A+ Program

A+ Program

COTA Conference2/1/2013

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

• 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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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]