Source: http://www.osfa.la.gov/T2005-3.htm
Timestamp: 2018-07-16 07:03:05
Document Index: 373645959

Matched Legal Cases: ['§1001', '§1003', '§1005', '§1007', '§301', '§1009', '§1903', '§1903', '§1011', '§1703', '§1013', '§1903', '§1903', '§1903', '§1015', '§1017']

TOPS BULLETIN NUMBER: T2005-3
Act 348 of the 2005 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature created the TOPS Tech Early Start Award Program, which is effective for the 2005-06 Award Year. This award will provide payment of $150 per three-hour course, up to a maximum of two courses per semester or $300, for a qualified public high school junior or senior who dually enrolls in a program that provides an occupational or vocational education credential in a TOP Demand Occupation offered at a public postsecondary institution. The Louisiana Student Financial Assistance Commission adopted emergency rules at its July 12, 2005 meeting to enable effective administration of the program.
Application and certification requirements are currently being developed and will be disseminated to all public high schools and postsecondary institutions shortly.
(LAC 28:IV. Chapter 10, Sections 1901 and 1903 – TOPS-TECH Early Start Award – SG0663E)
This declaration of emergency is effective July 12, 2005 and shall remain in effect for the maximum period allowed under the Administrative Procedure Act.
Chapter 10 is all new rule:
Chapter 10. TOPS-TECH Early Start Award
§1001. GENERAL PROVISIONS
A. Legislative Authority. The TOPS-TECH Early Start Award was created by Act 348 of the 2005 Regular Session of the Louisiana Legislature.
B. Description, History and Purpose. The TOPS-TECH Early Start Award is established as part of the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) to provide grants for Louisiana residents pursuing occupational or vocational training while being dually enrolled in a state public high school at the eleventh and twelfth grade levels and at a Louisiana public postsecondary institution that offers an occupational or vocational education credential in a Top Demand Occupation. The purpose of TOPS-TECH Early Start is to provide an incentive for qualified Louisiana public high school students to prepare for and pursue an industry-based occupational or vocational education credential in a Top Demand Occupation while still in high school.
C. Effective Date. The TOPS-TECH Early Start Award shall be first awarded beginning with the 2005-2006 award year to eleventh and twelfth grade students meeting the eligibility criteria set forth in this Chapter.
D. Eligible Terms. The TOPS-TECH Early Start Award is limited to six credit hours per semester and twelve credit hours each Academic Year (College). TOPS-TECH Early Start is not payable for summer semesters or sessions.
E. Award Amount. The TOPS-TECH Early Start Award provides a payment not to exceed $300 for up to six credit hours each semester or $600 each Academic Year (College) at a rate of $50 per credit hour.
AUTHORITY NOTE: Promulgated in accordance with R.S. 17:3021-3036, R.S. 17:3042.1, R.S. 17:3048.1 and R.S. 17:3048.5.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Promulgated by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance LR 31:.
§1003. TOP DEMAND OCCUPATION
For the purposes of this Chapter, a credential in a “Top Demand Occupation”:
1. Is a credential defined by the Board of Regents, and
2. Is identified by the Occupation Forecasting Conference as a credential for an occupation in top demand in Louisiana, and
3. Is recognized by the State Industry-Based Certification Council, and
4. Is approved by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education and
5. Is approved by the Board of Supervisors of Community and Technical Colleges.
§1005. ESTABLISHING ELIGIBILITY
A. To establish eligibility for the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award, the student applicant must meet all of the following criteria:
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 the High School Career Option Subchapter in LSA-R.S. 17:183.2 et seq.
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. Have at least the minimum scores required to pass the mathematics and English portions of the graduation exit exam established by the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education.
5. Score at least fifteen on the English subsection and fifteen on the mathematics subsection of the ACT PLAN assessment administered as part of Louisiana's Educational Planning and Assessment System.
6. Enroll in a course in an industry-based occupational or vocational education credential program in a Top Demand Occupation.
§1007. MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY
A. To continue receiving the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award, the recipient must meet all of the following criteria:
1. Agree that the award will be used exclusively for educational expenses; and
2. Be a student in good standing in a Louisiana public high school; and
3. 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; and
4. Continue to pursue one or more courses leading to an industry-based credential in a Top Demand Occupation; and
5. Be a student in good standing while enrolled in a Louisiana public postsecondary education institution; and
6. Maintain Steady Academic Progress as defined in §301; and
7. Maintain, by the end of the spring term, a cumulative college grade point average of at least 2.50 on a 4.00 maximum scale.
§1009. ELIGIBILITY DETERMINATION
A. LOSFA shall determine the initial eligibility of students for the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award and provide a list of eligible students to public postsecondary institutions.
B. Upon receipt of bills from institutions submitted in accordance with §1903.B, LOSFA will reimburse the institution for each eligible student in accordance with §1903.
C. LOSFA shall determine the continuing eligibility of students for the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award and provide a list of eligible students to public postsecondary institutions.
D. LOSFA shall conduct audits of the participating Louisiana public postsecondary institutions to ensure compliance with program requirements.
E. LOSFA shall provide the information necessary to fully inform Louisiana public high school students and their parents on the requirements of and procedures for applying for and maintaining the award.
§1011. RESPONSIBILITIES OF HIGH SCHOOLS AND SCHOOL BOARDS
A. The high school and school board shall comply with the reporting requirements of §1703 for all students enrolled in high school.
B. The high school shall determine whether the student is in good standing in that high school.
§1013. RESPONSIBILITIES OF LOUISIANA PUBLIC POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS
Each Louisiana public postsecondary institution that offers an industry based occupational or vocational education credential in a Top Demand Occupation shall:
A. Determine whether an eligible student has enrolled in a course at that institution to pursue an industry based occupational or vocational education credential in a Top Demand Occupation in accordance with §1903.D.
B. Determine whether the student is in good standing at that institution.
C. Submit bills in accordance with §1903.B for each eligible student so enrolled.
D. Comply with the reporting and records retention requirements of §1903.A. and F.
§1015. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS
A. The Board of Regents shall provide data in its possession to LOSFA as needed to determine initial eligibility for the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award.
B. The Board of Regents shall define and maintain a list of industry based occupational or vocational education credentials.
C. In the event that the funds appropriated for the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award are insufficient to pay all awards for all eligible students, the Board of Regents shall develop, approve and deliver a plan to LOSFA to limit the awards to the amount appropriated.
§1017. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BOARD OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION (BESE) AND THE LOUISIANA DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION (LDE)
A. BESE shall provide data in its possession to LOSFA as needed to determine initial eligibility for the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award.
B. LDE shall provide data in its possession to LOSFA as needed to determine initial eligibility for the TOPS-TECH Early Start Award.
A. Undergraduate degree granting schools which are components of Louisiana public university medical centers and two- and four-year public colleges and universities are authorized to participate in the Tuition Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS), TOPS-TECH, TOPS-TECH Early Start, Rockefeller State Wildlife Scholarship, Leveraging Educational Assistance Partnership (LEAP) Program and the GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program.
C. Campuses of Louisiana Technical College are authorized to participate in TOPS, TOPS-TECH, TOPS-TECH Early Start, LEAP and the GO-Youth ChalleNGe Program.
A. – B.9. …
10. a. upon the school’s certification that a student who is eligible for a TOPS-TECH Early Start Award is enrolled in an industry based occupational or vocational education credential program in a Top Demand Occupation institutions shall bill for and LASFAC will pay the institution for each such recipient according to the following schedule:
b. The maximum that may be billed is $300 per semester and $600 per Academic Year (College).
c. Institutions may not bill for summer semesters or sessions.
C. – D.4 …
D. 5. for TOPS-TECH Early Start Awards,
a. Verify the student is eligible and enrolled in a course in an industry based occupational or vocational education credential program in a Top Demand Occupation, and
b. Verify the student is in good standing.
HISTORICAL NOTE: Adopted by the Student Financial Assistance Commission, Office of Student Financial Assistance LR 17: 959 (October 1991), amended LR 22:338 (May 1996). Promulgated LR 24:645 (April 1998), amended LR 24:1914 (October 1998), LR 25: 1459 (August 1999), LR 26:1998, 2002 (September 2000), LR 27:1864 (November 2001), LR 28:448 (March 2002), LR 28:775 (April 2002), LR 28:1760 (August 2002), LR 28:2333 (November 2002), LR 30:784 (April 2004), LR 30:1166 (June 2004), LR 31:40 (January 2005), LR 31:.