News Summary
Louisiana has approved new legislation allowing the introduction of the ‘Excellence’ award through the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). This award aims to cover full college tuition for a limited number of high-achieving students who meet specific academic criteria. Set to begin in Fall 2025, it is a strategic move to retain exceptional academic talent in the state amid concerns over declining participation in TOPS. The legislation also streamlines access for homeschool students, ensuring fair qualification standards across various student demographics.
Louisiana has taken a significant step to enhance educational opportunities for high-achieving students by passing new legislation that introduces the “Excellence” award through its Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS). This legislative move, encapsulated in House Bill 77, was recently approved by the Louisiana Legislature and is now pending the signature of Governor Jeff Landry.
The Excellence award is designed to provide full college tuition coverage for a limited number of top-performing students. Beginning in Fall 2025, students who qualify for this award could receive annual tuition support of up to $12,000 for attendance at public universities and up to $8,500 for eligible private institutions. Criteria to qualify for this prestigious award include achieving a score of 31 or higher on the ACT and maintaining a minimum GPA of 3.5.
It is expected that fewer than 900 students each year—representing less than 2% of the first-year college student population in Louisiana—will be eligible for this award. The estimated cost of the Excellence award is projected to be around $3 million for the upcoming fiscal year.
The legislation is a response to ongoing concerns that fewer high-achieving students have been choosing to remain in Louisiana for their higher education. Over the years, there has been a notable decline in participation in the TOPS program, as more of the state’s top students seek scholarship opportunities outside Louisiana. In light of this trend, the creation of the Excellence award aims to retain exceptional talent within the state.
House Bill 77 was initially broader in scope, aiming to adjust scholarship rates across the TOPS program to benefit over 48,000 recipients. However, this original proposal encountered resistance due to anxieties over increased costs and the possibility that it could limit scholarships for certain students at Louisiana State University (LSU). As a result, the final version of the legislation focused specifically on the Excellence award for high-achieving students.
In addition to the Excellence award, the new legislation includes provisions that facilitate access to TOPS for homeschool students. Previously, these students faced higher standards for qualifying ACT scores but are now required to meet the same minimum ACT scores as their peers. For the Opportunity award, the minimum score is 20, for Performance, it is 23, and for Honors, it is 27. The updated bill also allows homeschool students to qualify for TOPS by using scores from the Classic Learning Test, which is primarily taken by private and homeschool students.
Rep. Laurie Schlegel has underscored the potential impact of the Excellence award on Louisiana’s educational landscape, suggesting that it holds the promise of retaining the state’s most talented students. Current data indicates that just 40% of TOPS recipients achieve their bachelor’s degree within four years, which is significantly higher than the 10% graduation rate for non-TOPS students. This disparity illustrates the importance of enhancing the scholarship system to support student success and retention.
The Excellence award can be utilized at any public college or university within Louisiana, as well as select private institutions, marking a strategic effort by lawmakers to bolster merit-based awards while ensuring fair funding standards for both public and private higher education. This legislative adjustment signals a new commitment to fostering excellence in education and empowering the state’s most gifted students.
As Louisiana navigates the balance between improved educational funding and scholarship accessibility, the Excellence award represents a crucial development in the ongoing evolution of the TOPS program, aiming to sustain and enhance the academic future of aspiring students in the state.
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