re: LA Higher Ed board troubled by number of TOPS recipients from millionaire households

My recollection is that this program was not originally intended to be a means-tested program but was rather intended to be available to all Louisiana high school graduates who met specific academic requirements. If I recall correctly, the idea was not only to provide tuition for students who needed the financial help, but the program was also designed to keep talented students in Louisiana who would otherwise be drawn to leave the state to attend colleges and universities in other states. This program was considered by some supporters to be targeted to stop the "brain drain" that occurs when the best and brightest students in Louisiana--at least some of whom have wealthy parents--leave the state to attend college elsewhere. Wealthy parents can send their bright high-school graduate children anywhere, but some reasoned that it was better to provide an incentive to keep at least some of these students in-state.