TOPS NEEDS CLOSER WATCH ON APPLICANTS, AUDIT SAYS

BATON ROUGE - The state's college scholarship program needs to keep a
closer watch on whether students are meeting all the requirements for
getting free tuition at state universities, a report by the legislative
auditor's office says.

Legislative Auditor Dan Kyle said the Louisiana Office of Student Financial
Assistance needs to find a better way, other than just taking parents' word
for it, to assure that applicants for Tuition Opportunity Program for
Students scholarships are not criminals and are state residents.

The report, released Monday, also says a large number of high schools are
incorrectly reporting grades.

Jack Guinn, executive director of the scholarship program, agreed with the
performance audit, which he said was done at his request.

TOPS has paid out $313 million in scholarships since it began in 1998,
Guinn said. Based on the auditor's findings, about $73,000 was awarded to
73 students who did not qualify, but schools reported that they did. Those
scholarships were revoked and reimbursement sought.

On the other side, auditors found that 45 students who were disqualified by
school records should have had access to the funds, which they eventually did.

Similar problems has been encountered with colleges reporting grade point
averages that determine whether students retain a TOPS scholarships, Guinn
said. The audit department is installing new computer equipment that will
automatically calculate grade point averages, based on student records.

Guinn said his agency already has ways to check on an applicant's
residency, but it is possible that parents could lie, subjecting the
applicant and the parents to fines and possible imprisonment.

Part of the TOPS paper work is an application for federal aid that requires
proof of residency. Also, schools are required to submit documentation
showing two full years of grades earned at a Louisiana high school.

Regarding criminal records, Guinn said 51 percent of the applicants are
juveniles, so their records are sealed. Applicants are required to certify
that they have not been convicted of possessing or selling illegal drugs.

The department has considered submitting applicant names to the state
police for criminal background checks, he said, but it was told that the
agency couldn't legally receive such information from state police.