Education panel examines declining Louisiana TOPS eligibility and student retention trends

The Louisiana Legislature convened on April 16, 2025, to discuss the current state of the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), addressing significant trends and challenges affecting student eligibility and acceptance rates. The meeting began with an overview of the program, highlighting three primary reasons for the decline in student eligibility compared to previous years.

Firstly, demographic shifts in graduating classes have resulted in larger cohorts exiting the program than those entering. This trend is expected to stabilize around 2024-2025. Secondly, the number of graduates processed for eligibility has decreased, largely due to privacy laws that limit data access for students who do not provide parental consent. Lastly, the percentage of students meeting the eligibility criteria has also declined, with only 46.3% of processed graduates qualifying for TOPS.

The discussion then shifted to the reasons behind this decline. While many assume that low ACT scores are the primary factor, the data revealed that GPA also plays a significant role. Students who do not meet the minimum GPA of 2.5 or have ineligible ACT scores contribute to the growing number of ineligible graduates.

The committee also examined trends in student acceptance of TOPS awards. From the 2014-2015 academic year to 2023-2024, acceptance rates for TOPS Opportunity Performance and Honors (OPH) awards dropped from 89.4% to 81.1%. Notably, 8.7% of students who did not accept the award chose to attend out-of-state institutions, with Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama identified as the primary destinations.

In contrast, the acceptance rate for TOPS Tech awards has seen a decline from 23.8% to 20.1%, with nearly 80% of students opting not to accept the award. The committee expressed concern over the high non-acceptance rate, particularly as many students enrolled in programs not eligible for TOPS funding.

The meeting concluded with a call for further discussions on the implications of these trends for Louisiana's high schools and the need to enhance student preparedness for TOPS eligibility. Legislators emphasized the importance of addressing these issues to ensure that more students can benefit from the program and remain in the state for their higher education. The committee plans to continue monitoring these trends and explore potential solutions to improve student outcomes in the future.