While lawmakers may be considering ways to trim the costs of Louisiana’s free college tuition program, Gov. John Bel Edwards said on Monday he isn’t interested in tweaking the much-beloved TOPS program.
“I would prefer that we keep TOPS as is,” the Democratic governor said.
TOPS, which began covering tuition costs in 1998, is credited with improving high school performance and college graduation rates in a poor state that has labored to boost education attainment. But costs have shot up to an estimated $291 million this school year, as more students reached the eligibility standards and as tuition on college campuses rose in response to direct higher education funding cuts by state lawmakers over the past decade.
The price tag is alarming some lawmakers as the state continues to grapple with budget shortfalls. Lawmakers convened a study group to make recommendations for changes to TOPS. That group is scheduled to start discussing proposals Thursday, for consideration in the legislative session that begins in March.
It’s questionable whether they will be able to come up with ideas that could win Edwards’ backing.
“I don’t favor changing TOPS; I favor funding TOPS,” he said.
