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Ballard R-2 A+ Program
Ballard R-2 School District
A+ Program
Contact: Mrs. Bergen
10247 NE State Route 18
Butler, MO 64730-9204
Phone: (816) 297-2656 ext. 105
What is A+?
The A+ Program was established in 1993 as part of the Outstanding Schools Act by the Missouri State Legislature to enhance educational opportunities for high school students. According to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, the primary goal of the A+ Schools Program is to ensure that all students who graduate from Missouri high schools are well-prepared to pursue advanced education and employment.
The Missouri A+ Scholarship Program is a state-funded initiative providing tuition assistance for eligible graduates from designated high schools to attend Missouri public community colleges or vocational/technical schools. It covers tuition and common fees for up to two years, promoting post-secondary education and training.
Ballard High School applied for A+ designation in 2009. The class of 2013 was the first class to have the opportunity to receive tuition reimbursement from the Missouri Department of Higher Education for completing the requirements of the A+ Program.
Ballard High School graduates who meet specific A+ criteria will be eligible to receive reimbursement for tuition and general fees to attend any public community college or vocational or technical school in the state of Missouri for two years (up to six semesters) once official designation is granted.
Eligibility Requirements
Ballard students wishing to enroll in the A+ program must meet several requirements:
- Sign a Written Agreement to Participate
- Students may agree to participate at any time during their high school career. Students must sign an A+ Program Participation Agreement
- Attend an A+ Designated School Three Consecutive Years
- A student must attend an A+ designated school three consecutive years prior to graduation. If a student enrolls in the program at Ballard and transfers to a different school, that school must be a designated A+ school in order for the student to be eligible for tuition benefits.
- Earn a Cumulative, Un-weighted 2.5 GPA
- Ballard High School students must graduate with a cumulative un-weighted GPA of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. There will be no rounding of the GPA. Thus a student with a GPA of 2.4999 will not meet the requirement. The official transcript will serve as documentation for the GPA requirement. This GPA is applicable to all four years of a student's enrollment in high school.
- Maintain At Least a 95% Attendance Rate
- Students are expected to maintain a 95% or better attendance rate over their four years of high school. Attendance rates will not be rounded; therefore a rate of 94.999% will not qualify the student for A+ benefit.
- Perform 50 Hours of Tutoring and 20 Hours of Approved Community Service
- Students must perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring of younger students through a school-sponsored program. Tutoring must be completed under the supervision of a Ballard teacher during the regular school year (before or after school). Community service must be pre-approved by the Coordinator.
- Maintain a Record of Good Citizenship
- Students must maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and alcohol. Students must represent themselves in a positive manner both in and out of school. Any disciplinary actions taken by the school may affect the student's citizenship status.
- Complete a FAFSA
- Students must make a good faith effort to secure all available federal post secondary student financial aid funds that do not require repayment. Financial need is not a requirement for eligibility, but all students must complete the FAFSA form.
- Algebra I Requirement- 2015 and beyond
- Students must 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. 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 Pre-ACT or ACT math subscore and high school GPA in accordance with the following scale.
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More information:
Attendance Review - Review Guidelines
After receiving attendance information, the parent or guardian will have five calendar days to file an appeal with the A+ Coordinator. If an appeal is not filed within those five days, a waiver for days missed will not be considered.
Appeal Guidelines
- Anyone making an appeal should use the A+ Attendance Appeal Form available in the District office.
- The A+ Coordinator will convene the Attendance Review Committee within five calendar days of notice of an appeal.
- An A+ Review Committee composed of teachers, parents, students, board members, and business leaders will review stated grounds of the appeal.
- The A+ Coordinator will act as a facilitator and a non-voting member of the review committee.
- After the Attendance Review Committee reaches a decision, the A+ Coordinator will notify the parents by letter within three calendar days. The decision of the review committee will be considered final.
Enrollment - Voluntary Enrollment
Enrollment in the A+ Program is voluntary. Students who are interested in participating in the A+ Program are encouraged to enroll in the program early in their high school career in order to track requirements. An A+ Participation Agreement must be completed with all appropriate signatures and returned to the A+ office in order to be enrolled.
Everyone requesting A+ enrollment after the beginning of their sophomore year must meet all criteria dating back to the beginning of their freshman year. Eligible students must have been enrolled in a Missouri-designated A+ school no later than three weeks after the beginning of their sophomore year.
FAFSA - Outside Financial Resources
The student is required to make a good faith effort to secure all available federal post-secondary student financial aid funds that do not require repayment. Students must file the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) prior to the student's graduation. The FAFSA summary report must be sent to the community college or public vocational / technical school that the student is planning to attend. A copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) must be on file in the District Office. Help with the FAFSA form is available in the Counseling Office for students. Seniors are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
Tutoring at Ballard - Peer Tutoring and After/Before School Tutoring
Peer Tutoring is available to all Juniors and Seniors in the program who have flexibility in their class schedules to maintain progress within their six-year plan for graduation. A+ Program students can request to be assigned to a secondary or elementary classroom during a specific class period for a semester or a full year. Upon A+ Coordinator, Counselor, and Teacher approval, a student may be assigned to work one-on one- or with large and small groups of students to assist in instruction- this can include reading to elementary students. This time is not to be spent running errands or making copies for the teacher. All efforts will be made to place tutors in core academic classes first.
Code of Conduct Policy
Students should conduct themselves as responsible representatives of the school. A+ participants must always serve as exemplary examples of high ethical character. As recognized representatives of their school, members are expected to exhibit appropriate behavior on and off school grounds and to conform to and support existing state laws.
Section A: Policy Criteria
Ballard High School’s motto is Quality Education for all Students. Our primary goal is quality academic and technical education for all students.
ISS / OSS:
- All participants begin each school year with good citizen status. Good citizen status equals zero (0) points.
- Each disciplinary referral that results in in-school or out-of-school suspension takes away from good citizen status.
- In-school suspension results in a three-point penalty for each day assigned.
- Out-of-school suspension results in a five-point penalty for each day assigned.
- The accumulation of twenty-one (21) points during any one school year will result in the revocation of the participant's good citizen status and his/her removal from the program with no opportunity for reinstatement.
A+ Position on Chemical Abuse:
- In accordance with state A+ rules, all student use of tobacco products, alcoholic beverages, or possession or use of non-prescribed controlled substances or paraphernalia for their use will not be tolerated, and the violator will be subject to removal from the A+ Program.
- Rule enforcement will be consistent and immediate. School officials are not expected to police off-campus, non-school activities unless the violation is brought to public attention and is clearly proven. Conversation held in the presence of a staff member by an A+ participant regarding their attendance at parties with drugs and/or alcohol or use of drugs and/or alcohol will be considered sufficient evidence for removal from the A+ Program.
- The Administration will be notified of all violations of the A+ Code of Conduct and the consequences of the infraction which is immediate dismissal from the A+ Program with no opportunity for reinstatement. In addition to the A+ Program penalty, such infractions will also be subject to appropriate Board of Education disciplinary policies.
Safe Schools Act
- Any violation of the Safe Schools Act are grounds for immediate and permanent dismissal.
Section B-Procedures
- All reports of violations of the Code of Conduct are to be made to the Principal.
- The Principal contacts the student and the parents to inform them of the violation and procedures to be followed. If requested, a meeting is scheduled within three (3) school days. This meeting includes the Principal, Superintendent, the student, and his or her parents.
- The school administration will determine the course of action. The student and his/her parents are notified of the decision immediately.
- Any student who violates the guidelines will be terminated from the A+ Program.
Section C-Right of Appeal—Due Process
- A student and his or her parents may appeal a decision by writing a letter to the Superintendent within three (3) days of notification of dismissal.
- This letter should state a request for a hearing with the school administration.
- Within five (5) school days after the letter is received, the Superintendent will notify the parents and the participant of the time and place of the appeal hearing.
- The Superintendent, Principal, and a board of three A+ Program committee members will hear both sides of the case and will take action, which they consider to be in the best interests of the student and the A+ Program.
