete a college preparatory curriculum in high school and whose annual family income is below $50,000.

“This program has a been a tremendous success. The number of students from working families who are taking part in the program – both those students in college now and those who are still in high school who have already signed up – is growing every single year. We are committed to making sure funds are there to pay the tuition for every qualifying student,” Crutchfield said.

Suggesting that funding may not be in there in the future is a “scare tactic” being used by some lawmakers who are trying to turn high school and college students and their parents into political pawns, Hobson said.

OHLAP’s funding needs have grown dramatically since the program was initiated in 1996. Growing awareness of the program is only part of the reason for the growth. In 1999, then Senator Maxine Horner, D-Tulsa, sponsored a bill that raised the maximum qualifying family income level to $50,000.

It is estimated that more than 17,000 students will be enrolled in Oklahoma colleges and universities on OHLAP scholarships by 2008 with a cost of $47 million.

“That’s dramatically more than the $1 million the program cost in its first year, but we are committed to funding it. We don’t see it as an expense. It’s an investment and investing in a college education for more of our state’s students will pay tremendous dividends for Oklahoma. This program is a fundamental part of making tomorrow better for our children and we intend to see that it is fully funded,” said Crutchfield, D-Ardmore.

Last year, lawmakers earmarked 12 percent of the state revenue from the State-Tribal Gaming Act approved by state voters in November to OHLAP. It is estimated that once fully implemented the Act will generate $71 million with $8.5 million going to augment OHLAP funding. The amount available to fund OHLAP in the current fiscal year will be far less than that, Senate leaders acknowledged.

“State law now sets aside a portion of gaming revenue as an additional source of funding for OHLAP. It was never intended as the sole source of paying for those scholarships. There are a variety of funding sources we can tap to make sure this program is fully funded and we will do what is necessary to make sure that no qualifying student is left behind,” Morgan said.

Crutchfield and Morgan said that a supplemental appropriation may be needed for OHLAP in the current fiscal year and they are prepared to seek its passage.

Two years ago when a $700 million revenue shortfall forced lawmakers to slash state agency budgets, OHLAP funding was increased, Morgan noted.

“We demonstrated how committed we are to OHLAP when we made sure that funding was available for scholarships during the most difficult budgeting time in state history,” Morgan said.