Lawmakers Consider Tweaking TOPS Tuition Program

BATON ROUGE, La. (AP) — Lawmakers on the House Education Committee are weighing whether to make changes to Louisiana's free college tuition program known as TOPS, as a way to contain costs.

The price tag for TOPS is growing to $235 million next year, and the program is expected to cost more than $300 million within three years.

Worried about sustaining the popular program, Republican and Democratic lawmakers are proposing a list of ways to tweak TOPS. The bills would raise eligibility requirements to get free tuition or place caps on the amount of a TOPS award.

The House Education Committee is scheduled to consider the bills Wednesday.

But they are considered a long-shot for passage, because the program is so popular with Louisiana parents. Also, Gov. Bobby Jindal opposes eligibility changes and award limits.