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Are TOPS going to too many wealthy families (=$70k a year)? C Denise Marcelle thinks is

Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:09 pm
Posted by SPEEDY
2005 Tiger Smack Poster of the Year
Member since Dec 2003
87054 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:09 pm
quote:

Who qualifies for TOPS scholarships sparked new complaints Wednesday when a key state House committee learned that 59% of recipients live in families with incomes of $70,000 per year and more.

"We have a lot of work to do," Commissioner of Higher Education Kim Hunter Reed told the House Appropriations Committee.


quote:

The Taylor Opportunity Program for Students, known as TOPS, is a merit-based college scholarship program that carries modest academic requirements.


Those modest requirements are a 2.5 GPA and at least a 20 on the ACT

quote:

Two Baton Rouge lawmakers on the committee renewed complaints that surfaced periodically that the aid is top-heavy with students living in families with comfortable incomes. Figures supplied to the committee show that 22% of students who receive TOPS live in households with incomes of $150,000 per year and more.

Conversely, those in families with incomes of $50,000 per year and less account for 41% of the total. The median household income in Louisiana is $49,469, according to House figures.


quote:

Rep. C. Denise Marcelle, D-Baton Rouge, said while TOPS was initially launched to aid students who could not afford college that is not happening. "How did we get from the intent to what we have here, that it is just the opposite?" Marcelle asked.

"We have to change the trajectory at some point," she added.

Rep. Barbara Carpenter, D-Baton Rouge, raised similar concerns.

"I am deeply troubled by this chart," Carpenter said, referring to the document that show TOPS recipients by income levels.

"We cannot continue to be in the same situation year after year," she said.


LINK
This post was edited on 4/15/21 at 12:10 pm
Posted by Norbert
Member since Oct 2018
3576 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:11 pm to
quote:

merit-based


Racist
Posted by The Boat
Member since Oct 2008
175803 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:11 pm to
A program annually on the brink of running of money is about to have its standards lowered and changed to a race based system.
Posted by TDTOM
Member since Jan 2021
24667 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
Great, more shite we get to pay for but not participate in.
Posted by nicholastiger
Member since Jan 2004
53971 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
I'm ok with doing away with it all together
But don't change the rules all of a sudden when my taxpayer money has funded those that have gotten it over the last two decades now that my kid is nearing college
Posted by Breauxsif
Member since May 2012
22292 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to

Posted by arseinclarse
Member since Apr 2007
35299 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
(no message)
This post was edited on 4/28/21 at 4:16 pm
Posted by CoachChappy
Member since May 2013
34084 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
I'll solve the state budget and this problem all in 1 go.

STOP THE TOPS PROGRAM! Too many people who shouldn't be going to college are using it!

At least, change the program to a 4 year forgivable loan that is forgiven after completion of a degree and 3 year of paying income tax in Louisiana.
Posted by Packer
IE, California
Member since May 2017
8686 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
quote:

Conversely, those in families with incomes of $50,000 per year and less account for 41% of the total.


I think that's a pretty good number to be honest
Posted by Areddishfish
The Wild West
Member since Oct 2015
6448 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
quote:

families with incomes of $70,000 per year


Assuming gross. You can't pay for kid's college with that income.
Posted by GregMaddux
LSU Fan
Member since Jun 2011
18623 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
quote:


Conversely, those in families with incomes of $50,000 per year and less account for 41% of the total. The median household income in Louisiana is $49,469, according to House figures.



So. Umm. Thats pretty close to being perfectly in line with the population. Nice grandstanding tho dee-nice
Posted by danilo
Member since Nov 2008
24774 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:13 pm to
Yep. Making 70k a year your family of four is living the life of champagne and caviar. Wintering in Aspen and Summering with the Kennedy’s in Cap Cod
Ridiculous.
This post was edited on 4/15/21 at 12:14 pm
Posted by goofball
Member since Mar 2015
17337 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:14 pm to
quote:

$70,000 per year


Income =/= to wealth. That's a common conflation by politicians that want to exclude the middle class from benefits.

What makes her position insane is that she is conflating $70,000 per year income with wealth.

Also...

quote:

merit-based college scholarship


Literally all you have to do to get it is to earn a decent GPA and ACT score and attend a public university or college in Louisiana. Doesn't matter what race you are. Doesn't matter what major you want to go into.

It's a tool to retain average or above average students and discourage them from leaving the state for better opportunity once they turn 18 and graduate high school.
This post was edited on 4/15/21 at 12:20 pm
Posted by The Eric
Member since Sep 2008
24137 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:15 pm to
Merits based.


Grades are racist



I do think that TOPS standards should be changed but I think the standards should be raised. Far too many people taking money and then dropping out because that 20 on the ACT and that 2.5 gpa doesn't actually mean they are smart enough to be successful.
Posted by LSUBoo
Knoxville, TN
Member since Mar 2006
103506 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:15 pm to
quote:

C Denise Marcelle thinks


No she doesn't.
Posted by NIH
Member since Aug 2008
119925 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:15 pm to
We need more programs to study TOPS

An action committee will review all findings

Lunch will be served.
Posted by Adam4LSU
Baton Rouge
Member since Mar 2008
13760 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:15 pm to
quote:

At least, change the program to a 4 year forgivable loan that is forgiven after completion of a degree and 3 year of paying income tax in Louisiana.




I'm good with only making them pay in full if they leave the state for work.

Posted by Broken Arrow
Member since Dec 2007
8038 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:15 pm to
No one, and I mean absolutely no one gives a damn about that idiot or what she thinks.
Posted by Buryl
Member since Sep 2016
1024 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:16 pm to
quote:

2.5 GPA and 20 on the ACT


quote:

Merit-Based





Posted by goofball
Member since Mar 2015
17337 posts
Posted on 4/15/21 at 12:17 pm to
quote:

I do think that TOPS standards should be changed but I think the standards should be raised.



THIS

They should immediately move it to a minimum 3.0 GPA and a 23 ACT for baseline benefits, then phase in a higher standard of 3.3 and 26 ACT. Highest tier award should also cover fees, room and board, and require a minimum 30 ACT.

The current TOPS requirements are actually lower than the minimum admission requirements at LSU. Meaning every in-state student at LSU is getting TOPS if they aren't an athlete. Plus any other scholarships they earned to pay for fees, room and board, etc.
This post was edited on 4/15/21 at 12:23 pm
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