Origins of the A+ Schools Program

In May, 1993, the Missouri General Assembly passed Senate Bill 380, commonly known as the “Outstanding Schools Act.”  The A+ Schools Program is one of the education opportunities brought about by this legislation.  Students who attend an A+ high school receive the knowledge, skills, and competencies that are needed to succeed in the 21st century.

What is an A+ School?

South Harrison High School Was selected by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education as an A+ Schools grant recipient in the spring of 1996.  The A+ Schools grant provided the opportunity and funding for South Harrison High School to make basic changes designed to guide students in a rigorous program of academic and technical education that will prepare them for the work place, post-secondary vocational/technical training, or college.  South Harrison was officially designated as an A+ high school in April of 1999.  This designation came after a review by the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  With the Missouri State Board of Education’s approval, members of the class of 1999 became the first to receive A+ benefits.

Goals of an A+ School

*To ensure that all students graduate from high school.

*To ensure that all students complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and contains identified learning experiences.

*To ensure that all students proceed from high school graduation to a college, or post-secondary vocational or technical school, or a high wage job with workplace skill development opportunities.

Student Eligibility

To be eligible for the financial incentives of the A+ Schools Program, a student will receive A+ benefits when he/she completes the following:

Placed a signed A+ agreement on file with the school.
Placed a signed A+ Good Citizenship Policy on file with the school
*Maintain 95% or better attendance average over the course of the high school career (4 years).
*Maintain at least a 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale over the course of the high school career (4 years).
*Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoidance of the unlawful use of drugs or alcohol over the course of the high school career (4 years).
*Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring for students.
*Complete and submit the FAFSA for federal post-secondary student financial assistance funds that do not require repayment before graduation.
*Must pass Algebra I EOC with Advanced or Proficient.

Citizenship Requirement

A student who participates in an A+ Schools Program must maintain a record of good citizenship and avoidance of the unlawful use of drugs or alcohol.

*Participation in the A+ Schools Program is an honor and privilege for a student.

A student must maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the possession, transfer, or use of alcohol and illegal drugs and the misuse of legal drugs.  *(The District has the ability to obtain information from various law enforcement authorities and other public agencies and will attempt to obtain such information whenever it receives a report of such potential violation.)

*A student will be removed from the program in most cases of OSS.  If not, the student will be placed on probation for a period of 180 school days.

*A student will be placed on probation for 180 school days after 3 days have been spent in ISS.  (These do not include days for tardies).

Grade Point Requirement

Students who participate in an A+ Schools Program must graduate from high school with a grade point average of two and five-tenths (2.5) points or higher on a four (4.0) point scale.

*The cumulative grade point is averaged over four years of high school.

*There will be no rounding of grade point (i.e., a “2.48” is not a “2.5”).

*The student’s official transcript will serve as evidence of grade point average for admission into public community college or public vocational or technical school.  The school district will affix to the student’s official transcript an official state seal donating A+ status.

Attendance Requirement

A student who participates in an A+ Schools Program will have at least a ninety-five (95%) attendance record throughout his/her high school career.

*The official attendance record shall be kept by the South Harrison R-II School District and provided to the A+ Coordinator for record keeping purposes.

Tutoring Program

A student who participates in the A+ Schools Program will perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring during the four years in high school.  The opportunities to complete this requirement are summer school at the elementary schools, after school tutoring at the high school, after school tutoring at the elementary school, after school tutoring at the kindergarten center or the SAS (Students Aiding Students) program.  The SAS program is for seniors only.  The following steps must be taken:

Sign up for the tutoring program that the student is interested in.
Attend meeting on placement when applicable.
*Arrive at the assigned work site on time and make contact with the site supervisor.
*Contact the work site if unable to attend on the assigned day.

Students are advised that failure to accept these responsibilities can result in a conference with the A+ Coordinator, a letter to parents/guardians and possible termination of the assignment prior to its completion.

All assignments will take place on school sites.

Once the assignment is completed, the student will return paperwork to the A+ Coordinator’s office where hours will be recorded and forms will be kept on file.

****Important****

High School A+  Algebra 1 requirement
Beginning with the senior class of 2015, a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I EOC exam should be obtained. If a qualifying score is not obtained, a student must meet specific requirements in regard to ACT score and GPA.  Please check with the High School office for more information.  

Post High School Graduation Frequently Asked Questions

What does A+ cover?
A+ currently pays for completed coursework for which a grade was assigned and
general institutional fees.

What does A+ not cover?
 Repeated coursework
 Coursework that is part of a higher level certification or degree that is not part of
the original certificate
 If a student withdraws or receives an incomplete, that
amount will be deducted from A+ reimbursement in the
student’s next semester
 Course fees, housing and books

When is A+ applied?
After federal money has been applied including the Pell grant.

How long does a student have to use their A+ funding?
A+ college students have 48 months after completion of high school coursework or
completion of 105% of the hours required for the program in which the student is
currently enrolled. High school students who graduate in December may use their A+
for the spring term if they have met all other A+ eligibility requirements.
What is included in the calculation of the 105% completion percentage?
 All known hours completed at any participating A+ institution, including remedial or
development coursework
 All hours accepted in transfer from an institution that is ineligible for A+
participation (4-year, private or out-of-state colleges/universities)
What is not included in the calculation of the 105% completion percentage?
 Hours earned for coursework before high school graduation, ex. dual credit, dual
enrollment
 Hours earned from an ineligible A+ institution that do not transfer to NCMC

Can I use my A+ funds at a four-year university?
No. A+ can only be used at two-year public community colleges or career technical
schools. Some four-year universities offer what may be called A+ scholarships. They
are not part of the statewide A+ program and requirements/awards are different.

May a student receive scholarships without jeopardizing his/her A+?
Yes. However, if the local scholarship has restrictions, those must be honored. If there
are no restrictions on the scholarships, those funds may be used for non-A+ eligible
expenses such as books, housing, and other fees.

How do I remain A+ eligible?
It’s easy! Maintain at 2.5 GPA, be degree-seeking, stay enrolled in at least 12 credit
hours (6 hours for summer), complete a FAFSA application every year, and meet
Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP).

Is there an extension of the benefit period for students in the military?
If a returning student or incoming student ceases attendance for the purpose of
providing service in any branch of the U.S. armed forces, the eligibility of the student
will be extended for the period of the service as documented on the student’s DD214
form. Remaining eligibility will be retained if the student returns to full-time status
within twelve months of the end of military service and provides verification to the
department that the military service was satisfactorily completed.

Contact Information:

Jason Slaughter, HS Principal

660-425-8051