Students who had the GPA, but were a few points shy of qualifying for TOPS in high school could get another shot at the scholarship under a bill that is almost to the governor’s desk. The legislation would allow students who scored 17, 18, or 19 on the ACT, but have a 3.2 GPA after two years in college to collect TOPS for their last two years. New Orleans Senator Wesley Bishop is the bill's sponsors.
The bill would affect 47 current Louisiana college students. Welsey says it’s unfair that college students who are excelling are forced to take on debt because of youthful mistakes.
Wesley says he was moved by stories of students who were valedictorians in high school, but just couldn’t perform on the ACT. The New Orleans Democrat says hard working students shouldn’t be punished just because they’re bad testers.
The bill passed committee and is on its way to the House floor.