Is TOPS Really Achieving Its Goals?

Political analyst Dr. Jeff Sadow talks with 101.7 / 710 KEEL's Robert J Wright and Erin McCarty about his recent article in which he questions the value of the $300 million spent annually on the state's TOPS scholarship program.

Sadow, whose recent article on theadvocate.com website, says that "Making policy based on the exception rather than the rule isn’t wise. Yet that’s what happened in recent budget debates over funding Taylor Opportunity Program for Students tuition awards."

In the debate about at how much of an expiring sales tax should be retained — if it should be kept at all — elected officials often held out TOPS as a reason to preserve the tax at the higher level. For most recipients, TOPS pays almost all of the state college tuition for a full-time Louisiana student who achieves at least a 2.5-grade point average in high school and a slightly below-average score on standardized tests. Those who do better can earn a bit extra.
Through traditional and social media, stories spread about students saying they would choose out-of-state higher education institutions if TOPS didn’t receive full funding. And when the final deal funded TOPS at 100 percent, the reaction of Gov. John Bel Edwards illustrated typical lawmaker sentiments: “I'm sorry, Alabama, but you're not gonna be picking off our best and brightest.
Through traditional and social media, stories spread about students saying they would choose out-of-state higher education institutions if TOPS didn’t receive full funding. And when the final deal funded TOPS at 100 percent, the reaction of Gov. John Bel Edwards illustrated typical lawmaker sentiments: “I'm sorry, Alabama, but you're not gonna be picking off our best and brightest.

To read Dr. Sadow's complete article on TOPS, JUST CLICK HERE!