A+ Program
The A+ program will pay tuition (maximum of $158 per credit hour) to any Missouri public community college, vocational, or technical school as long as students enroll full-time within 48 months after graduation from high school (students providing service to any branch of the U.S. armed forces can defer their eligibility beyond the 48 months if they return to full-time student status within 12 months of the end of their military service). The benefits are paid by the state of Missouri after any federal or state grant for which you are eligible is applied.
Students may use A+ until they have completed 105 percent of the hours* required for the program in which they are currently enrolled or they complete a degree or certificate, whichever occurs first. *Equal to 3 credit hours beyond the required hour for the degree or certificate.
105 percent includes the following:
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.
105 percent excludes the following:
- 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.
Please see Kathy Miller for questions about A+ qualifications at West Platte. A new element that the Department of Higher Education now accepts is Job Shadowing for 25% of the required 50 hours of tutoring. As a reminder, the following are requirements for A+:
If you have met these requirements:
-A U.S. citizen, eligible non-citizen, or lawfully present in the U.S.
- Entered into a written agreement with the high school prior to graduation.
- Attended a designated A+ high school for 3 consecutive years prior to graduation.
- Graduated with an overall grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale.
- Have at least a 95% attendance record overall for grades 9-12.
- Performed at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring, of which up to 25% may include job shadowing.
- Maintained a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol.
- Beginning with the high school senior class of 2015, have achieved a score of Proficient or Advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam.
*****A+ Scholarship Update for Spring 2015 Semester (possible reduction in funds):
In anticipation of a possible shortfall in state revenue, there could be a reduction in A+ funding. What this means is that the total
number of reimbursable hours for the 2014-2015 academic year may be reduced to ensure the amount awarded does not exceed the amount of funding available. This will go into effect in the spring 2015 term. The possible reduction could be up to 4 credit hours. Missouri Department of Higher Education will announce the exact amount of the reduction on its A+ page of the website (www.dhe.mo.gov). Please be aware as this could affect next year’s students as well.
For additional information and forms please visit the A+ page on our website!
www.WPSD.net