A+ Scholarship Program

Temporary Guidance

A+ Algebra I End of Course Exam Requirement for 2023 Seniors Status Update-Issued January 9, 2023

A+ Information for Participating Postsecondary Schools

The A+ Scholarship Program is a merit-based scholarship that provides scholarship funds to eligible graduates of A+ designated high schools who attend participating public community colleges or vocational/technical schools, or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools. The information on this page is effective for the 2023-2024 academic year, unless otherwise noted.

Legislation passed in 2016 expanded the A+ Program to non-public high schools. To participate in A+, non-public high schools must complete and submit a Notification of Assurances for A+ High Schools to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education and be designated by the State Board of Education.

Am I eligible?

To be eligible for assistance you must meet the following requirements:

High School Students

• Be a U.S. citizen or permanent resident.
• Enter into a written agreement with your high school prior to graduation.
• Attend a designated A+ high school for 2 years prior to graduation.¹
  • 2020 High School Seniors and Forward who attended an A+ designated high school for any 2 years of the 4 years prior to high school graduation have met this requirement.
  • In addition, regardless of graduation year, if one of the parents is a member of the military on active duty or has retired from the military and relocated to Missouri within one year of their retirement, the student is exempt from this requirement. However, they must attend an A+ designated high school in the school year immediately preceding graduation and meet all of the other high school eligibility requirements.
• Graduate from an A+ designated high school with an overall unweighted 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.
• Perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring, of which up to 25% may include job shadowing prior to graduation.
  • High school policy may allow this criterion to be met up to 6 months beyond high school graduation in exceptional circumstances.
• Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol while in grades 9-12.
• Have achieved a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I end of course exam or a higher level DESE approved end-of-course exam in the field of mathematics.³
  • 2018 High School Seniors and Forward - If a student meets all of the eligibility requirements for their high school graduating class except the end of course exam requirement, they may establish eligibility by achieving a combined ACT math subscore and high school GPA in accordance with the following scale.
    

    ACT Math Score	And	High School GPA
    17 or greater	And	2.5 or greater
    16	And	2.8 or greater
    15	And	3.0 or greater

  • A student may achieve the qualifying score as a high school or postsecondary student. If the student achieves the score as a postsecondary student, they may be eligible for an award in the same term that they take the test provided that they established eligibility before the institution's reimbursement request is submitted.

Initial Postsecondary Students

• Enroll and attend full-time at a participating public community college or vocational/technical school, or private two-year vocational/technical school. (Students who have a disability as defined by Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act and are unable to enroll full time because of their disability but are enrolled in at least six credit hours may be considered to be enrolled full time.)
• Be seeking a degree or certificate at the school in which you are enrolled.
  • If you have already received an associate degree or baccalaureate degree you are not eligible for the A+ scholarship program.
• Not be pursuing a degree or certificate in theology or divinity.
• Not have a criminal record preventing receipt of federal Title IV student financial aid.
• Make a good faith effort to secure all available federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®). Students attending a school that does not participate in Title IV programs must complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator, which is a tool for estimating the level of need for federal financial aid.
• Achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point on a 4.0 scale at the end of the fall semester (or at the end of the initial payment period for non-semester- based programs) and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school.
• Complete 12 semester credit hours or the equivalent (6 hours during the summer term) each term in which you receive an A+ award in order to maintain eligibility for the next term. Students in clock hour programs must complete 90% of the clock hours required for the applicable federal payment period.

Renewal Students

• Continue to meet the eligibility requirements for initial students, except for the 2.0 CGPA fall semester requirement.
• Maintain a 2.5 cumulative grade point average on a 4.0 scale and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school.
  • A renewal student is someone who has received an A+ payment, or who was eligible but whose award was reduced to zero after federal, non-loan aid was applied to tuition and fees, in a prior academic year. If this is the first academic year in which you have received an A+ payment, you are not subject to the renewal 2.5 minimum GPA requirement but you must achieve at least a 2.0 cumulative grade point average by the end of the fall term, or the end of the initial payment period for non-semester based programs.
• Make a good faith effort to secure all available, non-loan federal financial aid by completing the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA®) each academic year. Students attending a school that does not participate in Title IV programs must complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator, which is a tool for estimating the level of need for federal financial aid.
• Complete 12 semester credit hours or the equivalent (6 hours during the summer term) each term in which you receive an A+ award in order to maintain eligibility for the next term. Students in clock hour programs must complete 90% of the clock hours required for the applicable federal payment period.

How much can I receive?

The scholarship will reimburse, within the limits described in the following paragraph, the unpaid balance of your tuition and general fees after all available, non-loan federal financial assistance, such as the federal Pell grant, has been applied to your account. This may result in a zero award if your Pell grant is sufficient to cover all tuition and general fee charges. General fees are fees that are charged to all students and do not include fees specific to an individual program or group of students.

The tuition amount eligible for reimbursement is capped at the published standard per credit hour tuition rate charged by State Technical College of Missouri. The reimbursement cap is subject to change annually as tuition rates change. The maximum reimbursement rate is announced in late spring or early summer each year. For the 2023-2024 academic year, the maximum rate is $209.00 per credit hour or $5.60 per clock-hour.

The amount reimbursed may be reduced if there are insufficient state appropriations. The following factors may also affect the amount you are eligible to receive:

• Reimbursement will be made for completed coursework, including remedial coursework, for which a standard grade was assigned and that is required by your school for the completion of the degree or certificate. For A+ Scholarship purposes, a grade of Incomplete is considered a standard grade.
• Coursework that is part of a higher level certificate or degree program taken after receipt of a certificate will be reimbursed if it is related to the original certificate.
• Dropped coursework (including coursework from which you officially or unofficially withdrew):
  • Will NOT be reimbursed if you complete 12 semester credit hours (6 in summer).
  • Will be reimbursed if you complete fewer than 12 semester credit hours (6 in summer) because you will be ineligible for A+ until the dropped hours are completed.
  • For example, if you enroll in 15 hours but only complete 12, A+ will not pay for the 3 hours that were dropped. If you enroll in 15 hours but only complete 9, A+ will pay for all 15 hours but you will be ineligible for A+ until you have completed at least 3 hours (9+3=12 hour completion requirement).
• Repeat coursework, which includes courses for which you have already received a grade (including a failing grade), will not be reimbursed.

How can I apply?

There is no paper application to fill out; however, you should check with your community college or vocational/ technical school to see what materials they require along with the A+ seal/stamp on your high school transcript in order to confirm your A+ eligibility.

In addition, you must complete the FAFSA® each year. If you are attending a school that does not participate in Title IV programs, you must complete the Federal Student Aid Estimator (previously FAFSA4caster), which is a tool for estimating your level of need for federal financial aid. MDHEWD receives electronic FAFSA® records for Missouri residents directly from the federal government. Late filing may jeopardize your payment as well as eligibility for other state aid programs.

For the summer term, check with the school you are attending to see which academic year (July 1 to June 30) contains the summer term. For example, if the 2023 summer term is part of the upcoming academic year (called a “header”), you would need to file a 2023-24 FAFSA® in order to receive a summer award. If the 2023 summer term is part of the prior academic year (called a “trailer”), a 2022-23 FAFSA® is required.

Although you must file a FAFSA® for the correct academic year based on your school’s academic year, MDHEWD will always provide funding for the summer term after July 1, even if your school considers summer to be a trailer to the previous academic year.

How will I know if I am eligible?

MDHEWD does not provide notice to students of eligibility. Contact your high school A+ Coordinator for your eligibility status based on the high school eligibility criteria. Contact the financial aid office at the school you attend for your postsecondary eligibility status.

How will I receive my award?

Your community college or vocational/technical school will submit a reimbursement request to MDHEWD by the deadlines established for each term (summer, fall and spring). MDHEWD will then disburse the funds to the school and the school will apply the funds to your account.

How long can I receive an award?

Your eligibility expires when the earliest of the following occurs:

• 48 months after the graduation date documented on your high school transcript.
  • Students providing service to any branch of the U.S. armed forces can defer their eligibility (see “Can the scholarship be deferred?” below).
  • Students graduating from high school in mid-year may be eligible for a spring award if their high school transcripts indicate the mid-year graduation date.
• Receipt of an associate degree
• Completion of 105% of the hours required for the program in which you are currently enrolled

How do I renew my award?

You may renew your award annually until your eligibility expires (see “How long can I receive an award?” above).

To renew, initial students must:

• Complete the FAFSA®, or Federal Student Aid Estimator (previously FAFSA4caster) if applicable, in order to make a good faith effort to secure a Pell grant or other federal aid.
• Achieve a minimum 2.0 cumulative grade point average by the end of the fall term.
• Complete at least 12 credit hours in each fall and spring term in which you receive an A+ award (6 credit hours in summer).
• Achieve a minimum 2.5 cumulative grade point average by the end of the spring term.

To renew, renewal students must:

• Complete the FAFSA®, or Federal Student Aid Estimator (previously FAFSA4caster) if applicable, each year in order to make a good faith effort to secure a Pell grant or other federal aid
• Maintain a 2.5 grade point average and otherwise maintain satisfactory academic progress as defined by your school.
• Complete at least 12 credit hours in each fall and spring term in which you receive an A+ award (6 credit hours in summer).

If you fail to meet the renewal criteria, you will not be eligible to again receive the A+ award until the term after your school determines that the criteria have been met. Schools have different policies for how frequently they monitor satisfactory academic progress. You will need to check with your school to determine when your award might be reinstated.

How do I transfer my award?

If you choose to transfer to a different participating Missouri school, either between academic years or semesters, you must contact MDHEWD at (800) 473-6757, option 4. Failure to notify MDHEWD of the transfer may reduce the total amount you receive under the scholarship.

Can the scholarship be deferred?

If you are unable to attend school due to service on active duty in any branch of the United States armed forces, you may qualify for a deferment of your scholarship eligibility. The deferment will ensure you receive 48 months of eligibility (see “How long can I receive an award?” above). You must return to full-time student status within 12 months of the end of your military service and provide a copy of your DD214 to verify the length of your service in order to resume your eligibility.

To defer your eligibility you must submit a written request to: