Last verified: October 2026. Agencies revise these programs every year, so confirm details with the office named in each section.
Where should a Tulsa family start paying for private school?
Begin with the state credit: its March 15 to June 15 window doesn't move and your income tier fixes its size, then work outward to the sources that fill whatever is left.
What comes after the tax credit?
Next comes the school's own need-based grant, then a scholarship from an SGO such as GO for Catholic Schools or the Opportunity Scholarship Fund, and for Catholic families the Saint Francis of Assisi Trust. Keep in mind that a discount recorded by the school lowers the tuition the credit is figured on.
Can a Tulsa child on an IEP get more help?
Yes. The Lindsey Nicole Henry scholarship can pay an OSDE-approved school for tuition, fees and services such as therapies or an aide, and 27 Tulsa-area schools are on the current approved list.
What about younger brothers and sisters?
Public pre-K is free at age 4, CAP Tulsa runs free early education from 6 weeks old for eligible Tulsa County families, and OKDHS child care subsidy helps with licensed care under its income limit.
How do I see my own numbers?
Run the credit estimator for a per-child figure, then take the two-minute funding check so a tuition counselor can add the sources that match your school and your dates.
How do these options line up side by side?
| Source | What it is | Who can use it | How much | How the money moves | What it isn't |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Parental Choice Tax Credit (PCTC) | Refundable Oklahoma income tax credit | Oklahoma residents from pre-K at age 4 through grade 12 at an accredited, registered private school; every income level | $5,000-$7,500 per student by AGI tier, never more than tuition and fees | Tax Commission check mailed to the school in the parent's name | Not an ESA, not a debit card, and not usable for outside tutors or devices |
| Lindsey Nicole Henry Scholarship (LNH) | OSDE scholarship for students with disabilities and a few other groups | Children from PK3 up on an IEP, plus several foster, military and homeless-school routes | Computed per child from the state aid formula; never above the school's charges; OSDE keeps up to 2.5% | Warrant to the parent, mailed to the school and endorsed over | Not usable at a school OSDE hasn't approved |
| Homeschool tax credit | Refundable Oklahoma income tax credit | Families teaching at home under Oklahoma's homeschool exception | Up to $1,000 per student per tax year | Claimed on the state return for the year you paid | Not a tuition credit, and it excludes internet service and out-of-state trips |
| SGO scholarships (GO for Catholic Schools, OSF and others) | Donor-funded private scholarships | Set by each organization, often need-based | Set by each organization | Usually paid to the school | Not guaranteed; awards depend on what donors give |
What is the next step?
Take the two-minute funding check. A tuition counselor will confirm your credit tier, any LNH or Catholic aid, and the dates you need to hit.