Funding schedule for Louisiana TOPS scholarship could leave schools scrambling to close gap - Jarrett Carter, Education Dive

Louisiana legislators passed a state budget last week that includes full funding for its in-state student scholarship program, but allows the funding to reduce by more than 42% during the spring semester. Supporters of "frontloading" the TOPS program say it gives students a full semester to arrange for financial support which may elapse, but opponents say financial aid support is most limited during the spring semester. Louisiana is notorious for legislative cuts across a number of industries, and its budget allocations for the TOPS program maintain what many consider to be a nationally dubious record on higher education. http://www.educationdive.com/news/funding-schedule-for-louisiana-tops-scholarship-could-leave-schools-scrambl/421665/