Cimarron is excited to announce that the state of Oklahoma has officially accepted Cimarron to participate in the Parental Choice Tax Credit. This last legislative session created some changes to the process and timeline, but our families interested in participating will be able to apply on February 18th for the 2025-2026 school year. We will update this page with any updated information over the next few months.
General Information
Update 12/8/25: Key Changes for the 2026-2027 School Year
Key changes:
- Beginning in 2026, the application window will open on March 15th and close on June 15th annually. Applicants will be notified within thirty (30) days of the closure of the application window (July 15th). Families of students who are approved for the tax credit will receive notification via email. Families of denied students will receive notification via mail (USPS). Families who are denied should determine whether they have an issue that can be addressed, and then allow them to reapply. Have questions? Email the Tax Commission at parents@okpsaedu.org.
- Priority considerations are:
- 1: Families with income $150,000 or below.
- 2: Families who received the credit the year prior.
- Applications for students who did not attend a private school in the previous year, and whose families have an income exceeding $150,000.01, will be processed on a first-submitted basis until the remaining tax credit funds are depleted.
- Families receiving SNAP, TANF, or SoonerCare do not have to submit income documents. DHS and the Health Care Authority will verify eligibility.
- Payments will be sent on an annual basis by August 30th, to the private school and require the parent’s signature.
Update 11/29/25
We have had a smooth beginning of the first year participating in the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit. 91% of CSLE families this school year are participating in the Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit, which for most students, now covers their tuition and fees– an incredible milestone in making our educational model more accessible.
For those looking towards the 2026-2027 school year, we will update the website soon with information regarding how to apply for the next school year’s tax credit and how it relates to admissions processes. In the meantime, we invite you fill out this short form in order to receive notification about school tours, information sessions, and any tax credit updates.
The Oklahoma Parental Choice Tax Credit program provides a refundable income tax credit of $5,000 – $7,5000 for eligible Oklahoma taxpayers who pay, or expect to pay, qualified expenses such as tuition and fees to an eligible private school on behalf of an eligible student that attends or plans to attend an eligible private school during that tax year.
Update 11/10/24
To apply for the tax credit, families will log into the tax credit portal and provide the requested information, along with a Verification of Enrollment Form provided by the school. The portal for the 2025-2026 school year will open on February 1, 2025.
Here are some important things to keep in mind:
- Applications for the 2025-2026 tax credit will open on February 18, 2024
- Priority applications (families with AGI under 150k) must be submitted within the first 60 days to receive priority consideration.
- The Oklahoma Tax Commission (OTC) will send the tax credit payments directly to the school in two installments– one by August 30th and the other by January 15th.
- Each installment payment will not exceed half of the allowable credit for the applicable school year.
- While the payments are sent to the school, the checks will be made payable to the taxpayer submitting the application. Taxpayers will be required to personally appear at the school to either sign the check over to the school or collect the check from the school if tuition and fees have already been paid.
- The credit is now exempt from Oklahoma state taxable income beginning in the tax year 2024 and thereafter. The Oklahoma Tax Commission cannot make a determination on whether a Parental Choice Tax Credit payment is taxable to a taxpayer for federal income tax purposes; that determination is based on each taxpayer’s individual facts and circumstances. Please contact your tax professional if you need more information.
We will update as we learn more from the Oklahoma Tax Commission regarding instructions.
If you have any questions regarding the tax credit, please visit: https://oklahoma.gov/tax/individuals/parental-choice-tax-credit.html
