§ 17:5081 — TOPS-Tech Early Start Award; purpose; eligibility; limitations; administration;

Louisiana § 17:5081

• Jurisdiction: Louisiana
• Title 17: Credit Union Law

Text

§5081. TOPS-Tech Early Start Award; purpose; eligibility; limitations; administration;
implementation; reports
A. The TOPS-Tech Early Start Award is hereby established as part of the Louisiana
Taylor Opportunity Program for Students for eligible eleventh and twelfth grade students
attending Louisiana public high schools.
B.(1) A TOPS-Tech Early Start Award may be used to fund any qualified program,
as determined by the advisory council pursuant to R.S. 17:3047.1.
(2) An eligible recipient may receive a TOPS-Tech Early Start Award for two
semesters during the eleventh grade and two semesters during the twelfth grade, excluding
summer sessions.
(3) The administering agency, on behalf of a TOPS-Tech Early Start Award
recipient, shall pay to the Louisiana postsecondary education institution in which the student
is enrolled in an eligible program of studies or a training program provider an amount of one
hundred fifty dollars for each three credit-hour or equivalent time course taken by the
student, not to exceed two such courses per high school semester for an eleventh-grade
student and two such courses per high school semester for a twelfth-grade student.
(4)(a) By January thirty-first annually, the State Board of Elementary and Secondary
Education shall determine which training program providers it approves for the academic
year that begins in the fall of that year.
(b) For the 2014-2015 academic year, the number of training program providers at
which a TOPS-Tech Early Start Award may be used shall be limited to five providers as
selected by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
(c) The State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education shall promulgate rules
and regulations in accordance with the Administrative Procedure Act to implement the
provisions of this Paragraph.
(5) Implementation of the provisions of this Section shall be subject to the
appropriation of funds for this purpose.
C. An application for a TOPS-Tech Early Start Award shall be required at a time and
in a manner and form established by the administering agency. At a minimum, information
necessary to fully inform Louisiana public high school students and their parents on the
requirements of and procedures for applying for the award shall be made available by the
administering agency in the same manner as required by law for other awards provided by
the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students.
D. To be eligible for an initial TOPS-Tech Early Start Award, a student shall meet
each of the following conditions and comply with other applicable provisions of this Section
and administering agency rules:
(1) Be in the eleventh or twelfth grade in a Louisiana public school.
(2) Have prepared a five-year education and career plan, including a sequence of
related courses with a career focus as provided by Subpart A-1 of Part III of Chapter 1 of this
Title.
(3) Have a cumulative high school grade point average on all courses attempted of
not less than 2.0 when calculated on a 4.0 scale.
(4) Meet one of the following:
(a) Score at least fifteen on the English subsection and fifteen on the mathematics
subsection of the ACT PLAN assessment or a successor assessment administered as part of
Louisiana's Educational Planning and Assessment System or the ACT or an equivalent
concordant value of the SAT.
(b) Attain a silver level score on the assessments of the ACT WorkKeys system.
(c) Meet the eligibility requirements for technical dual enrollment courses as
determined by the Board of Regents.
E. To maintain continuing eligibility for a TOPS-Tech Early Start Award, a student
must meet each of the following conditions and comply with other applicable provisions of
this Section and administering agency rules:
(1) Be a student in good standing in a Louisiana public high school.
(2) Maintain a cumulative high school grade point average on all courses attempted
of not less than 2.0 when calculated on a 4.0 scale.
(3) Be a student in good standing while enrolled in a Louisiana public or nonpublic
postsecondary education institution or training program and continue to pursue one or more
courses leading to an industry-based credential.
F.(1) Except as otherwise provided by this Section, the authority granted to and
limitations placed on the administering agency by Parts I and II of this Chapter relative to
administering other awards pursuant to the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students shall
be deemed to apply also to the administration of the TOPS-Tech Early Start Award.
(2) The administering agency shall adopt, in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure Act, rules to implement and administer the provisions of this Section. Such rules
shall include but not be limited to necessary guidelines, policies, procedures, forms, and time
lines.
G. Prior to the convening of each regular legislative session, the administering
agency shall provide to the governor, the House Committee on Education, and the Senate
Committee on Education a written review and analysis of TOPS-Tech Early Start awards
relative to award use by students and the benefits therefrom as well as the impact on
subsequent use by students of TOPS-Tech awards.

Legislative History

Acts 2015, No. 227, §1; Acts 2015, No. 403, §3; Acts 2017, No. 97, §1; Acts 2025, No. 152, §1, eff. June 8, 2025.