Louisiana Administrative Code › Title 28 - EDUCATION › Part IV - Student Financial Assistance-Higher Education Scholarship and Grant Programs › Chapter 8 - TOPS-Tech Award › Section IV-803 - Establishing Eligibility

Current through Register Vol. 50, No. 6, June 20, 2024
A. To
				establish eligibility for the TOPS-Tech Award, the student applicant must meet
				the following criteria:
1. be a United States
				citizen or an eligible noncitizen as defined in §301;
2. be a resident of Louisiana, as defined in
				§301; and
3. submit the
				completed initial free application for federal student aid (FAFSA) or on-line
				application in accordance with
				§501 by the
				applicable state aid deadline in accordance with the applicable requirements of
				§501 or
				§505; and
4. initially apply
				and enroll as a first-time student as defined in §301, unless granted an
				exception for cause by the board, in an eligible post-secondary college or
				university defined in §301; and
a. if
				graduating from an eligible Louisiana or an eligible non-Louisiana high school
				or from an eligible out of country high school, enroll not later than the
				semester or term, excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following
				the first anniversary of the date that the student graduated from high school;
				or
b. if the student joins the
				United States Armed Forces within one year after graduating from an eligible
				Louisiana or an eligible non-Louisiana high school or from an eligible out of
				country high school, enroll not later than the semester, quarter or term
				excluding summer semesters or sessions, immediately following the one-year
				anniversary of the student's separation from active-duty service, including all
				consecutive periods of reenlistment. Reenlistment at any time during the
				students first enlistment shall be considered to be on or prior to the fifth
				anniversary of the date that the student graduated from high school;
				or
c. if the student is eligible
				under the provisions of
				§803.A.5 d, enroll not
				later than the semester or term, excluding summer semesters or sessions,
				immediately following the first anniversary of the date the student completed
				the home study program, which is deemed to be May 31; or
d. if the student is eligible under the
				provisions of
				§803.A.5.d and has joined
				and is on active duty with the United States Armed Forces within one year of
				the date the student completed the home study program, which is deemed to be
				May 31, enroll not later than the semester, quarter or term, excluding summer
				semesters or sessions, immediately following the one-year anniversary of the
				student's separation from active-duty service, including all consecutive
				periods of reenlistment. Reenlistment at any time during the students first
				enlistment shall be considered to be on or prior to the fifth anniversary of
				the date that the student graduated from high school; and
5. graduate from:
a. an eligible public or nonpublic high
				school or non-Louisiana high school defined in
				§1701.A.1 and 3;
				or
b. an out-of-state high school
				defined in
				§1701.A 4; or
c. an out of country high school defined in
				§1701.A 5; or
d.
i.
				successfully complete at the 12th grade level a home study program approved by
				BESE; or
ii. if ever was enrolled
				in a Louisiana public or nonpublic school approved by BESE, successfully
				completed at least the 11th and 12th grade levels of a home study program
				approved by BESE; and
iii. if
				having previously attended an eligible high school defined in
				§1701.A 1, 2, 3, 4, or
				5, has provided the board with certification by the previously attended high
				school that said student was in good standing at the time the student last
				attended such school;
6. if qualifying under the terms of
				§803.A.5 a, at the time
				of high school graduation:
a. have
				successfully completed one of the following core curriculums:
i. high school course work constituting the
				TOPS core curriculum for the Opportunity, Performance and Honors Awards as
				defined in
				§704 and
				documented on the student's official transcript as approved by the Louisiana
				Department of Education;
ii. high
				school course work documented on the student's official transcript as approved
				by the Louisiana Department of Education constituting the TOPS-Tech core
				curriculum for the applicable year as set forth in
				§804
c. for students in graduating
				classes prior to 2004, core units may be waived upon sworn affidavit by the
				principal or headmaster or authorized designee that the course was not
				available to the student at the school attended;
7. have achieved an
ACT
				score
, as defined in §301, of at least:
a. if qualifying under
				§803.A.5 a, an ACT
				composite score of at least 17 or beginning with the 2010-2011 academic year,
				or in the alternative, have attained a silver level score on the assessments of
				the ACT WorkKeys system; or
b.
i. if qualifying under
				§803.A.5.b or c and is a
				Louisiana resident, except as defined in Subparagraph h of the definition of
Louisiana resident
in §301, an ACT composite of at least
				20; or
ii. if qualifying under
				§803.A.5.b is a
Louisiana resident
as defined in Subparagraph h of the
				definition of
Louisiana resident
in §301, an ACT
				composite of at least 19; and
c. if qualifying under
				§803.A.5.d and
				successfully completing the 12th grade level a home study program approved by
				BESE during or before the academic year (high school) 2003-2004 or during or
				after the academic year (high school) 2008-2009, an ACT composite of at least
				20; and
d. if qualifying under
				§803.A.5.d and
				successfully completing the 12th grade level a home study program approved by
				BESE during or after the academic year (high school) 2004-2005 or during the
				academic year (high school) 2007-2008, an ACT composite of at least 19;
				and
8. if qualifying
				under §803.A.5 a, have attained
				a cumulative high school grade point average, based on a 4.00 maximum scale, of
				at least 2.50; and
9. not have a
				criminal conviction, except for misdemeanor traffic violations, and if the
				student has been in the United States Armed Forces and has separated from such
				service, has received an honorable discharge or general discharge under
				honorable conditions; and
10. agree
				that awards will be used exclusively for educational
				expenses.