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A Mixed Methods Study Of Factors Related To The Receipt And Retention Of Tops Scholarships In Louisiana, Samuel Houston Theriot

LSU Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to examine disparities in the receipt and retention of the TOPS scholarship in Louisiana. Specifically, the study examined why some schools are more successful than others in preparing students for TOPS eligibility, what impact availability of quality core curriculum courses has on TOPS eligibility, the ways the State can improve eligibility for lower income students, and the reasons why many lose their awards. The research utilized a sequential mixed methods QUAN/QUAL approach with multiple levels of analysis (school, cohort, and student). Matched pairs of outlier schools (one with a high rate of TOPS receipt …