Lowers the ACT score required for initial qualification for a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students award for students who complete approved home study programs (EN +$172,184 SG EX See Note)
Summary
HB 378 amends Louisiana’s Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) statute to change the alternate initial eligibility rules for students who complete approved home study programs. Under current law, home study students must score above the standard ACT threshold by a set margin to qualify for a TOPS award. This bill lowers that margin for initial qualification, reducing the required ACT composite score for home study students seeking TOPS awards.
The bill preserves the existing structure of the home study eligibility provisions but updates the score offsets applicable to different award types and award years. In practical terms, it makes it easier for home study graduates to meet the academic test-score requirement for TOPS, which is Louisiana’s state scholarship program for college tuition assistance. The bill is captioned as carrying an estimated state general fund cost, reflecting the potential increase in scholarship recipients.
Impact
HB 378 changes R.S. 17:5029, the statute governing alternative initial eligibility requirements for TOPS applicants who complete approved home study programs. It lowers the ACT score premium required above the baseline TOPS threshold for initial awards, affecting students in home study programs who seek Opportunity, TOPS-Tech, Performance, or Honors awards. The main legal effect is to expand access to state scholarship eligibility for this subgroup and potentially increase state scholarship expenditures.
Sentiment
The bill appears to have been broadly supported. It passed the House 88-6, the Senate 39-0, and the House concurred in Senate amendments 87-0, indicating strong bipartisan approval and little visible opposition in floor votes. The absence of committee transcript material limits insight into debate, but the voting record suggests the measure was viewed favorably as a targeted adjustment to scholarship eligibility rules.
Contention
The only apparent point of contention is the policy choice to lower the ACT score advantage required of home study students, which could be seen as either improving fairness and access or as reducing academic standards for a state-funded scholarship program. Any fiscal concern is tied to the bill’s estimated cost to the state general fund, since easier eligibility may increase the number of award recipients. No recorded committee debate is available here, so specific objections or sponsors’ rebuttals are not documented in the provided materials.