TARA HIGH SCHOOL

Applicable to students who are U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are eligible to apply for U.S. citizenship and who graduate from Louisiana public and approved non-public high schools and who are the dependent of a parent(s) who is a resident of Louisiana for at least two years prior to the month of the dependent�s high school graduation or a dependent of a member of the Armed Forces who claims Louisiana as his legal residence and has filed Louisiana tax returns or who is stationed in Louisiana and completes a DD Form 2058 to become a legal resident within 180 days of reporting to Louisiana or is an independent student who has been a resident for at least two years prior to the month of his or her high school graduation or is a dependent or independent student who actually resides in Louisiana while attending a Louisiana public or approved nonpublic high school for the period of his or her last two full years of high school culminating in graduation as certified by the high school.
The Performance Award Alternate Criteria terminates with the graduating class of 2006. The 10 honors, advanced placement or gifted courses must be from the core curriculum or qualified core curriculum substitute courses used in the core curriculum GPA calculation.
Core units may NOT be waived if not offered at the high school attended. It is the student�s responsibility to acquire any such course(s) through approved correspondence or distance learning venues. Individual courses may be waived for students with exceptionalities or disabilities that prevent enrollment or successful completion. Beginning with the high school graduating class of 2008, the Core Curriculum requirement will increase to 17� units to include 1� units of Computer Science, Computer Literacy or Business Computer Applications, or substitute 1� units of elective courses relating to computers that are approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE).
A qualifying score must be achieved on a National, International or Special ACT or equivalent Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) no later than April 30 in the year of high school graduation. Penalties may apply if tested after this date. Scores acquired on tests taken after June of the graduating year will not be considered. For an SAT score to be considered, the student must have SAT send the score to LOSFA by entering code 9019 on the SAT registration form.
A qualified student who enlists in the Armed Forces within one year of graduation from high school must enroll in an eligible college within five years of the date of graduation or within one year of separation from active duty, whichever is earlier. The veteran must not have been discharged with an undesirable, bad conduct or dishonorable discharge. A student, who meets these requirements and did not previously apply, must file a FAFSA within one year of separation from active duty.
Students qualifying for more than one award shall receive the highest award.
Exceptions for �first-time freshman� and/or �continuous full-time enrollment� may be granted for justifiable cause. Apply to LOSFA.
Students who met the academic requirements for a TOPS award but enrolled as a first-time freshman at an out-of-state college may apply for TOPS after enrollment at an eligible school, but no later than May 1st of the academic year during which the student enrolled as a full-time student in an eligible Louisiana school.
LAICU schools are those institutions that are members of the Louisiana Association of Independent Colleges and Universities.
Applicable to students who complete a La. Board of Elementary and Secondary Education (BESE) approved home-study program or graduate from an approved out-of-state high school and who meet the residency requirements (See note 1). Students who graduate from an approved high school located outside of the United States or who complete a BESE-approved home study program while residing out of country may qualify for a TOPS Opportunity Award with an ACT score of 23 or higher, provided a parent(s) of the dependent student was actively engaged in work or other activity on behalf of a Louisiana employer or sponsor and actually lived in Louisiana for at least the 24-months preceding the date the work or activity outside the United States began, and must have remained a Louisiana resident through the date of the student�s graduation from high school or completion of a BESE-approved home study program.
Unless the recipient of an award is ineligible for federal grant aid, a FAFSA must be filed annually to be received by the state deadline of July 1.
Students who fail to maintain a 3.00 GPA shall revert to the Opportunity Award provided the minimum GPA for that award has been maintained.
Provided that the period of ineligibility did not extend for more than two years.
Recipients may pursue academic degrees or technical diplomas or both, but may not exceed the award limit.
Any student who successfully completes an academic undergraduate degree in less than the eight semesters of eligibility may qualify to receive any remaining award benefits provided the student enrolls in a postgraduate academic program at an eligible institution and continues to meet all academic and other requirements for continuation of the award.