The Louisiana lawmaker leading a study of the state’s TOPS college tuition scholarship program is recommending a rewrite of how awards are doled out to students.
Sen. Dan “Blade” Morrish, a Jennings Republican, wants to lessen the amount of tuition covered for students who reach the basic award level for a four-year college, giving them a flat $4,000 payment for the year.
He’s proposing to increase payments to higher-performing students.
Morrish offered the idea today to a legislative task force reviewing the TOPS program amid cost concerns. The program is expected to cost $291 million this school year. The task force will determine at another meeting whether to recommend Morrish’s proposal to state lawmakers.
The suggestion would require a change in state law, and it wouldn’t impact students currently receiving TOPS awards. It’s estimated to save about $20 million a year.
