• Kristy Linscott

• A+ Coordinator

• Blue Eye High School

• phone - 417.779.5331

• fax - 417.779.2151

• Email Kristy Linscott

Questions: Please feel free to contact Blue Eye High School with any questions you have regarding the A+ Scholarship Program

• The A+ Schools Scholarship program was initiated by the state of Missouri to help Missouri’s high schools  better prepare students for careers and training after high school.  The goal for the A+ Scholarship Program is to assure that all students are well prepared to pursue advanced education and/or employment. 

• Blue Eye High School became a designated A+ School in the Spring of 2010,  This designation qualifies every student who meets the A+ criteria to receive tuition incentives usable at any      Missouri public community college or           vocational-technical school. 

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• A+ can mean different things to different Blue Eye students, depending on interests . 

• Some examples are listed below:

• · Technical training in  Auto Collision, Auto Technology, Drafting & Design, Construction Technology, Fire Science, HVAC,     Industrial Maintenance Tech, Machine Tool Tech, Agriculture or Welding

• · Training for medical related careers:  Dental Assisting or Hygienist, EMT-Paramedic,  Medical Lab Tech, Nursing/ Practical or RN, Occupational Therapy Assistant, Respiratory Therapy or Surgery Tech

• · Business, Marketing, Computer Information Systems, Electronic Media, Graphic Design, Networking

• · Earn a two-year Associate Degree using A+, then transfer to four-year college/university

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• All Blue Eye students are encouraged to complete the A+ Scholarship Program requirements.  Even if a student doesn’t currently plan on using the A+ Scholarship benefits at a public Missouri community college or vocational/technical school, completing the A+ requirement is a good “insurance policy” or back-up plan.  Also, some 4-year colleges/universities offer A+ scholarships with their own funds (not state monies) to    recognize students who have completed the A+ Scholarship requirements. 

To qualify for A+ Benefits, students must:

•  Sign an A+ Agreement

•  Graduate from high school with a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale (6.875 on 11. 0 scale)

•  Maintain at least a 95%  attendance average over a 4 year period while in high school

•  Perform 50 hours of unpaid, pre-approved tutoring/mentoring

•  Achieve a score of proficient or advanced on the official Algebra I End of Course exam (EOC) or a higher level EOC. 

•  Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol

•  Attend an A+ designated high school for 3 years  prior to graduation

•  Register for Selective Service if applicable

•  Complete and submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during the second semester of the students’ senior year

A+ Schools believes that all students should:

• Graduate from high school

• Complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and has identified learning expectations

• Proceed from high school graduation to college or a post secondary vocational/technical school or a high-wage job with skill development opportunities

Students planning to attend a four-year college or university will benefit from the A+ Schools program through:

• *Graduates will be eligible for tuition and fees to any Missouri public community college or vocational/technical school.

• *Greater involvement of the business community through job shadowing, career day, classroom presentations and internships.

• *Increased career path direction. Career and life planning will be enhanced through the development of four-year plans.

• *Introduction of career-related activities into the curriculum of all classes.

Benefits of Community/Vocational Schools

• Recent studies indicate that now, over 85% of all jobs require more than a high school diploma but less than a bachelor's degree.

• Even for students who choose to pursue a bachelor's degree, beginning at a community college can provide an academic and financial head start.

Expanding Opportunities

Some 4-year colleges now offer their own scholarships for students who earn the A+ certificate.
Some 4-year schools include:

• Southwest Baptist University

• Missouri State University (West Plains campus)

• Drury University (Mountain Grove campus)

• Central Missouri State University

• Northwest Missouri State University

• Truman State University

• Columbia College (junior and senior year)

• William Woods University

• Webster University

The financial incentives offered by four-year institutions are not part of the A+ Schools Program. They are based on the student earning the A+ Certificate. Contact the individual college for more information.

What Should You Do?

• Encourage your student to think about careers and his/her future plans.

• Enroll in the A+ Program. Encourage students to set goals.

• Realize that there are consequences for the choices that students make (good or bad).
  Look at 2-year school opportunities or 4-year colleges that offer A+ Scholarships.

Availability of funds is contingent upon funding by the state of Missouri. Tuition reimbursement is not the responsibility of Blue Eye R-V School.

• Mo Dept of Higher Ed A+ Scholarship Program

• Selective Service Website—Males who are 18 can register on this site

A+ Tutoring

Students must complete 50 hours of academic tutoring prior to graduation.  Approved tutoring activities are made available to tutors at the  beginning of school year.  All tutoring must be performed on Blue Eye R-V school premises under the supervision of a classroom teacher.  Students can tutor during junior or senior year by incorporating A+ Tutoring into their class schedule or tutor (not for credit) during summer school prior to junior or senior year.  All      tutoring placements must be approved by the A+ Coordinator

When does a student sign up for the program?

There are no specific windows for  signing the agreement although we recommend that students commit at the beginning of high school.   It can be done at any time as long as the student    realizes he/she must have sufficient time to complete the eligibility       requirements, specifically, completion of 50 hours of tutoring.

How does A+ make good financial sense?

Students who qualify for the A+   Scholarship have earned tuition for a 105% of a two year program  of college or technical training classes through an approved Missouri community college or technical school.  This helps put the student on a path to completing 2 years debt free.  For students who plan on completing the four year undergraduate degree, it becomes easier financially to pay for the last two years.

What does A+ Scholarship Cover?

The A+ Scholarship will pay tuition, up to 105%  of a designated program to any Missouri public community college, career or technical school when the student is enrolled full time.  Benefits are good for up to 48 months after  graduation from high school.    

What does A+ Scholarship not cover?

A+ does not cover course lab fees, books, housing or parking fees, repeated coursework, coursework that is part of a higher level certification or degree that is not part of the original certificate is not reimbursable.  If a student withdraws or receives an incomplete, that amount will be     deducted from A+ reimbursement in the  student’s next semester. Earn tuition for skills & training or college while in high school

How long does a student have to use their A+ funding?

A+ college students have 48 months after completion of high school  coursework to use A+ benefits, or completion of 105% of the hours required for the program in which the student is currently enrolled (whichever comes first).

High school students who graduate in December may use their A+ for the spring term if they have met all other A+ eligibility requirements.

Does signing the A+ Agreement restrict a student’s choices?

Signing the A+ Agreement does not in any way restrict a student’s educational choices.  In fact, the A+ Scholarship Program is designed to provide greater opportunities for students.  Using A+ may be a student’s first choice to pay for skills and training after high school, or it may be used as a back-up plan.

Algebra I End of Course

Beginning with the senior class of 2015, students must achieve a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam (EOC) or a higher level DESE approved EOC in mathematics. This would include Geometry and  Algebra II EOCs .

People with a certificate or advanced training have an easier time finding and keeping  a job with the added benefit of higher salaries.

The A+ Scholarship Program is administered by the Missouri Department of Higher Education.  The state funds that pay for the tuition incentives are appropriated annually by the Missouri General Assembly, and are not the responsibility of the Blue Eye R-V school district.

Several of Missouri’s 4-year colleges offer A+ Recognition Scholarships or grants to students who graduated A+ eligible.  All of these A+ Recognition scholarships have been initiated by the colleges/universities, utilizing their own funding resources.  The requirements and number of scholarships offered vary from school to school and sometimes require a higher GPA than the 2.5 required by the A+ Program.  Students should check with an admissions representative to verify that they still offer an A+ eligible recognition scholarship. 

Colleges that have offered A+ Scholarships in the past:

• Avila University—Kansas City

• Columbia College — Columbia

• Culver Stockton —  Canton

• Drury College — Springfield

• Evangel University — Springfield

• Fontbonne University —  St. Louis

• Lincoln University

• Missouri State University — Springfield

• Missouri Southern University — Joplin

• Missouri Western State University

• Missouri Valley College — Moberly

• Northwest Missouri State — Maryville

• Park University — Parkville

• Southeast MO State —  Cape Girardeau

• Stephens College — Columbia

• Truman State University — Kirksville

• Webster University —  St. Louis

• William Woods University—Fulton

The A+ Scholarship can be used at 21 community colleges in Missouri

• Crowder College—Neosho

• East Central College—Union

• Jefferson College— Hillsboro

• Linn State Tech—Linn

• Metropolitan Comm College, Maple Woods—Kansas City

• Metropolitan Comm College, Penn Valley—Kansas City

• Metropolitan Comm College, Blue River—KC

• Metropolitan Comm College, Longview—KC

• Metropolitan Comm College, Business & Tech—Kansas City

• Mineral Area College—Park Hills

• Missouri State U/West  Plaines

• Moberly Area Comm College—Moberly

• North Central MO College—Trenton

• Ozarks Technical College—Springfield

• St. Charles Comm College—Cottleville

• St Louis Comm College  at Forest Park

• St Louis Comm College at Meremac

• St Louis Comm College at Florissant Valley

• St Louis Comm College at Wildwood

• State Fair Comm College—Sedalia

• Three Rivers Comm College—Poplar Bluff