Oklahoma Readiness Policies
Oklahoma
High School and Postsecondary Alignment
SREB’s Challenge to Lead 2020 goals call for states to align middle grades and high school policies with college-readiness standards, to recognize multiple paths to graduation and to provide students with diverse postsecondary options and resources. The following tabs summarize how Oklahoma aligns its policies to promote smooth transitions for students through high school and beyond.
Oklahoma
College and Career Readiness Definitions
Each student graduating with a diploma from an Oklahoma public school will be ready for college or career without the need for remediation and will be citizen ready, meaning they will know something about our government and the history of our nation.
Oklahoma
College and Career Planning in K-12
State law requires school districts to develop individual career and academic planning tools for students in grades 6-12. The Oklahoma State Department of Education provides OklahomaEDGE to help all students achieve their postsecondary goals by providing career exploration, guidance and equitable resources. EDGE also provides resources and information regarding Individual Career Academic Plans, a requirement for students entering the ninthgrade in the 2019-2020 school year to earn a standard diploma. The Individual Career Academic Plan is updated annually to provide written postsecondary and workforce goals, intentional sequence of courses that reflect progress towards those goals and the student’s academic progress.
Oklahoma Career Guide is an online tool to help all Oklahomans explore future career opportunities, develop education plans, and connect with employers. It is offered to students as well as educators, parents, adults, and veterans.
Students may use OKJobMatch to search for training and education providers that align with their career goals, including Local Workforce Investment boards that provide workforce investment activities for youth.
State law authorizes districts to develop mentorship programs to promote higher graduation rates for at-risk students. Mentors provide advice and counsel to students on crafting their graduation plans, exploring careers and selecting courses.
Oklahoma administers a statewide, federally funded GEAR UP program, which partners with 10 rural school districts with high poverty rates and low college-going rates to provide academic planning, mentoring, financial aid planning and college application assistance.
The Oklahoma College Assistance Program offers UCanGo2, a comprehensive college access and outreach Web portal that aims to facilitate access to postsecondary education in Oklahoma and educate students, parents, instructors, counselors and community partners about preparing, planning and paying for college. Components include campus and community workshops, print publications, a college planning hotline and a variety of online tools.
OKCollegeStart.org is an online platform where middle grades, high school and college students as well as adult learners can explore careers, plan their high school course work, and prepare to enroll in and pay for college.
Oklahoma
High School Graduation Requirements
Course and Diploma Requirements for Students Entering the Ninth Grade in 2022 and Beyond
Students must complete at least 23 units to earn a standard high school diploma. The College-Preparatory/Work-Ready curriculum is Oklahoma’s default diploma path. Parents or guardians may waive this curriculum if they wish, which places their students onto the Core diploma path. Regardless of the path chosen, all students must complete a personal financial literacy passport requirement as well as a CPR/AED requirement. Students must also participate in Service Learning and/or work-based learning activities at least once in grades 9-12.
|
Subject |
Core Curriculum |
College Prep/Work Ready |
|---|---|---|
|
English |
4 credits to include: English I English II English III English IV Other approved course |
4 credits: English I English II English III English IV or other approved courses |
|
Math |
3 credits from: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Trigonometry, Math Analysis, Calculus, Advanced Placement Statistics, or any mathematics course with content and/or rigor above Algebra I and approved for college admission requirements |
3 credits from: Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Algebra III, Pre-Calculus or another approved math course |
|
Science |
3 credits: 1 credit: Biology I 2 credits from courses including, but not limited to life, physical, or earth science or technology or qualified agriculture course, approved STEM Block course, contextual science course that enhances technology preparation |
3 credits: 1 credit: Biology I 1 credit from Chemistry, Physics, or Physical Science 1 credit from another approved lab science course |
|
History and Citizenship |
3 credits: 1 credit: U.S. History 1/2 credit U.S. Government 1/2 credit Oklahoma History 1 credit from history, government, economics, civics, or non-western culture |
3 credits: 1 credit: U.S. History 1/2 credit U.S. Government 1/2 credit Oklahoma History 1 credit from history, government, economics, civics, or non-western culture |
|
The Arts |
1 credit: courses from music, art, drama and humanities |
1credit from music, art, drama, dance, humanities or speech |
|
Diploma Specific Requirements |
1 credit: course options include World Language or Computer Technology (excludes keyboarding or typing courses) |
2 sequential World or Non-English Language OR Computer Technology courses (excludes keyboarding or typing courses) 1 additional unit in English, Math Science, History, World Languages, Computer Technology or one additional unit from CTE, concurrently enrolled, AP, IB or other approved courses |
|
Electives |
8 elective credits |
6 elective credits |
|
Total Credits |
23 |
23 |
Senate Bill 1422 (2014) allows certain future high school senior students to substitute AP computer science for any math requirement.
Assessment Requirements
The Oklahoma School Testing Program administers end-of-instruction exams in English language arts, math, and science course subjects as well as U.S. History, in compliance with ESSA and aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards. Students in grade 11 will be given the Oklahoma College and Career Readiness Assessment which is composed of Science content and U.S. History content, both aligned with the Oklahoma Academic Standards. Grade 11 students also take either the ACT or SAT with writing sections.
Oklahoma
Accelerated Learning Options in High School
Competency-Based Credit
High school students may earn credit for a course through Proficiency Based Promotion when they demonstrate proficiency on a district-designated assessment in the areas of language arts, math, social studies, science, languages and the arts. Through Continuous Progress and Acceleration policies, students may move ahead in courses faster than average by demonstrating advanced abilities and mastery of subject matter.
Career and Technical Education
The Oklahoma Department of Career and Technology Education has organized its secondary Skills Standards into 17 career clusters. HB 1364 (2019) requires that the Oklahoma Department of Commerce work with the State Department of Education and the Commission for Educational Quality and Accountability to review, approve and provide career-readiness assessments to high school students that lead to nationally recognized work-readiness certificates or credentials within the career clusters. Beginning with the 2019-2020 school year, public school districts that choose to administer an approved assessment must do so at least once to each interested student at no cost. Assessments should align with research-based skill requirement profiles for specific industries and occupations.
Dual Enrollment and Dual Credit
Eligible high school juniors and seniors may earn college credit by enrolling in college early through concurrent enrollment while they continue to work on their high school diplomas. Students may enroll in up to 19 combined high school and college credits per semester, so long as they have met minimum requirements including ACT composite score, high school GPA and/or high school class rank and continue to maintain a 2.0 GPA. Students must have a signed statement from either a counselor or principal confirming the student is on track to graduate by the spring of their senior year, in addition to a parental signed release form. Eligible seniors are entitled to receive tuition waivers for up to 18 credit hours. The following table shows the concurrent enrollment standards for students attending accredited high schools beginning fall 2020.
|
University Type |
ACT Score |
Pre-ACT Score (Grade 10) |
SAT |
PSAT (Grade 10) |
GPA and Class Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Research Universities |
24 |
24 |
1160 |
1160 |
3.0 (unweighted) and top 33.3% |
|
Regional Universities |
20 |
20 |
1030 |
1030 |
3.0 (unweighted) and top 50% |
|
Community Colleges |
19 |
19 |
990 |
990 |
3.0 (unweighted) |
Advanced Placement/International Baccalaureate
AP courses are college-level courses offered to high school students as an opportunity to earn college credit through examinations administered by the Advanced Placement Program of the College Board. AP potential can be determined through student’s performance on the PSAT/NMSQT or 10th grade ACT PLAN tests. The Oklahoma Department of Education provides grants to reduce AP test fees for low-income students as well as for students who take more than one AP course in one school year.
Beginning with the 2024-25 school year, 70 O.S. § 1210.704 will require all public high schools to make at least four advanced placement courses available to all high school students. Courses may be delivered on-site at the high school, at a career and technology institution, at another school site or online.
High school students in grades 11 and 12 may also enroll in International Baccalaureate courses and will have a portion of their testing fees paid if they take more than one exam in a school year.
Early College High Schools
There are several early college high schools in the state of Oklahoma. Early colleges offer high school students the opportunity to earn an associate degree or up to two years of college credits in their junior and senior years while completing a high school diploma. Courses are often held on the associated college campus, but some are offered in current high schools as well.
The Oklahoma City Community College hosts Oklahoma’s only middle college — the Santa Fe South Pathways Middle College. This program is designed to provide students the opportunity to earn an associate degree of up to two years of college credit while completing their high school diploma.
Oklahoma
Postsecondary Admission Requirements
Four-Year Institutions
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education require applicants to complete a 15-unit pre-college curriculum. Institutions admit applicants through a combination of performance measures, including high school GPA, class rank and ACT and SAT scores. Board rules stipulate minimum standards for admission to research universities, regional universities, and community and technical colleges. Institutions may make exceptions to minimum standards for up to 8% of first-time freshmen class or 50 students, whichever number is greater.
Required High School Curriculum
|
Subject |
Units |
Course Requirements |
|---|---|---|
|
English |
4 |
Courses should integrate a writing component |
|
Math |
3 |
Options include Algebra I, geometry, Algebra II, trigonometry, math analysis, pre-calculus and statistics |
|
Science |
3 |
Three laboratory sciences (e.g., biology, chemistry, physics) |
|
History & Citizenship |
3 |
One unit of American history and two additional units from history, economics, geography and government |
|
Other |
2 |
Options include courses in additional core subjects (including Advanced Placement), computer science and foreign language |
|
Total |
15 |
|
Minimum Performance Requirements for First-Time Students
|
Institution or Type |
Option 1: Standardized |
Option 2: GPA and Class Rank |
Option 3: GPA in Pre-College Core |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Oklahoma State University |
24 ACT/ 1160 SAT |
GPA: 3.0 Class Rank: Top 33% |
GPA: 3.0 21 ACT/ 1060 SAT |
|
University of Science and Arts of Oklahoma |
24 ACT/ 1160 SAT 3.0 or Top 50% Rank |
GPA: 3.0 Class Rank: Top 25% |
GPA: 3.0 22 ACT/ 1100 SAT |
|
Regional Universities |
20 ACT/ 1030 SAT |
GPA: 2.7 Class Rank: Top 50% |
GPA 2.7 |
Two-Year and/or Technical Colleges
Applicants must possess high school diplomas or GED credentials. Students who plan to enter a degree or certificate program must complete the 15-unit, pre-college curriculum requirements and present scores from the ACT or a similar assessment.
Oklahoma
Postsecondary Placement Policies
Statewide
State policy exempts students from remedial and developmental education if they score 19 or higher on each ACT subtest. However, institutions may establish higher standards by requiring additional testing of those students meeting or exceeding the minimum ACT subject test score requirement.
State policy requires institutions to develop entry-level assessment programs for students scoring below the ACT thresholds. These programs should evaluate students’ academic qualifications, goals, study skills, values, and motivation. Students placed in developmental education must start in their first semester and complete these courses within the first year or before completing 24 credit hours.
The president or the president’s designee may allow exceptions on an individual basis for students with extenuating circumstances. Institutions must report these exceptions to the Oklahoma state regents for higher education.
Oklahoma
State Financial Aid for Undergraduates
Merit-Based Aid
The state awards Academic Scholars Program grants to automatic and institutional qualifiers. Automatic recipients qualify through their designation as National Merit Scholars, National Merit Finalists, or United States Presidential Scholars, or by scoring at or above the 99.5 percentile on the ACT or SAT. Participating postsecondary institutions may nominate institutional qualifiers. Award amounts vary by institution. Recipients attending public institutions are eligible to receive a tuition waiver in addition to the grant award.
Need-Based Aid
The state funds three need-based grant programs and provides a limited number of merit-based grants under the Academic Scholars Program. Applicants for need-based programs must complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.
Eighth, ninth and 10th grade students are eligible for the Oklahoma Promise Scholarship. Students may qualify for the grant if they complete the 17-unit core curriculum with a cumulative grade-point average of 2.5 and participate in Promise activities. At program enrollment, parental income must be under $60,000 with one or two dependents. At college enrollment, parental incomes shall not exceed $100,000. Award amounts vary based on the institution and credit-hour enrollment. Students will receive aid each year for up to five years only if parental incomes stay under $100,000.
The Oklahoma Tuition Aid Grant provides financial assistance to residents who attend eligible postsecondary institutions and career technology centers. Maximum qualifying Expected Family Contribution scores vary based on the number of applications received. Students at public institutions receive a maximum annual award of $1,000 or 75% of enrollment costs, whichever is less. Recipients attending nonpublic institutions receive a maximum award of $1,300.
The Oklahoma Tuition Equalization Grant provides financial aid to high school seniors and current college students attending nonpublic institutions if their family income is under $50,000. The maximum annual award is $2,000.
Hybrid
The Future Teachers Scholarship Program was established as an incentive to encourage the preparation of teachers in critical shortage areas in the public schools of Oklahoma. Students must be nominated by their college and meet GPA and ACT/SAT score requirements. Recipients may receive the scholarship for no more than four years.
Oklahoma
Postsecondary Feedback to High Schools
The Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education produces the High School Indicators report. The document provides feedback to districts, counties, and high schools on the college-going rates and first-year success of recent graduates. Indicators include enrollment rates, first-year GPA and credits earned, mean ACT scores by high school, and the number and percentage of students taking remedial or developmental courses by subject.
