NEW ORLEANS – On Tuesday, April 12, 2016, 100% of New Orleans Public Schools showed support for TOPS in a letter written to LA Gov. John Bel Edwards, the Louisiana Legislature and House and Senate Education Committees.
The letter reads:
Dear Governor Edwards & State Legislators:
As a community of public school educators in New Orleans, we are writing to request your preservation of TOPS funding for low income students. Together, the signatories on this letter represent 100% of the New Orleans public school system – all 82 public schools in Orleans Parish.
The TOPS program is life-changing for our disadvantaged, college-bound youth, and we implore you to do everything in your power to protect it.
The academic gains achieved by New Orleans high schools since Katrina are truly remarkable. The percentage of high school graduates eligible for TOPS 4-year scholarships has increased by 15% over the past five years, nearly matching the state average. College enrollment rates among New Orleans youth are at all-time highs – largely facilitated by the availability of TOPS scholarships.
With over 80% of our public school students in New Orleans qualifying for free or reduced price lunch, the opportunity for many of our students to attend college is entirely contingent upon their ability to pay for it.
Raising the TOPS eligibility requirement via the ACT score or GPA will disproportionately restrict college access for the lowest income children in our city, many of whom are also the first in their families to go to college. This is counterproductive to the original intent of the TOPS program, as is prescribing that students may not utilize TOPS at an accredited, not-for-profit university in state.
Moreover, introducing repayment penalties for students who lose eligibility without providing an exemption for low-income students would be devastating for thousands of students every year, sending these young adults into financial crisis before they've ever had a chance to get a sound footing in life.
We know there are many variations of legislation being considered for the future of TOPS, and we ask that you ensure the following provisions be included in any bill passed into law:
• Leave the eligibility requirements as-is for any student from a low income household
• Provide a full exemption from repayment penalties for any student from a low income household
• Retain the ability for low-income students to use TOPS at non-public universities
Thank you for your consideration of these proposals and we look forward to continuing to work together to create better life opportunities for all Louisianans, especially those who are most vulnerable and disenfranchised.
Sincerely,
Patrick Dobard
Superintendent
Recovery School District
Jay Altman
CEO
FirstLine Schools
Keith Bartlett
Principal & CEO
Lycée Français de la Nouvelle-Orléans
Kelly Batiste
CEO / Principal
Fannie C. Williams Charter School
Chana Benenson & Claire Jecklin
Co-Principals
New Orleans Science and Math High School
Tracy Bennett-Joseph
CEO
Crescent Leadership Academy
Bob Berk
Head of School
Cypress Academy
Latoye Brown
Interim CEO / Principal
Audubon Charter School
Sametta Brown
CEO
New Beginnings Schools Foundation
Paulette Bruno
Principal
Robert Mussa Moton Charter School
Daniel G. Casey
Interim CEO / Principal
Benjamin Franklin High School
Sharon Clark
Charter School Director
Sophie B. Wright Charter School
Josh Densen
CEO & School Leader
Bricolage Academy of New Orleans
Michelle Douglas Principal
Edward Hynes Charter School
Mardele Early
Founding CEO
Lake Forest Elementary Charter School
Niloy Gangopadhyay
Executive Director
Success Preparatory Academy
Dr. Cecilia Garcia
Principal
New Orleans Military & Maritime Academy
Aisha Jones
CEO
Mary D. Coghill Charter School
Rhonda Kalifey-Aluise CEO
KIPP New Orleans Schools
Myrialis King
Founder & Head of School
Foundation Preparatory Charter School
Ben Kleban
Founder & President
New Orleans College Prep
Mickey Landry
Executive Director
Choice Foundation
Dr. Henderson Lewis
Superintendent
Orleans Parish School Board
Rene Lewis-Carter
Interim CEO
Algiers Charter School Association
Colleen Mackay
CEO
ReNEW Schools
Ben Marcovitz
CEO
Collegiate Academies
Jamar McKneely
CEO
InspireNOLA Charter Schools
Alexina Medley
Principal & CEO
Warren Easton Charter High School
Kate Mehok
CEO
Crescent City Schools
Elizabeth Ostberg
Principal
The Net Charter High School
Patricia Perkins
Principal
Morris Jeff Community School
Gregory Phillips
President / CEO
Dryades YMCA
James Singleton Charter School
Joan Reilly
Head of School
Homer A. Plessy Community School
Kathy Riedlinger CEO
Lusher Charter School
Lakeisha Robichaux
Interim CEO
Milestone Academy
Dr. Doris Roche'-Hicks
CEO
Friends of King Schools
Andrew Shahan
CEO
ARISE Schools
Terri Smith
CEO & School Leader
ENCORE Academy
Melanie Tennyson
CEO / Head of School / Principal
International School of Louisiana
Shawn Toranto
CEO
Einstein Charter Schools
Kyle Wedberg
President / CEO NOCCA
Eileen Williams
CEO / Principal
Edgar P. Harney Spirit of Excellence Academy
Sean Wilson
Head of School
International High School
