Holy Trinity Catholic School Principal Alice Newman isn’t actively recruiting new students to her school.

However, she does have a desire to make local families - especially those with students already enrolled in her school - aware of tuition relief made available by recent legislation.

“I want people to know about it and make their decisions accordingly,” Newman told the Times & Free Press. “A lot of times when I talk with people and bring it up, they’re unaware of it.”

Newman is referring to the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit Act, which was created earlier this year when House Bill 1934 was signed into law.

The law allows for $5,000 to $7,500 per pupil to attend a private school like Holy Trinity.

It goes into effect beginning January 2024, but the application process to become eligible is near.

An application portal will be open from Nov. 1 through Dec. 15, which is sooner than what many school leaders were originally told.

“Everything was set to begin to apply supposedly on Dec. 8, so we were slowly getting our stuff in place,” Newman said.

“And they changed the date to Nov. 1, so there’s that window to apply, but we still don’t have a lot of the details involved.”

What details the school does know is set to be shared at an information meeting at 6 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 19, at the school.

“We don’t know exactly what’s going to be in the portal, but it’s going to be tremendous for Catholic schools and, hopefully, particularly us.”

Newman said there’s one big misconception about families who send their children to a private school.

“Especially in this area,” she said, “it’s that the people who send their kids are rich people. They’re just people who want something better or different.”

Originally thought the funds would be first-come, first-served, Newman said that’s now known to not be the case.

The money made available will be based on income and the initial application process will be based on the 2022 tax return.

Priority will be given to families whose gross adjusted income is less than $150,000.

Those who earn $75,000 and below will be eligible for the full $7,500. Those who earn $75,000 to $150,000 can be eligible for $7,000 per pupil.

The funds are for education- related fees such as tuition, textbooks, technology, activities and uniforms.

The amount a family can receive incrementally decreases until those making over $250,000 will receive $5,000 per pupil.

Homeschool families can qualify for $1,000 per child for educational expenses as well.

Lawmakers set aside $150 million for the tax credits in the first year. That allocation will increase to $200 million in the 2025 tax year and $250 million in 2026.

It will all, including the application process, be handled through the Oklahoma Tax Commission.

Mike Sanders, the executive director of the Oklahoma Broadband Office, is also on the Holy Trinity advisory board.

He said that aspect of the law is important.

State and other entities have come under fire in how the Oklahoma Governor’s Emergency Education Relief (GEER) Fund dollars were used. A state audit revealed that $1.7 million of the initial $8 million distributed to low-income families were not used for educational purposes.

A federal audit reported that the state failed to properly oversee that project.

“This is nothing like GEER,” Sanders stated. “This will show up on your taxes. Depending on your taxes, the more you make, the lower the tax credit you’ll get.

“If you’re below the poverty line, you’ll get the max. But families won’t be getting this money back into their pocket. The Oklahoma Tax Commission is in full control of this. They’re the ones coming up with the regulations and the rules.”

That’s information Newman and others will go over at Thursday’s meeting and she urges families to at least be prepared for the application process.

“They need to apply,” Newman said. “Nobody loses in this and it’s something that can greatly enhance not only the parents and families, but our school as well.”