a+ program
DESCRIPTION
A+ Program. COTA Conference 2/1/2013. Agenda. Historical Perspective A Look Ahead Program Overview Proposed Amendments Hot Topics Q&A. Historical Perspective. 1993 Outstanding Schools Act created the A+ Program High school improvement program Scholarship as incentive - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
![Page 1: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/1.jpg)
A+ Program
COTA Conference2/1/2013
![Page 2: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/2.jpg)
Agenda
• Historical Perspective• A Look Ahead• Program Overview• Proposed Amendments• Hot Topics• Q&A
![Page 3: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/3.jpg)
Historical Perspective
• 1993 Outstanding Schools Act created the A+ Program– High school improvement program– Scholarship as incentive
• Executive Order 10-16 transferred the program from DESE to MDHE effective August 28, 2010– Program changes reflect new ideas of the
scholarship’s purpose
![Page 4: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/4.jpg)
Historical Perspective
• FY 2012– $29.4 million appropriated– 11,587 students received $25.9 million in A+
funds
• FY 2013– $29.4 million appropriated– 8,965 students have received $13 million to
date– Fall and spring requests incomplete
![Page 5: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/5.jpg)
A Look Ahead
• 402 high schools currently designated• 58 high schools currently in designation
pipeline• 65 high schools currently undesignated– March 29, 2013 DESE “self-certification”
deadline– Governor’s proposal to make all Missouri public
high school graduates eligible for A+ Scholarship
![Page 6: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/6.jpg)
A Look Ahead
• Future uncertainty– Will there be sufficient funding?– How will the process to identify eligible
students need to change?
• Governor’s proposed FY 2014 budget $30.4 million– $1 million increase from FY 2013
![Page 7: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/7.jpg)
Program OverviewHigh School Eligibility Criteria• Enter into a written agreement with the A+
designated high school prior to high school graduation
• Have at least a 95% attendance record overall for grades 9-12
• Have maintained a record of good citizenship and avoidance of the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol
![Page 8: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/8.jpg)
Program OverviewHigh School Eligibility Criteria• Graduate with a cumulative grade point
average of at least 2.5 on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent. – Grade point average should not be weighted
• Have performed 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring. – Up to 25% may be job shadowing
![Page 9: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/9.jpg)
Program OverviewHigh School Eligibility Criteria• For high school graduating class of 2015– Score proficient or advanced on the official
Algebra I EOC Exam• May be taken more than once
OR
– Complete the requirements of an eligibility alternative
![Page 10: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/10.jpg)
Program OverviewHigh School Responsibilities
• Establish:– Written agreement signed by students– Definitions of attendance and good citizenship• Option for review committee
– Policy to include or exclude job shadowing in 50 hours of tutoring/mentoring• May specify types of acceptable jobs/job shadowing
![Page 11: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/11.jpg)
Program OverviewHigh School Responsibilities
• Collect attendance information for students transferring from any public or private Missouri high school– Not required for students that are home
schooled or transferring from out-of-state
• Provide high school transcript with A+ seal (a.k.a. stamp) to postsecondary institution– Graduation date on transcript used to
determine start of 48 months of eligibility
![Page 12: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/12.jpg)
Program OverviewPostsecondary Eligibility
• U.S. citizen/permanent resident• Make a good faith effort to secure federal
financial aid each year– Completion of a FAFSA
• Sufficient to calculate an EFC, or• Sufficient for loan eligibility, if parents refuse to
provide data when required
– Completion of FAFSA4Caster • If student’s postsecondary institution does not
participate in federal Title IV programs
![Page 13: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/13.jpg)
Program OverviewPostsecondary Eligibility
• Be admitted as a regular student at a participating postsecondary institution– Cannot be a “visiting” student– Summer immediately following high school graduation
may be reimbursable even if student attends a different type of institution in fall
• Renewal students - Maintain a 2.5 cumulative GPA and satisfactory academic progress as otherwise defined by the postsecondary institution
![Page 14: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/14.jpg)
Program OverviewPostsecondary Eligibility
• Enroll full-time– 6 semester credit hours (or equivalent) for
summer– 12 semester credit hours (or equivalent) for fall
and spring– Based on school policy if school requires more
than 6 or 12 hours for full-time enrollment
![Page 15: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/15.jpg)
Program OverviewPostsecondary Eligibility
• Exceptions to full-time enrollment– Student meets Title II requirements of the ADA
(must be enrolled in at least 6 hours)– Student is enrolled in all hours available for his
program during a given term– Student is participating in a required internship– Student is enrolled in pre-requisite coursework
![Page 16: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/16.jpg)
Program OverviewPostsecondary Eligibility
• Not be enrolled or intend to use the award to enroll in a course of study leading to a degree in theology or divinity.
• Not have a criminal record preventing receipt of federal Title IV student financial aid.
![Page 17: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/17.jpg)
Program OverviewA+ Award
• Maximum award– Tuition• Covers actual in-district or out-of-district tuition• Capped at standard tuition rate at Linn State
Technical College– 2012-2013 $155/credit hour; $4.10/clock hour
– General fees• General fees are those that are charged of all
students enrolled• Does not include group- or program-specific fees
![Page 18: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/18.jpg)
Program OverviewA+ Award
• Award calculationActual tuition and general feesMinus - Pell and other non-loan federal aidMinus - Amount paid for incomplete or
withdrawn coursework from previous termEquals - Reimbursement Amount
![Page 19: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/19.jpg)
Program OverviewA+ Award
• A+ can only be applied to cover tuition and general fee costs
• Pell and other federal aid MUST be applied before A+– Other federal aid excludes loans and work study– A+ will cover remaining tuition and general fee
costs– A+ award may be reduced to zero by this
process
![Page 20: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/20.jpg)
Program OverviewLength of Eligibility
• Eligibility expires on the earliest of:– 48 months from high school graduation– Receipt of an associates degree– Completion of 105% of the required hours for
the student’s current program of study
![Page 21: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/21.jpg)
Program OverviewLength of Eligibility
• 48 months– Maximum time frame to receive an award
• Calculation based on high school graduation date on transcript
– Delayed or interrupted enrollment results in scholarship eligibility of less than 48 months
– Students qualifying for a military deferment may defer eligibility for the length of active military duty service• Application for deferment through MDHE
– If this benchmark falls within a term, students will be reimbursed for that term but will be ineligible in the next term
![Page 22: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/22.jpg)
Program OverviewLength of Eligibility
• Receipt of an associate’s degree even if:– A+ paid for only a portion of the degree– The associate’s degree was not obtained at an
A+ participating postsecondary school
![Page 23: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/23.jpg)
Program OverviewLength of Eligibility
• 105% includes:– All hours, including developmental/remedial
hours, taken at the student’s current institution– All known hours, including developmental/
remedial hours, taken at any other A+ eligible institution
– Hours taken at any non-eligible A+ institution, including out-of-state institutions, that the student’s current institution accepts in transfer
![Page 24: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/24.jpg)
Program OverviewLength of Eligibility
• 105% excludes:– Hours earned for work completed before high school
graduation, including (but not limited to):• Dual credit• Dual enrollment• Technical education articulation• Advanced Placement• International Baccalaureate
– Hours from a non-participating institution not accepted in transfer by a participating institution
![Page 25: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/25.jpg)
Proposed Amendments
• Definition of full time student– Includes summer and clock hour programs
• Definition of renewal student– Includes students eligible for A+ with zero award
due to receipt of Pell
• Satisfactory academic progress requirements– Clarifies SAP for initial & renewal students and
institutional verification of SAP– Replaces definition of SAP
![Page 26: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/26.jpg)
Proposed Amendments
• Algebra I EOC– Allows waiver when DESE’s testing requirement is
waived– Allows qualifying scores on DESE-approved higher
level math EOCs (geometry and Algebra II)– Revises alternative
• Achievement of minimum score on COMPASS or ACT math subtest
• Score may be achieved before or after HS graduation• Newly eligible postsecondary student may receive
reimbursement in same term score is achieved
![Page 27: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/27.jpg)
Proposed Amendments
• Clarifies eligibility expires 48 months from high school graduation date on transcript
• Revises the calculation of the 105% eligibility limit to maximize eligibility for students pursuing a higher level certificate or degree
• Clarifies the military deferment language
![Page 28: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/28.jpg)
Proposed Amendments
• Specifies reimbursement & 105% calculation made by institution providing the highest outcome if student seeking more than one certificate or degree– Student may provide written notice specifying otherwise
• Amends reimbursable coursework policy– Includes reimbursement for Incompletes– Specifies unofficial withdrawals ineligible for
reimbursement– Provides two additional options for institutions to handle
adjustments for withdrawn coursework
![Page 29: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/29.jpg)
Proposed Amendments
• Requires institutions to always reduce A+ based on federal non-loan aid received on behalf of a student– Ensures students attending under multi-
institution agreements are treated equitably with students attending one institution
![Page 30: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/30.jpg)
Proposed Amendments
• CBHE approved proposed amendments 12/5/2012– Tab E of board book on dhe.mo.gov
• Published January 15 Missouri Register– http://sos.mo.gov/adrules/moreg/current/
v38n2/v38n2.asp
• 30-day public comment period– 1/15/2013 to 2/14/2013
• Effective for 2013-2014 academic year
![Page 31: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/31.jpg)
Hot Topics
• Distinguishing students eligible under EOC alternative from students meeting all high school criteria
• Effect of changes to A+ high school designation process
• Definition of 3-year attendance
![Page 32: A+ Program](https://reader035.vdocuments.site/reader035/viewer/2022081604/56816331550346895dd3b4bc/html5/thumbnails/32.jpg)
Questions
State AidConnie Bestgen, Program Specialist(800) 473-6757, option 4(573) [email protected]
Amy Haller, Program Specialist(573) [email protected]
Kelli Reed, Student Assistance Associate(573) [email protected]
GeneralMDHE
P.O. Box 1469Jefferson City 65102-1469
Phone 573-751-2361Fax: (573) 751-6635
Info. Center: (800) [email protected]