The State of Missouri A+ Schools Program is an initiative that allows eligible students to attend a Missouri community college or public tech school tuition-free. (General fees are also paid. However, textbooks and other major-specific fees are not paid.)

** A+ funding does not cover ANY tuition or fees at 4-year colleges and universities. 

*Funding is not guaranteed and is determined by the State of MO legislature each year. 

The A+ Schools Program is a school improvement initiative established by the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993. The primary goal of A+ Schools is to ensure that all students are well-prepared to pursue advanced education and employment. The program provides incentives for local high schools to:

• Reduce the dropout rate

• Raise academic expectations and eliminate “general track” courses

• Provide better “career pathways” for all students

• Work more closely with business and higher-education leaders

Benefits of an A Plus School for Students

Qualifying graduating students will be eligible for the following:

• Tuition to attend any Missouri public community college or public vocational or technical school.

• Tuition incentives which will be made available after the student has made a good faith effort to first secure all available federal postsecondary student financial assistance funds that do not require repayment.

Students will receive this incentive for TWO Years. A student must be considered a full-time student by the post-secondary institution maintaining a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must complete the two years of full-time enrollment at the institution within 48 months after graduation from Hazelwood School District High School. Tuition reimbursement is contingent upon the availability of state funds.

A+ students are required to perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring. The following guidelines have been established for A+ tutoring:

• Tutoring must be performed under the direct supervision of a Hazelwood School District employee at a Hazelwood School District site. 

• Students must turn in the A+ Tutor Log to the A+ Coordinator to receive credit for tutoring. 

• Students are responsible for transportation to and from their tutoring site. To participate in off-site tutoring/mentoring, the student must have on file an A+ Transportation Permission Form.

• All tutoring/mentoring hours must be submitted by May 1st of the student’s graduating year. 

• Students will be removed from the A+ Schools Program if they violate school guidelines during tutoring including falsifying documents or hours.

A+ Tutors

--Must have a 2.5 cumulative GPA

--Must be in 11th or 12th grade

--Must have A+ Tutoring on your schedule

--No individual teacher requests--only departments

Job Shadowing

As part of the 50 hours of academic tutoring/mentoring requirement, 25% of those hours (12.5 hours) may include job shadowing.

Students are responsible for contacting a business or employer about Job Shadowing opportunities. The Job Shadowing Form is due within one week after you complete your Job Shadowing (unless completed during the summer).  

Job Shadow expectations: 

• You may not miss school for a job shadow.  

• You may not shadow a parent or step-parent. 

• You may not shadow at your own place of employment.  

• The job MUST be a field that you have some interest in as a future career.  

• If you shadow multiple days with the same professional, you can use one form. 

•  If you shadow multiple professionals, you must get a new form for each experience. 

•  The maximum number of A+ hours you can earn for Job Shadowing is 12.5.  

• The professional must sign this form to verify the hours you shadowed.  

• To get credit for these hours, please turn in the completed Job Shadowing Form with the reflection to the A+ Coordinator

Resources

• A+ Tutor Log

• A+ Job Shadowing Observation & Verification Form

Students must have a 95% attendance rate by graduation to be A+ eligible. 

• • 95% is about 7 or 8 school days/school year a student can miss and still remain eligible.

  • ALL absences count against a student for the A+ Program.

  • Major illnesses, hospitalizations, and surgeries can be appealed. Appeal forms can be obtained from the A+ office. Documentation as to the nature of the illness needs to be submitted with the appeal.

  • Regular doctor/dentist visits and minor illnesses (strep throat, sinus infection, flu, etc.) can NOT be appealed. 

  • Attendance is calculated by the hour--so it is always better to miss only a partial day than a full day if possible!

Attendance Appeal Form

Students must maintain a record of good citizenship to attain A+ eligibility.

 General guidelines are as follows:

• Students are expected to demonstrate appropriate behavior as outlined in the  Student-Parent Handbook and Behavior Guide and District Policy Manual.

• Any drug or alcohol offense will result in automatic removal from the A+ Program with no opportunity for an appeal.

• Students convicted of a felony will result in automatic disqualification from the A+ Program

• 10 days of Out of School suspension will result in removal from the A+ Program.

Additional notes:

• If a student is removed for citizenship infractions, they may appeal by completing the Citizenship Appeal Form and submitting to the A+ office within 30 days of notification.

Students must achieve a qualifying score on ONE of the following tests in order to be A+ eligible:

1. Proficient on the Algebra I end-of-course exam 

2. Proficient on a higher Math end-of-course exam. (i.e.: Algebra II)

3. Have a combined ACT math sub score and high school GPA in accordance with the following scale:

 Students may retake the Algebra I EOC once in order to achieve the Proficient score needed for the A+ Program. Retakes will be allowed during the administration of December EOC exams only. 

***STUDENTS MUST NOTIFY THE A+ COORDINATOR BY NOVEMBER 1 OF THEIR INTENT TO RETAKE THE END-OF-COURSE EXAM.

To meet the eligibility requirement for good faith effort to secure funding, students and parents must:

• Complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) during your senior year of High School

• Submit FAFSA information to the community college or public vocational or technical school they are planning to attend

• Renew the FAFSA)® each year you expect to receive funding

For information on how to complete the FAFSA go to the FAFSA website: https://studentaid.gov/h/apply-for-aid/fafsa 

Some MO 4-year institutions offer PRIVATE (not state A+ funded) scholarships for students that complete the A+ Program. Below is a list of MO universities that generally offer a scholarship. *These are not guaranteed, may be competitive and an application may be required. Please contact the university for additional information.