To assure that your Scholarship and Grant Policy and Procedure Manual remains current, please record this document on your TOPS Bulletin index and retain it with your manual.

Minimum system requirements for high schools to participate in on-line web site certification of academic data for students applying for the Tuition Opportunity program for Students (TOPS) are provided in this bulletin. We strongly encourage all high schools to certify the academic performance of students via our web site. This process will allow you to access and process student files on a daily basis.

1. Netscape or Internet Explorer browser version 3.0 or higher.

2. Javascript must be enabled in either browser that is utilized (this is the default).

3. If you are behind a firewall or other proxy server, your firewall/proxy must be configured to proxy SSL (Secure Sockets Layer). If you can browse https://www.yahoo.com, then it is configured properly and you can use the HS Cert or TOPS Eligibility pages. If not, you are unable to use any secure site on the Internet and your firewall/proxy server must be configured to allow you to do so. Please contact your technical services or information services personnel for assistance.

4. If you are behind a firewall or other proxy server, your browser must be configured to use that server for Internet access. This includes normal (non-secure) and secure pages (such as HS Cert). See our troubleshooting document for HS Cert at http://www.osfa.state.la.us/hstroubleshoot.htm for details.

If you have technical questions concerning this guidance, please contact Karen Bellecci at the Office of Student Financial Assistance, telephone 225/922-1098, fax 225/922-1089, e-mail address: kbellecci@osfa.state.la.us.