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House keeps TOPS excellence award and amends testing language in conference report; full tuition criteria preserved
Summary
Conference committee report for House Bill 77 preserves the new "excellence" TOPS award (city/state criteria unchanged), confirms alternative testing (CLT) options for public schools and harmonizes ACT/homeschool language; the House adopted the report unanimously on final passage.
Representative Turner presented the conference committee report on House Bill 77, which modifies the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) by adding an "excellence" award level. Turner told the chamber the conference report preserves the excellence award so that students who achieve a 31 ACT score or a 3.5 GPA will qualify for full tuition at Louisiana public colleges and universities.
The conference text also addresses alternative testing pathways: it clarifies that the CLT (Classic Learning Test) may be used as an alternate to the ACT for public-school students where appropriate, and the report reconciled language relating to homeschool and ACT scoring so the bills will not conflict if other measures on testing move forward.
Turner moved adoption of the conference committee report. The House recorded the vote and the conference report was adopted by a large unanimous margin (the clerk reported 99 yays, 0 nays during the floor vote).
Why it matters: TOPS is a major state scholarship program that affects higher-education access and affordability. Preserving an excellence award ties higher scholarship support to specific standardized-test or GPA thresholds and shapes student financial planning.
What's next: The adopted conference report goes through enrollment and final enactment stages. If enacted, state agencies and institutions will implement the award criteria and any adjusted administrative processes for alternate test acceptance.
