ALERT - IMPORTANT TOPS UPDATE - ALERT FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS DISPLACED BY HURRICANES KATRINA AND RITA

House Bill 1075 was passed by the Louisiana Legislature and was signed into law by Governor Jindal as Act 652. This Act provides alternative initial eligibility requirements to receive a Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship for students who (1) were displaced by Hurricanes Katrina and/or Rita and (2) graduated from an out of state high school in 2007 or 2008 or will graduate from an out of state high school in 2009.

For more information on the bill, click here.

For the definition of "Displaced Student", click here.

If you believe you qualify as a Displaced Student and have not been notified that you are eligible for a TOPS award:

1. Complete the Hurricane Information Questionnaire:

Click here to download the PDF version, fill it out, and send it to us as soon as you can, to the Louisiana Office of Student Financial Assistance, P.O. Box 91202, Baton Rouge, La. 70821-9202, Attention S/G

2. Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). The submission deadline for consideration of state aid for the 2008-09 academic year is July 1, 2008.  If your FAFSA was not submitted by that date, you may still apply, but funding for your award will not be available until the subsequent academic year.  If you have already submitted a FAFSA that does not indicate a Louisiana college or university, you should submit a FAFSA correction.   Click here to go to www.fafsa.ed.gov.

If you graduated from high school in 2007 and have attended an out of state institution, but would like to return to school in Louisiana, you may be eligible with a reduction in program term eligibility.  Follow the instructions above, submit an official college transcript along with the Application to Return From an Out of State College to our office and we will notify you of the outcome.