Tuition bill's future uncertain in state House

Tuesday, March 21st 2006, 6:13 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The chairman of the state House Appropriations committee says he hasn't decided whether to consider a state Senate bill to increase the number of students eligible for free college tuition.

Representative Chris Benge says he hasn't studied the measure that would raise the income ceiling for scholarships under the Oklahoma Higher Learning Access Program, or OHLAP.

The plan would raise the income level from $50,000 to $75,000 for a family to participate in the program. The change would make about 75 percent of high school students in the state eligible.

Students receive tuition scholarships if they enroll in the program, maintain a 2.5 grade point average in high school and stay out of trouble.

It cost $27-million to provide OHLAP scholarships to 12,000 students last year.