Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access

Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access TOPS Opportunity, Performance and Honors Awards

Don’t Blow Your TOPS! It pays to make good grades! www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core CurriculumFor students graduating 2014-2017 • English (4 Units) • English I • English II • English III • English IV www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core CurriculumFor students graduating 2014-2017 • Math (4 Units) • 1 unit: Algebra I or Integrated Mathematics I or Applied Algebra I or Applied Algebra 1A and 1B (2 units) or Algebra I – Part I and Algebra I – Part 2 (2 units) or Applied Mathematics I and Applied Mathematics II (2 units) • 1 unit: Algebra II or Integrated Mathematics II • 2 units: Geometry or Calculus or Integrated Mathematics III or Applied Mathematics III or Advanced Math–Pre-Calculus or Advanced Math–Functions and Statistics or Pre-Calculus or Probability and Statistics or Discrete Mathematics or Algebra III www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core CurriculumFor students graduating 2014-2017 • Science (4 Units) • 1 unit: Biology I or Biology II • 1 unit: Chemistry, Chemistry Com or Chemistry II • 2 units: Earth Science or Environmental Science or Integrated Science or Physical Science or Biology II or Chemistry II or Physics or Physics II or Physics for Technology I or Physics for Technology II, Anatomy and Physiology www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core CurriculumFor students graduating 2014-2017 • Social Studies (4 units) • 1 Unit: United States History • 1 Unit: Civics and Free Enterprise (one unit combined*) or Civics (one unit) or AP Government and Politics: United States • 2 Units: World History, Western Civilization, World Geography, European History, History of Religion or AP Human Geography * Can be used only by students who entered the 9th grade before July 1, 2011 (See R.S. 17:274.1) www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core CurriculumFor students graduating 2014-2017 • Fine Arts (1 Unit) • Fine Arts Survey; (or substitute 1 unit of performance courses in music, dance, or theater; or 1 unit of studio art or 1 unit of visual art; or Speech III and Speech IV (both units) www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core CurriculumFor students graduating 2014-2017 • Foreign Language (2 units) • Foreign Language, both units in the same language www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Core Curriculum GPA • The cumulative grade point average (GPA) for a TOPS award will be calculated using only those grades achieved in the core curriculum courses • 2.5 cumulative GPA • GPA cannot be rounded up www.osfa.la.gov

ACT • Highest composite score will be considered • TOPS does not consider the Essay portion of the ACT in calculating the composite score needed to qualify • ACT Registration • TOPS Code 1595 • Social Security Number • Date of Birth www.osfa.la.gov

ACT • ACT Deadlines for 2014 Graduates • Without penalty: April 12, 2014 • Loss of one semester eligibility: June 14, 2014 • Special tests may be taken prior to July 1 • A June ACT score cannot be used to upgrade an Opportunity award to an Honors award or Performance award • A June ACT score can be used to upgrade a Tech Award to an Opportunity Award with a one semester or two quarter penalty • Students who fail to achieve a qualifying ACT score by July 1 of the graduating year shall not be considered for an award www.osfa.la.gov

SAT • An equivalent SAT score may be substituted for the ACT Score • TOPS does not consider the Essay portion of the SAT in calculating the composite score needed to qualify • SAT Registration • Scholarship Code 9019 • Social Security Number • SAT Test Deadlines • Without Penalty: March 8, 2014 • Loss of 1 semester eligibility: May 3, 2014 and June 7, 2014 www.osfa.la.gov

Opportunity Award:Eligibility Requirements • 2.50 minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA • ACT score equal to the prior year’s state average, but never less than 20 • 20 for 2014 graduates • SAT score of 940 • Completion of the TOPS Core Curriculum • TOPS general eligibility requirements www.osfa.la.gov

Opportunity Award Benefits • Provides an amount equal to tuition at a Louisiana public institution • Or an amount equal to the weighted average public tuition at a LAICU private institution • $2,043.00 per semester for Academic Year 2013-2014 • TOPS does not cover fees including: academic excellence fees, energy surcharges, technology fees, books, room & board, parking fees or lab fees • A TOPS award may be combined with other forms of financial aid up to the “Cost of Attendance” for the institution www.osfa.la.gov

Performance Award • Eligibility Requirements • 3.00 minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA • ACT score of 23 • SAT of 1060 • Completion of the TOPS Core Curriculum • TOPS general eligibility requirements • Award Benefits • Provides the same benefits as the Opportunity Award, plus • $400 annual stipend www.osfa.la.gov

Honors Award • Eligibility Requirements • 3.00 minimum TOPS Core Curriculum GPA • ACT score of 27 • SAT of 1210 • Completion of the TOPS Core Curriculum • TOPS general eligibility requirements • Award Benefits • Provides the same benefits as the Opportunity Award, plus • $800 annual stipend www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Application • FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) – www.fafsa.ed.gov • Must be completed if the student is eligible for federal grant aid (Pell Grant) • Must be completed if the student is seeking any other form of financial aid • The only application needed for TOPS www.osfa.la.gov

TOPS Processing Cycle • Students apply for TOPS • FAFSA data is electronically sent to LOSFA by the U.S. Department of Education • TOPS Online Applications are entered directly on the LOSFA Web site • LOSFA downloads ACT scores for students who have included the ACT code 1595 on their ACT Registration www.osfa.la.gov

LOSFA Social Sites http://www.facebook.com/LOSFA http://www.twitter.com/LOSFA http://www.youtube.com/ LOSFA1000 http://www.Flickr.com/LOSFA

Contact LOSFA www.osfa.la.gov custserv@la.gov (800) 259-5626 (225) 219-1012 8:00 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. Monday - Friday

Louisiana’s First Choice for College Access