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| Date: From: Subject: | 6/14/2007 2:08:57 PM Home School Legal Defense Association Louisiana--TOPS Bill Passes Committee, Goes to Floor |
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====================================================================== From the HSLDA E-lert Service... ====================================================================== June 14, 2007 Louisiana--TOPS Bill Passes Committee, Goes to Floor Dear HSLDA members and friends: Thank you for all of your calls. The TOPS bill, House Bill 634, passed unanimously with the amendment to enable home study students to only score 1 point higher than public school graduates on the ACT in order to be eligible for the various Louisiana TOPS awards. Currently a student who has completed an approved home study program and was enrolled in the program no later than the end of the 10th grade is eligible for any of the various TOPS financial aid awards if he or she scores 2 points higher than the score required for public school students. However, the current law also has a sunset provision which would cause the law to roll back to the earlier requirement that a home study student score 3 points higher. House Bill 634 will make this change permanent and make it possible for homeschool students to be eligible for TOPS aid if they score at least 1 point higher than the total required for public school students. While the bill would not completely remove the requirement the homeschool students score higher to be eligible for the same awards, this bill moves the TOPS eligibility requirements in the right direction. House Bill 634 has been sent to the House floor and could be voted on today. Please call your representative and urge them to vote in favor of House Bill 634. ACTION REQUESTED: Please contact your representative and ask him or her to vote in favor of House Bill 634. It is better for you to give them a message in your own words but it could be something similar to this message: "Please vote in favor of House Bill 634. Currently homeschool students must score 2 points higher than public school students on the ACT in order to be eligible for TOPS. This is discriminatory and should be stopped." To find the name and contact information for your local state representative you can use HSLDA's legislative toolbox at http://www.hslda.org/toolbox . BACKGROUND: The Louisiana state financial aid program, TOPS, has been open to homeschool students who have been enrolled in approved home study program since the end of their 10th grade year. However, in order for a homeschool graduate to receive any TOPS aid he or she must score at least 2 points higher on the ACT than the minimum score required for public school students. Currently the minimum ACT scores a public school student is required to receive to be eligible for TOPS are: (1) For a TOPS-Tech award--17 (2) For an Opportunity Award--20, (3) For a Performance Award--23, (4) For an Honors Award--27. While HSLDA generally opposes bills that would provide government benefits to homeschoolers we oppose discrimination against homeschoolers in the area of college entrance and scholarship opportunities. Since Louisiana already provides TOPS funding to students in homeschools HSLDA maintains that the two point difference between public school and homeschool students is discriminatory. We cannot stand by while Louisiana discriminates in such a blatant manner. All Louisiana homeschoolers need to stand together for freedom, whether they choose the private school or approved home study option. In our opinion, reducing or eliminating the 2 point penalty for approved home study programs would not create a significant risk of increased regulation for families who choose the private school option. Sincerely, Thomas J. Schmidt HSLDA Staff Attorney ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -> How many acorns can a chipmunk hold in its cheeks? We don't know! But we do know that gathering little by little enables ordinary folks to prepare for hard times. That principle is behind HSLDA's payment plan: by paying a month at a time, families can receive an annual HSLDA membership. Meanwhile, they can feel secure as they homeschool and focus on other priorities -- their children. Don't go nuts trying to pay for membership all at once. Choose one of our convenient payment plans. More reasons to join HSLDA... http://www.hslda.org/elink.asp?id=1937 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ====================================================================== The HSLDA E-lert Service is a service of: Home School Legal Defense Association P.O. 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If this is an invalid email address or you have other problems, please reply to webmaster@hslda.org. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- DISCLAIMER: This is considered a private and confidential message from HSLDA to its bonafide HSLDA E-lert Service subscribers. HSLDA cannot attest to the authenticity of copies posted, forwarded, or sent by any party other than HSLDA. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- NOTE: Please do not reply or otherwise use this email address; hslda@hslda.org is for broadcast purposes only and is not intended to receive incoming messages. We cannot reply to any email sent to this address. If you have comments or questions, please send email to info@hslda.org or call HSLDA at 540-338-5600. HSLDA members can also email staff directly through the Members website at http://members.hslda.org/contact.asp. Thank you for your cooperation. ====================================================================== | |
