Let’s return TOPS to its original intent

The panic has hit.  Louisiana legislators have decided to tinker with the beloved TOPS program.  While some refer to it as the largest middle-class welfare program operating in this state, others vehemently defend its merits.

Mr. Patrick F. Taylor initiated the TOPS program in 1989.  It was originally titled the Taylor Plan and was implemented for low and moderate-income students.  It incorporated family income caps and awarded qualified students, based on their academic achievements, with tuition and fees at any 4-year public college or university in Louisiana.  Students of low and moderate-income families had to earn a specified GPA, and score at a designated achievement level on the nationally given ACT to qualify.  It was basically a monetary trophy for academic success.

However, the plan was radically modified by Governor Mike Foster’s administration.  The name was changed to TOPS along with adding paid tuition at two year colleges.  The income caps were also removed which changed the focus of those benefiting from TOPS to primarily the middle and upper income groups. Every student in Louisiana became eligible for TOPS and was rewarded if they met the GPA and ACT test requirements.

The original Taylor Plan was never intended to be a free ride for every student in this state.  Mr. Taylor wanted to assist high performing students in families with extremely limited financial means.  He felt that high achieving students shouldn’t be deprived of a college education simply because of financial constraints.

If one researches the history of the original Taylor Plan it is obvious that TOPS no longer reflects its intended mission.  Additionally, the ACT requirements of the present plan are set so low that tuition for average performing students is now being paid for by the taxpayers.  TOPS requires students to get a 20 composite score on the ACT in addition to a specified GPA to qualify for paid tuition.  This score corresponds to the 48^th percentile.  A student achieving this performed better than 48% of the students taking the ACT nationwide.  Conversely, 52% of the test-takers outperformed this student.   In reality, a score of 20 on the ACT is below average performance nationwide, and sadly, while noteworthy in this state given our dismal national academic ranking, not really deserving of a scholarship funded by the taxpayers.

Our legislators need to return TOPS to its affordable, original intent and make it a needs-based, legitimate high-achieving academic rewards program.  Hopefully the latest budget crunch will force them to accomplish this.