In a move to enhance a longstanding effort aimed at healing and opportunity, the Oklahoma Senate has given unanimous backing to legislation purposed to update the Tulsa Reconciliation Education and Scholarship Program. As per an announcement shared by Oklahoma Senate, Senate Bill 1054 by Sen. Regina Goodwin, D-Tulsa, sets out to broaden the scope of the original scholarship program, now approaching its 25-year mark.
Initially spearheaded by a trio of lawmakers, including Representative Don Ross, Senator Maxine Horner, and Senate President Pro Tem Stratton Taylor, the original program was implemented as a means to address the historical trauma inflicted by the Tulsa Race Massacre. Senator Goodwin looks to not simply continue, but to expand the reparative reach, stating, "SB 1054 strengthens the program and its mission by improving access, helping create a brighter future for qualifying recipients through education." Notably, the legislation proposes to increase the qualifying family income limit from $70,000 to $125,000, reflecting current economic realities, and extends eligibility to qualified students from other states who are direct lineal descendants of Greenwood area residents during the massacre period.
The bill also includes a no-cap policy for descendants of the tragedy, ensuring they have full access to these educational resources. This extends the opportunity for descendants, irrespective of income, to pursue higher educational avenues. Moreover, SB 1054 allows the scholarship to be used at any college, university, or CareerTech within Oklahoma. "This is a transformational opportunity for young people to expand their horizons, and I am grateful to my fellow members for their unanimous support in the Senate," Goodwin said.
Having cleared the Senate, the bill is slated to now move to the House of Representatives to undergo further review. Rep. Jason Lowe, D-Oklahoma City, stands as the House principal author of SB 1054. The legislation's smooth sailing in the Senate bodes well for its future prospects, and it holds the potential to significantly alter the educational landscape for those affected by one of the darkest moments in Tulsa's, and indeed America's, history.
