Raymore-Peculiar

A+ Program

Mr. Eric Sclesky, A+ Coordinator

Mr. Matt Majors, Tutor Coordinator

Dina Covey, A+ secretary

http://raypeccounselingoffice.weebly.com/a-program.html

What is the A+ Schools Program? A+ is a state program that began in 1993 as part of

the Outstanding Schools Act

RPHS has been an A+ High School since 2000.

A+ is a state program for qualified students to pay for most* of an associates degree at any Missouri public community college or certificate at a vocational/technical school.

A+ is for ALL students regardless of ability to pay.

Pell or Access Grants pay fees first, then A+ pays. *Pending that funding is available

Why Participate? College Costs have risen since 2000

A 4-year college education in Missouri may cost a minimum of $50,000

Many 4-year degrees will cost upwards of $100,000

A two-year degree from a community college will reduce that amount

The A+ Program is worth around $9,000 in tuition to Longview Community College

Why Participate?Many occupations require a

degree or some training beyond high school.

A+ can help reduce the amount of student loans that may have to

be taken out.

Where can I go?Missouri has 18 Community Colleges

Metropolitan Community Colleges Longview Community College

Business, Automotive, Social Service degrees

Penn Valley Community College Medical programs, Graphic Design

Maple Woods Community College Sign Language Interpreter, Veterinary Technology

Blue River Community College Criminal Justice, Police Academy, Fire Academy

Business and Technical College Computers, Industrial Technologies

Where else can I go?Community Colleges across Missouri

Crowder College, Neosho East Central College,

Union Jefferson College,

Hillsboro The State Technical

College of MO., Linn Mineral Area College, Park

Hills Moberly Area Community

College, Moberly Ozark Technical College,

Springfield

St. Charles Community College, St. Peters

St. Louis C.C., Florissant Valley

St. Louis C.C., Forest Park St. Louis C.C., Meramec,

Kirkwood State Fair Community

College, Sedalia Three Rivers C.C., Poplar

Bluff West Plains Campus of

MSU, West Plains

What about 4-year Colleges? Some 4-year colleges and universities offer incentives to A+

students

Check with the college of your choice to see if they offer any incentives for A+ students. In the past, the following schools have offered some incentives if students were A+ qualified:

Central Methodist College Drury University

Mo. Southern State Univ. Avila University

Missouri Western Univ. Missouri Valley College

Northwest Mo. State Univ. Park University

Truman State University William Woods University

Webster University Lindenwood Univ.

Benefits of A+ A+ pays tuition (up to $158 per credit hour)and some

fees to any Missouri Community College or

Qualifying Missouri vocational/technical school

Please note- Longview community college is $175 per credit hour this year(Ray-Pec is out of district for MCC)

Participants must be full-time students and

maintain a 2.5 GPA while attending college.

Students have a 48 month window to use their A+ benefits after high school graduation

Requirements: 3-year rule Students must attend an A+ designated school for at least 3

consecutive years prior to graduation At least the sophomore, junior and senior year.

Area High Schools that are part of A+ includes: Harrisonville Belton Pleasant Hill Lee’s Summit (all 3 high schools) Ruskin Center Grandview

Students may transfer between A+ designated schools and carry A+ with them.

Seniors who graduate at semester must still fulfill the 3-year requirement.

Requirements: Letter of Intent Students and parents will sign a Letter of Intent and

bring it back to your advisor during fall of 9th grade.

All grades, attendance and discipline from the freshman year will affect a student’s eligibility regardless of whether he/she signed up during the freshman year.

Be sure to sign to accept or decline the A+ program

Signing the Letter of Intent does not obligate a student to attend a community college.

Requirements: Attendance Students are required to maintain 95% attendance over 4

years of high school

Students may miss no more than the equivalent of approximately 8 days or 54 hours in any one year over 4 years of high school

Attendance is cumulative and based on HOURS

Attendance waivers are granted for catastrophic illnesses or hospitalization, not the average cold or flu. See waiver guidelines in the A+ handbook

A+ Attendance rules are separate from regular school attendance rules. (What you see in SIS is not A+ info.)

Requirements: Attendance Students enrolled the RP Academy will still be eligible to

qualify for A+

Each semester the A+ office will provide parents/guardians and students with information that includes the students’ attendance record.

Requirements: GPA Students must maintain a 2.5 GPA that is non-

weighted.

GPA is cumulative over all 4 years of high school.

Students who do not have a 2.5 GPA may work to raise their GPA prior to graduation

GPA’s may not be rounded up. (a 2.4999 GPA at graduation will not be rounded up to a 2.50)

Requirements: Tutoring/Mentoring

50 hours of unpaid, supervised tutoring/mentoring are required

Students may take “Panthers in the Classroom” during their junior or senior year or be a freshmen mentor for the advisory program.

Tutoring class is one semester class and may complete the tutor requirement

For the freshmen mentoring, the hours will be earned for the full year

Tutoring other than “Panthers” must be pre-approved.

Tutoring an individual or family member is not considered acceptable

Tutor logs must include date, time and a teacher’s signature.

Requirements: Community Service 30 hours of community service are required

It is a local requirement approved by the R-P Board of Education

Students may log hours any time between June 1 after their eighth grade year and May 1 of their senior year

Log sheets are available from the A+ office and on the A+ page of the high school website

Log sheets need to be turned in to the A+ office. Do not turn them in anywhere else.

Requirements: Community Service

Activities that Qualify Civic activities

Lions Club, Rotary, MS 150, Trunk or Treat, Parks & Rec.

activities

Little league coaching Boy Scout / Girl Scout

activities Church-related activities

that reach out into the community: Vacation Bible School, mission trips, food pantries

Activities that DO NOT count Service assigned by the court Work for a for-profit business Babysitting in the home Home-based tutoring Work that would normally be

compensated Singing in the church choir,

maintenance of church facility or grounds.

Requirements: Citizenship Good Citizenship is determined by disciplinary referrals

Citizenship is based on a point system

2 points for an Evening Detention

3 points for each day of In-School-Suspension

4 points for each day of Out-of-School Suspension

Students may accumulate 20 pts. in any one year

On the 21st point a student is permanently dismissed from the A+ program

Appeals may be made to be reinstated to the program. The decision of the appeals committee will be considered final.

Requirements: Citizenship

Any offense involving

Drugs or Alcohol will result in immediate dismissal from A+

NO APPEALIt’s part of the state law

Requirements: FAFSA A+ students must apply for Federal Financial Aid

FAFSA should be filed during the senior year of high school prior to starting college and each successive year of college

FAFSA provides PELL and Access grants.

PELL and Access monies will be applied to a student’s college tuition first, then A+ money will be applied

Any student convicted of a drug offense (whether in school or out) will not be eligible for federal financial aid.

Requirements: Selective Service All male students who receive any financial aid to attend

college must register for the Selective Service when they turn 18 years of age.

New requirement for the class of 2015 and beyond

Students must score Proficient or above on the Algebra I EOC exam or another higher level EOC math exam. Or

a qualify score on the math portion of COMPASS or ACT.

Requirements of the A+ Program Attend an A+ designated High School for 3 consecutive years leading

to graduation Students will sign a Letter of Intent to pursue A+ status Earn a 2.5 non-weighted GPA on a 4.0 scale Maintain a 95% attendance record Perform 50 hours of approved non-paid tutoring Perform 30 hours of approved community service Maintain a record of good citizenship which includes the avoidance

of alcohol and drugs Students must apply for Federal Financial Aid Male students must register for the Selective Service Proficient on Algebra I or Geometry or Algebra II EOC exam or ACT

or Compass qualifying math score

Goals of the A+ Program All students will graduate from high school

All students will complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and has identified learning expectations

All students will proceed from high school graduation to community college or postsecondary vocational or technical school, or high wage job with work place skill development opportunities.

To Maintain Benefits Students Must: maintain eligibility for A+ while in College

be full-time: 12 credit hours in fall and spring and 6 credit hours in the summer

maintain a 2.5 GPA

file a FAFSA every year

be working toward an Associate’s Degree

visit the financial aid office every semester while enrolled in college as an A+ student