The A+ Schools Program is designed to achieve the three foundational goals set forth in the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993:

• All students will graduate from high school.
• All students will complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and has identified, measurable learner outcomes.
• All students will proceed from high school graduation to a four-year college, community college, post-secondary vocational/technical school, military career, or a high-wage job with the skills necessary for successful sustainability.
   

The qualifying graduating students will be eligible for the following:

• Financial incentives to attend any participating Missouri public community college or public vocational/technical school.
  • Students will need to communicate with four-year universities to determine that university’s policy pertaining to A+ scholarship options.
• Tuition incentives are granted after all available Federal post-secondary student financial assistance has been exhausted.
• Students may receive this incentive for 48 months after graduation from high school.
• Students must be considered FULL-TIME students by the post-secondary institution and must maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.

**Any financial incentives are contingent upon the availability of state funds.
 

To be eligible for the financial incentives of the A+ Schools Program, the A+ Coordinator must certify a student as having met all A+ requirements. 

To be certified as an A+ Schools student, the student and parent/guardian must fulfill the following requirements:

1. Agreement: 
   1. Sign and submit an A+ Scholarship Participation Agreement.
   2. This must be done prior to the start of the second semester of the student’s senior year.
   3. This document can be found in the respective high school A+ handbook. 
2. Attendance
   1. Attend a designated A+ School for any two of the 4 years prior to high school graduation.
   2. Graduate from an A+ School with a cumulative attendance record of 95.0% or higher. 
   3. A+ scholarship attendance is calculated by starting at 100% and subtracting missed time. 
      1. Because students cannot attend more than 100%, attendance percentages can only improve if qualifying absences are officially excused and removed from the total time used in the calculation. 
      2. For A+ purposes only, absences may be excused only when official documentation is provided for approved events such as medical appointments, funerals, or weddings. 
   4. Cumulative attendance rate is based on days attended at the time of graduation.
3. Grade Point Average
   1. Graduate from an A+ School with a cumulative unweighted grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 scale.
   2. Averaging or rounding up to the next highest grade point is disallowed.
   3. The cumulative unweighted GPA is based on the combination of all four years of high school.
4. Math Score Requirement
   1. Students must score “proficient” or “advanced” on the Missouri Algebra I End of Course (EOC) test.
   2. If a qualifying EOC score is not attained, the state allows students an opportunity to meet the requirement by achieving a math subset score on the Pre-ACT test or the ACT test. The following outlines the scores necessary to qualify:
   3. Pre-ACT or ACT Math Subscore associated with student’s unweighted GPA:
      17 score if the GPA is 2.5 - 2.79
      16 score if the GPA is 2.8 - 2.99
      15 score if the GPA is 3.0 or greater
5. Tutoring/Mentoring
   1. Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring on a Fox School District campus, supervised by a district faculty member.
   2. Note: 25% (12.5 hours) of this requirement may be fulfilled through job shadowing. 
   3. It is the responsibility of the student or parent/guardian to set up tutoring/mentoring/job shadowing. The district A+ coordinators do not retain this responsibility. A+ coordinators only verify that the requirement has been met by the student.
6. Citizenship
   1. Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoidance of unlawful use of alcohol and drugs in grades 9-12.
   2. Both school discipline and/or legal charges for drug and alcohol-related incidences disqualify a student from eligibility for the A+ scholarship.
   3. Out-of-School Suspensions (OSS) during grades 9-12 also disqualify a student from eligibility.
   4. See respective high school handbook for further detailed information.
7. Federal Financial Aide
   1. Secure all available federal post-secondary student financial assistance funds that do not require repayment. 
   2. Students/Parents need to be sure to complete the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid). Parents may apply online at: http://studentaid.gov
   3. See additional information under “Good Faith Effort to Secure Funding.”
       

To meet the eligibility requirement in order to secure A+ funding, the parent must:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). 
  • The FAFSA information must be sent by the student or parents to the community college or public vocational / technical school that the student is planning to attend
• FAFSA can be completed online at http://studentaid.gov
• Parents are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but not before October 1 of the year of the student’s graduation.
• The federal deadline to submit the FAFSA is June 30 each year. However, students/parents/guardians should check specific deadlines for the student’s intended college, as many schools require the application months earlier to qualify for state and institutional financial aid.
• Parents/Guardians must reapply for federal assistance by completing a new FAFSA after October 1 each year while their students are attending an A+ post-secondary institution.
   

A+ students are required to have a 95% cumulative attendance rate based on days attended. This percentage is determined at the time of graduation. Any student who does not meet the 95% attendance requirement will not be eligible for the A+ financial incentive. The following guidelines for attendance are in effect for all students participating in A+ Schools:
 

• Cumulative attendance record will be kept from the beginning of the freshman year until graduation.
• Cumulative attendance information will be gathered from the official computerized information system (Infinite Campus) used by the district.
• For students who attend a technical school for part of the school day, attendance information will be obtained from the technical school and sent to the student’s attendance secretary, who will add this information to the district records.
• A+ students and their parents/guardians may check their student’s A+ status at any time in the Infinite Campus Parent Portal.
• Rounding up of percentages is disallowed.
   

There are two types of appeals that may be made for A+ scholarship eligibility:

1. Attendance Appeals
2. Citizenship Appeals

Catastrophic circumstances or accident-related injuries may cause a student to miss multiple days of school, potentially causing their attendance rate to fall below the 95% requirement established by the state of Missouri. In such cases, students or parents may provide the A+ Coordinator with medical documentation, which will be considered in reviewing a waiver of absence due to catastrophic circumstances.

Note: Routine medical and dental appointments and normal illnesses are not considered to be catastrophic.

Students and parents may also appeal an Out-of-School Suspension that ordinarily disqualifies a student from A+ scholarship eligibility.

No appeals will be heard unless a student/parents submit an appeals form to the A+ secretary prior to the deadline. The deadline is no later than two weeks before the last day of the student’s senior year of school.

Review the respective high school’s A+ handbook for  guidelines outlining each appeals process.
 

A+ students are required to perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring, of which up to 25% may be job shadowing (12.5 hours). The following guidelines are in effect for tutoring:

• Tutoring must be done during the school year or during summer school, if available.
• Tutoring must be done on school district premises and supervised by a teacher/coach employed by the district.
• Credited tutoring hours may not begin until the start of a student’s second semester of their freshman year. Any accumulated hours prior to this date will not be credited towards the required 50 hours. 
• All tutoring/mentoring/job shadowing hours must be recorded on the district-provided time sheet. Time sheets can be downloaded here.
• Official time sheets must be signed by a school district official who has supervised the tutoring.
• Official time sheets must be maintained and completed by the student and submitted to the A+ secretary upon completion of all 50 hours of the tutoring/mentoring/job shadowing .
• The A+ student is responsible for being present at the agreed upon day and time for the tutoring. If absent, it is the responsibility of the A+ student to notify the adult in charge of the A+ tutoring experience in advance.
• All tutoring hours must be submitted no later than one week prior to the last day of school during the student’s senior year. Time sheets may be submitted earlier upon completion.

If the behavior expectations of the A+ tutor are not met, the A+ Coordinator or the sponsoring supervisor may terminate the tutoring experience.
 

Participation in the A+ Schools Program is an honor and unique privilege for Fox C-6 School District students. A+ students are required to be good citizens. Any student who does not meet the citizenship requirement will not be eligible for the A+ financial incentive. The following guidelines for citizenship are in effect for all students participating in the A+ Schools Program:

• An A+ student will not sell, possess, or use any controlled substances as defined by law unless prescribed by a licensed physician. Any student who is suspended for an alcohol or drug-related offense is ineligible and immediately terminated from the A+ Schools Program.
• Any student who receives an out-of-school suspension (OSS) for drugs or alcohol will be terminated from participation from the A+ program.
• Any student who receives an out-of-school suspension (OSS) for any violation other than drugs or alcohol will be placed on a probationary status.
  • Probationary status will be in effect for the remainder of the school year OSS was assigned and the following school year.
  • Any subsequent OSS suspensions occurring while a student is on probationary status will result in termination from the A+ Schools Program.
• The accumulation of 15 days or more of in-school suspension (ISS) during the current school year will result in the student being placed on probationary status for the remainder of the current school year. 
  • Any further infractions resulting in an ISS or OSS suspension will result in immediate termination from the A+ Schools Program. 
  • If there are no other infractions during the probationary period, the student will return to “good standing.”
• A letter of probation will be mailed to the student’s home as notification that the student has been placed on A+ Citizenship Probation. Any violation of the A+ Citizenship Guidelines while the student is on probation will automatically terminate the student from the A+ Schools Program.
• Citizenship certification will be based upon the following:
  • Discipline record of the student as determined by the grade level principals.
  • Discipline record of the student as determined by the Safe Schools designee.
  • Compliance with the disciplinary policies, procedures and consequences of the Fox C-6 School District.

The Fox C-6 School District reserves the right to remove a student from the A+ Program who has been charged, convicted, or plead guilty in a court of general jurisdiction (Missouri Circuit Court or Federal Court) for the commission of a felony violation of state or federal law.

Safe Schools Felony Violations

• 1st & 2nd-degree murder
• Kidnapping
• 1st & 2nd-degree assault
• Forcible rape or sodomy
• 1st-degree burglary
• Robbery
• Distribution of drugs
• Voluntary/involuntary manslaughter
• 1st-degree arson
• Sexual assault
• Felonious restraint
• 1st-degree property damage
• Distribution of drugs to a minor
• Possession of a weapon

Provision of Chapter 571 MO Revised Statutes
 

A certified A+ Schools student, who has graduated from the Fox C-6 School District has 48 months from high school graduation to take advantage of the financial incentives of the A+ Schools Program. 

A student who participates must:

• Enroll in and attend on a full-time basis (minimum of 12+ hours) in a participating Missouri public community college or public vocational/technical school in Missouri.
• Maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale while enrolled in the public community college or public vocational/technical school.
• Complete a program or area of certification within 48 months from high school graduation
  • Delayed or interrupted enrollment results in scholarship eligibility of less than 48 months.
  • Students qualifying for a military deferment may have their eligibility extended beyond 48 months.
     

• Attendance - 95% cumulative average over 4 years. If you have doctor’s notes, do not wait until the last minute to try and locate them. Bring them in as you receive them.
• Grade Point Average - 2.5 cumulative unweighted GPA average or better over 4 years. Averaging or rounding up to the next highest grade point will not occur.
• Math Requirement - Please refer to the sub-category “Math Score Requirement” found under the “Student Eligibility”tab.
• Tutoring - 50 hours, of which 12.5 hours may be job shadowing, must be done in district, supervised by a district faculty member. All time sheets are due to the A+ secretary no later than one week prior to the last day of the school year. 
• Citizenship - All students must meet district citizenship expectations. See the respective high school’s A+ handbook for more detailed information. .
• FAFSA - Be sure to complete the FAFSA online at http://studentaid.gov
• Male students must register for Selective Service by age 18 at: http://www.sss.gov