Resources

Intensive Services Schools (ISS) receive financial and programmatic support from LOSFA in an effort to collaboratively address school reform needs, building a college-going culture. An intensive service school generally has significant deficiencies in performance and documentation as a school with unsatisfactory performance ratings, lacking certain criteria set by a governing board (Board of Education). Characteristics of an intensive service school may include, but are not limited to: low graduation rates, low standardized test scores, high rate of low ACT/SAT composite and/or sub-scores, low rate of students qualifying for TOPS scholarships, low rate of students performing on grade level, a high rate graduates whose TOPS scholarships are cancelled, lack of parental support, high percentage of overage students, high rate of economically disadvantaged students (poverty), and low FAFSA completion rates. Services provided by LOSFA to intensive service schools include the following: college and career professional development for staff, financial aid workshops/activities for students and families, including FAFSA completion support, postsecondary field trips, postsecondary transition special events, TOPS scholarship workshops, college match and fit workshops, grade-specific college and career access workshops, credit recovery/tutoring/ACT support, and mentoring.

Concentrated Services Schools (CSS) receive programmatic support from LOSFA in an effort to collaboratively build a college-going culture, but in some cases can receive financial support as indicated by the level of poverty. A concentrated service school may have some deficiencies. The deficiencies may not be in performance, but the school may have some documentation to demonstrate that minor assistance is warranted. Characteristics of a concentrated service school may include, but are not limited to: decline in graduation rates, decline in standardized test scores, decline in ACT/SAT composite and/or sub-scores, decline in students qualifying for TOPS scholarships, decline in students performing on grade level, a high rate graduates whose TOPS scholarships are cancelled, and low/decline in FAFSA completion rates. Services provided by LOSFA to concentrated service schools include the following: college and career professional development for staff, financial aid workshops/activities for students and families, postsecondary transition special events, college match and fit workshops, and grade-specific college and career access workshops.

Statewide Services Schools (SSS) include all Louisiana high schools that are neither Intensive or Concentrated services schools. These schools may request LOSFA speakers to conduct a wide-range of in-school seminars for students and parents including General Financial Aid, FAFSA, Louisiana State Scholarship and Grant programs, the START 529 College Saving program and Financial Literacy. LOSFA also has a College Knowledge program available and age-appropriate for middle school students.