A TOPS task force will vote on a series of recommendations today they hope will bring long-term sustainability to the popular scholarship program. Jennings Senator Blade Morrish says under his proposal many TOPS students would not have their tuition fully paid for anymore.
Morrish proposes a 4,000 dollar stipend for TOPS Opportunity recipients, those are incoming freshman that have a C average high school grades. He says students that have a higher GPA and ACT score will receive higher financial awards.
Morrish says students who receive the 4-thousand dollar stipend can look at attending a community college, if they can’t afford a full tuition at LSU or a UL System school.
Governor John Bel Edwards has already said he doesn’t see the need to make major changes to TOPS. But Morrish says his plan is necessary to help maintain the program as the state struggles to pass a balanced budget.
Morrish’s proposal would need legislative approval during the regular session. He says if enacted, it would save the state 20-million dollars a year.