The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students is slated for a massive budget cut for the upcoming fall and spring semesters, as Gov. John Bel Edwards announced a $183 million reduction to the nearly $300 million budget for the program.
If the Legislature does not find more money for the program, students with less than a 26 on the ACT would no longer qualify for TOPS. The state will also factor in the earnings of each student’s family when awarding the scholarship for the upcoming academic year. Currently, students must make a 20 ACT score and 2.5 GPA to qualify.
Assuming no change in the number of students, the budget cut would take the scholarship away from more than 30,000 students who either currently receive TOPS or planned on qualifying for the award when looking for colleges. As of now, more than 46,000 students receive TOPS.
The February special legislative session dedicated to solving the budget crises fell short of its goal, leaving an almost $800 million gap for the fiscal year beginning July 1.
But the money raised in that session and savings from Medicaid expansion allowed Edwards to restore some funding to TOPS, originally in line for an 80 percent cut, which would have stripped all but those with a 28 ACT score of the award.
The only agency taking a bigger cut than TOPS is the Department of Health and Hospitals, which will have its funding reduced by $408 million. Higher education will be cut 6 percent, or $46 million.
That cut to colleges and universities is relatively good news, said University Executive Director of Policy and External Affairs Jason Droddy. Higher education leaders were told to prepare for double the cut that was announced.
Students could see an increase in fees for the upcoming semesters, which the University can raise on its own. Tuition increases must be done with legislative oversight, and Droddy said it could be a possibility to offset the damage done by more cuts.
But Droddy added that the University wants to keep costs to students low and will look for other cost-saving measures first.
“We’d really prefer to have the state general fund restored,” he said.
The TOPS reduction leaves both students and universities with a big question mark hovering over next semester.
“[Students] are banking on having their TOPS scholarships when they show up to college next fall,” Droddy said. “We’ve never been in a scenario like this one.”
The amount of money each student receives for the upcoming year could be reduced, which would make students pay more but award more scholarships.
Another special session is likely, and if Edwards calls lawmakers to Baton Rouge in time for the fall semester awards to be handed out, those scholarships could be restored.
A host of TOPS legislation could affect the students receiving TOPS for next year, although most bills don’t apply until 2019, when most current high schoolers have already graduated.