A+ Schools Program - Financial Incentives for Richmond R-XVI High School Students

1. Welcome to RICHMOND R-XVI high schoolA+ Schools Program Presentation

2. The A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM • The A+ Schools Program was established as part of the Missouri Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 and Senate Bill 380 in order to provide incentives for local high schools to raise academic expectations, reduce their dropout rates, establish relationships with the business community and higher education leaders, and provide better career pathways for students to post-secondary education. (Richmond High School has been an A+ designated high school since 1997.) • Students who commit to the rigorous program requirements for A+ eligibility and who graduate from an A+ designated high school (like you) may qualify for state-paid financial incentives to assist them with the costs of attending any public community college or vocational/technical school or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools in the State of Missouri.

3. The A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM (cont.) You should know that: • financial need is not a factor in determining an A+ student’s eligibility for benefits. However, all A+ students are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA)to determine eligibility for non-payback financial aid (i.e., Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant) each year that they plan to utilize their A+ benefits. • receipt of outside and private scholarships will also not affect an A+ student’s eligibility for benefits. • some four year colleges and universities may also offer financial incentives for students who meet A+ eligibility criteria. However, those incentives are funded by the institutions themselves and not by the A+ Schools Program.

4. The A+ schools program (cont.) • As an A+ student, you are under no obligation to use your A+ Schools Program financial incentives (but if you’ve earned them, you really should take advantage of the benefits that have been afforded to you)! • Financial incentives for the A+ Schools Program will be provided as long as state funds are appropriated by the Missouri legislature.

5. What are the basic Student eligibility requirements? Students must: • be a U.S. Citizen, permanent resident or lawfully present in the U.S. and eligible to receive Title IV aid. • be registered with the Selective Service (if applicable). • enter into a written agreement with their high school prior to graduation. • attend a designated A+ high school for three consecutive years immediately prior to graduation. Exceptions from three year requirement – * Active military dependents * Dependents of retired military who relocate to Missouri within one year of retirement Exceptions must attend an A+ high school and meet all other requirements during the year immediately preceding graduation.

6. What are the basic Student eligibility requirements? (CONT.) • graduate with an overall 2.5 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) or higher on a 4.0 or higher scale. (A cumulative GPA of 2.49 will not be rounded.) • have at least a 95% attendance record overall for grades 9-12. (An attendance rate of 94.9% will not be rounded.) • perform a minimum of 55 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring for younger students. • maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol. • make a documented good faith effort to apply for non-payback financial aid by completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) preferably prior to the end of the second semester of their senior year and each year thereafter that they plan to use their A+ benefits.

7. What are the basic Student eligibility requirements? (CONT.) • Students graduating in the Class of 2015 & beyond must score proficient or advanced on the state level Algebra 1 End of Course Exam or achieve a qualifying score on the mathematics component of the ACT test. Scores for 2015 high school seniors have not yet been established. • NOTE: A student who graduates at the end of the first semester of their senior year (mid-year) iseligible to receive their A+ financial incentives for the semester immediately following their graduation, as long as the student has met all program eligibility requirements, including filing a FAFSA for the appropriate semester, and making sure that their official A+ high school transcript indicates their mid-year graduation date. These students will be required to complete and submit a separate FAFSA for the current academic year prior to completion of the end of the first semester of their senior year in order to be able to utilize their A+ financial incentives during the next semester.

8. a+ schools programfinancial incentives • A+ Schools Program financial incentives PAY FOR in-district or out-of-district tuition (capped at $158 per credit hour for the 2013-2014 academic year) plus general fees that are assessed to all students each semester • Your eligibility for A+ benefits expires when the earliest of the following events occurs – * 48 months after the graduation date documented on your high school transcript * Receipt of a post-secondary certificate or associate’s degree * Completion of 105% of the required hours for the program of study in which you are enrolled. • Federal Pell Grant funds will be applied to your student account balance first; if any eligible costs remain, they will be billed to A+. In other words, you cannot receive A+ financial incentives in addition to a Pell Grant if the Pell Grant pays for all A+ eligible tuition and fees.

9. a+ schools programfinancial incentives (cont.) • How A+ is applied:

10. a+ schools programfinancial incentives (cont.) • A+ Schools Program financial incentives DO NOT PAY FOR: • Courses taken as a visiting student except for the summer semester immediately following your high school graduation. NOTE: These students must be enrolled full-time (minimum 6 credit hours), have their official A+ transcript and all college transcripts for dual credit coursework completed while in high school sent to the A+ eligible school they plan to attend immediately following graduation, and complete and submit a separate FAFSA for the 2013-2014 academic year using information from 2012 taxes as well as a FAFSA for the 2014-2015 academic year using information from 2013 taxes • Books, supplies, miscellaneous fees, lab fees or online course fees

11. a+ schools programfinancial incentives (cont.) • Repeated coursework • Coursework taken beyond 105% of your degree requirements * Includes all hours completed at any institution, including developmental/remedial coursework * Does NOT include credit hours earned before high school graduation • Dropped coursework or for coursework for which the student is no longer enrolled

12. a+ schools programfinancial incentives (cont.) * If you drop a course before the payment request for your A+ benefits has been submitted to the Missouri Department of Higher Education by the school, you immediately become responsible for paying the school for the cost of the course you dropped during the current semester. In addition, if dropping that course reduces your enrollment to less than full-time, you immediately become responsible for paying the school for the entire cost of all courses in which you are enrolled during the current semester (since you will no longer be meeting the full-time A+ Schools Program eligibility requirement). * If you drop a course after the payment request for your A+ benefits has been submitted to the Missouri Department of High Education by the school, your A+ benefits for the next semester will be reduced by the costs of the dropped class. NOTE:You should always check with the financial aid office first before attempting to drop any class!

13. Using yourA+ financial incentives • Apply for Admission to any public community college or vocational/technical school or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools in the State of Missouri. • Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at www.fafsa.gov • Be sure to include the school where you plan to use your A+ benefits (MCC’s School Code is 002484) • Both you and a parent must request PIN Numbers at www.pin.ed.gov • If you are planning to use your A+ financial incentives during the Summer immediately following graduation, you must complete two FAFSAs – one for 2013-2014 and one for 2014-2015

14. Using your A+ financial incentives (Cont.) • Review the Student Aid Report that you will receive either by e-mail or by regular mail as a result of filing the FAFSA • Check to see if your application was selected for verification or if there are any other unresolved issues that need to be addressed • Contact the Financial Aid Office at the school you plan to attend to identify yourself as an A+ student and to see what documentation (if any) is needed in order for you to complete the verification process prior to high school graduation. NOTE:A+ will not pay any financial incentives to the school on your behalf until the verification process has been completed. For timely processing and payment of A+ financial incentives, you are required to submit all requested documentation as soon as possible but no later than 2 weeks after the start of classes. • Remember to complete the FAFSA each year that you plan to use your A+ benefits

15. Using your A+ financial incentives (Cont.) • Have all of your academic transcripts sent to the school you plan to attend • Request that your official A+ high school transcript which contains the A+ Seal is sent to your school as soon as you graduate • Request that all official dual credit transcripts from any colleges or universities be sent to your school once you have completed their coursework • Complete your initial Placement Testing (if applicable) • Schedule an appointment to participate in a New Student Enrollment Group where you will declare your degree plan and enroll as a regular full-time student • 12 or more credit hours during the fall/spring semesters • 6 or more credit hours if you plan to take classes during the summer term

16. Using your A+ financial incentives (Cont.) • Make arrangements to pay for the difference due for your tuition charges, your books, supplies, miscellaneous fees, lab fees or online course fees that A+ will not cover • Plan to attend New Student Welcome Activities or New Student Orientation

17. Maintaining your ELIGIBILITY FOR A+ financial incentives • Enroll full-time each semester and check with the Financial Aid Office before dropping any classes. Full-time status will be determined by the enrolled and attended hours at the conclusion of the last day to drop with a 50% refund (which is the end of the regular fall or spring 16 week semester, or the equivalent ration of other sessions). • Only enroll in courses required for your declared certificate or degree plan • As an initial student, remember that you must achieve a 2.5 cumulative grade point average by the end of your initial year and meet the school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements • As a renewal student, remember thatyou must have achieved a 2.5 cumulative grade point average by the end of your initial year AND must maintain your 2.5 cumulative grade point average and meet your school’s Satisfactory Academic Progress requirements throughout the completion of your degree

18. MAINTAINING your ELIGIBILITY FOR a+ financial incentives • If you should lose your A+ eligibility, you can get it back within your 48-month eligibility period by re-establishing your 2.5 cumulative grade point average and/or improving your completion rate at your own expense. (A+ will not pay for coursework taken while you are working to re-establish your eligibility.) • Remember that you will be required to complete a “Renewal” FAFSA and submit any additional forms requested by the Financial Aid Office each year that you plan to use your A+ benefits. • Finally, when enrolling in your final semester (either your certificate or degree will be completed or your A+ eligibility expires), visit with an Academic Advisor to assist you with your Completion of A+ Eligibility Form.

19. Any questions??? Please feel free to contact me: Jill Pence A+ Coordinator Richmond R-16 High School jpence@richmond.k12.mo.us Phone: 816-776-2226