Louisiana High School Parent Communication Guide for Teachers

Louisiana has one of the most generous state scholarship programs in the country, and one of the most significant information gaps between that program and the families who most need it. The TOPS scholarship pays full tuition at Louisiana public colleges and universities, and every year Louisiana students graduate without it because they did not know the requirements, chose the wrong courses, or missed a GPA threshold by a small margin that could have been addressed earlier. A Louisiana high school teacher who communicates about TOPS clearly and early has a direct impact on student outcomes.

Put TOPS Requirements in Every Fall Newsletter

The TOPS Opportunity Award requires a minimum 2.5 core GPA calculated on Louisiana's specific formula, a minimum 20 ACT composite, and completion of the TOPS Core curriculum, which includes specific courses in English, math, science, social studies, and foreign language. The TOPS Performance Award raises these thresholds, and the TOPS Honors Award requires a 3.5 GPA and a 27 ACT. Tell families the specific requirements in your fall newsletter every year. Tell them which of your courses counts toward TOPS Core. Tell them that a C in a TOPS Core course counts toward the GPA calculation. That information changes how families think about daily homework and test preparation.

Explain the Louisiana Curriculum Framework

Louisiana has a specific curriculum structure that shapes which courses qualify for TOPS. The Core 4 curriculum is required for TOPS Core eligibility and for admission to selective Louisiana universities. The TOPS Tech curriculum is designed for career and technical pathways and qualifies for TOPS Tech and other workforce scholarship programs. Tell families which curriculum track their student is on, what it means for their post-graduation options, and how to make a change if they are on the wrong track.

Communicate the State ACT and Its TOPS Connection

Louisiana administers the ACT to all 11th graders at no cost. The ACT score is one of the two primary requirements for TOPS eligibility, along with GPA. A student who earns a 20 ACT is eligible for the base TOPS award; a student who earns a 19 is not. That difference is a full year of college tuition for students at LSU, UNO, or other Louisiana public institutions. Telling families this connection in the fall newsletter motivates test preparation in a way that abstract ACT importance does not.

Address Louisiana's LEAP 2025 Assessments

Louisiana administers LEAP 2025 assessments in high school that are tied to graduation requirements. Students must pass or show sufficient progress on LEAP 2025 EOC exams to graduate. Tell parents which courses have LEAP 2025 assessments this year, when the exams are scheduled, and how the scores interact with course grades. Louisiana families who understand the weight of these assessments take them more seriously and support their student's preparation more actively.

Reach New Orleans and Diverse Louisiana Families

Louisiana has a unique cultural diversity that includes a large French Creole and Cajun heritage community, significant African American communities, Hispanic communities along the Gulf Coast, and Vietnamese and other Asian communities in areas like New Orleans East. Communication that acknowledges and respects this cultural diversity builds trust. When your newsletter references culturally relevant content or acknowledges local traditions and community events, families see a teacher who is teaching in context rather than applying a generic curriculum.

A Sample Louisiana High School Newsletter Section

Here is what a TOPS-aware section looks like:

"Louisiana families: TOPS eligibility requires a minimum 2.5 core GPA and a minimum ACT score of 20. This course counts toward your student's TOPS Core GPA. Louisiana administers the ACT to all 11th graders at school on April 8 at no cost. Students who are aiming for TOPS Performance (higher award level) need a 3.0 GPA and a 23 ACT. Free ACT prep is available at khanacademy.org. Verify your student's TOPS status at osfa.la.gov."

Connect to Louisiana's Rich Cultural and Economic Context

Louisiana's economy spans energy, petrochemicals, agriculture, seafood, tourism, and healthcare. Its cultural heritage is one of the richest and most distinctive in the country. Teachers who connect their curriculum to Louisiana's specific context engage students and parents differently than teachers who use generic examples. A chemistry teacher discussing the petrochemical corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans is connecting science to something Louisiana families recognize from their own communities.

Send Consistently With Daystage

Louisiana's TOPS scholarship makes consistent parent communication one of the highest-stakes activities a teacher can engage in. Families who understand the requirements early make better choices throughout high school. Daystage gives Louisiana teachers a fast, professional way to deliver that communication to all families at once. You write your content, add your key dates, and send in one click. The consistency of that communication is what separates families who know about TOPS from families who find out too late.