SchoolS Program. Student handbook. Seckman High School 2800 Seckman Road Imperial, MO 63052

Transcription

1 SchoolS Program Success For Every Student Student handbook Seckman High School 2800 Seckman Road Imperial, MO Curt Sykes, Asst. Principal/A+ Coordinator (636) REVISED 08/04/14

2 MISSOURI S A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM Missouri s Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 established provisions for the implementation of a program to institute A+ Schools and improve the education of high school students within the State of Missouri. Beginning in 1994, the A+ Schools Program has provided an opportunity to Missouri s public school districts that demonstrate a commitment to ensure that the program s goals are met in their high schools. The goals of an A+ School are to ensure that: 1. All students graduate from high school. 2. All students complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and has identified learning expectations. 3. All students proceed from high school graduation to a college, post-secondary vocational or technical school, or a high wage job with workplace skill development opportunities. High schools that choose to become an A+ School must outline a plan that includes innovation activities to make progress toward achieving these three goals. Seckman High School was selected by the Fox School Board of Education to receive district funding to become an A+ School site. Seckman Senior obtained designation in If Seckman Senior maintains designation, the students who complete all A+ requirements and graduate from Seckman High School each year may be eligible to participate in the A+ School Financial Incentive Program. The funding for the financial incentives is dependent upon Seckman High School maintaining its A+ Schools status and the availability of state appropriations from the Missouri General Assembly. The student financial incentive of the A+ Schools Program may provide, for applicants who meet the A+ requirements and are eligible, for the cost of tuition and general fees (subject to legislative approval) while attending any A+ approved Missouri public community college or post secondary vocational or technical school ( s/) as a full-time student. These costs may be reimbursable only after secured federal financial assistance funds (FAFSA) that do not require repayment have been applied and all requirements are fulfilled. The incentive may be available for up to two years of attendance during the 4-year period following high school graduation. PURPOSE OF STUDENT HANDBOOK The purpose of this handbook is to provide a clear understanding of the various aspects of the A+ Schools Program as established by the 1

3 Outstanding Schools Act of There are many aspects of the law that established the A+ Schools Program that require the Fox C-6 School District to establish guidelines and policies. It is the responsibility of the A+ School Coordinator to administer the A+ Schools Program in a fair and consistent manner. All A+ students must be treated fairly and equitably. The first step of participation in the A+ Schools Program is the signing of the A+ Schools Agreement form and Citizenship Guidelines form by the student, parent and A+ Coordinator. After all signatures are obtained, the student is considered to be an A+ student at Seckman High School. It is then the responsibility of the student to continue to meet the requirements to be certified as an A+ student upon high school graduation. The Fox C-6 School District has a responsibility to maintain the status of an A+ School. It is the responsibility of the A+ School Coordinator to certify to the State of Missouri the students who have achieved this status upon graduation. It is realized that some students will not be able to meet the requirements as set forth in the A+ Schools Program. It will be the responsibility of the A+ School Coordinator to notify the student and parents immediately if it is determined that a student is not eligible for A+ student status. This handbook is designed to present in a clear and consistent manner, the guidelines and policies to be followed by the A+ Schools Program. Please read this handbook carefully. It is provided for parents, students, and employees of the Fox C-6 District so that a clear understanding of the requirements for becoming an A+ student is achieved Any questions about this manual or the A+ Schools Program should be directed to the A+ School Coordinator at Seckman High School. Phone (636) STUDENT ELIGIBILITY To be eligible for the financial incentives of the A+ Schools Program, a student must be certified as an A+ student by Seckman High School. As the official representative of the A+ Schools Program with the Department of Education of the State of Missouri, the A+ School Coordinator has the responsibility to certify that a graduate of Seckman High School has met the criteria of certification. To be certified as an A+ School student, an individual must: Sign an A+ Schools Agreement form (copy included in the appendix of this handbook) Attend Seckman High School, or an A+ school for three consecutive years prior to graduation. Maintain at least a 2.5 cumulative grade point average over four years of high school. Maintain at least a 95% cumulative attendance record 2

4 over four years of high school. Perform a total of 50 hours of unpaid tutoring/mentoring during 4 years of high school. Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs. Make a good faith effort to first secure all available federal postsecondary student financial assistance. Register with Selective Services within 30 days of any male student s 18 th birthday. State legislation has mandated effective with the Class of 2015, students must achieve a 3 or 4 (proficient or advanced) on the Algebra EOC or by achieving qualifying scores on either the ACT (Math:17) or Compass (Pre-Algebra: 43). A student may enter into this written agreement prior to the end of 1 st semester their senior year. The earlier students sign up for the program, the easier it will be for them to meet the state requirements and avoid the missteps that might make them ineligible. REQUIREMENT 2: Attend a designated A+ School for three consecutive years prior to high school graduation. Student must attend an A+ designated high school beginning the first day of their sophomore, junior and senior years. The student financial incentive is dependent upon Seckman High School maintaining designated status as an A+ School before the applicant graduates and the availability of state appropriations from the Missouri General Assembly. If a student withdraws from Seckman High School after the beginning of his/her sophomore year, the student will not be considered eligible for the A+ Schools Program, unless the student enrolls into another A+ designated school. REQUIREMENT 1: Enter into a written agreement with the high school to participate in the A+ Schools Student Financial Incentive Program. REQUIREMENT 3: Graduate from high school with a cumulative grade point average (GPA) of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. This average will represent the applicant s cumulative GPA, which includes all four years of high school. A student with a cumulative or lower GPA will not qualify for A+ status. The student s official transcript will serve as evidence of grade point average for admission into an A+ approved Missouri public community college or Missouri public vocational/technical school. 3

5 REQUIREMENT 4: Maintain at least a 95% cumulative attendance record. The student must maintain a 95% or better average attendance record for all four years of high school. A student with a or lower average will not qualify for A+ status. Students are expected to attend class regularly and be on time for classes. There are no excused or unexcused absences as set forth in the law of the A+ Schools Program. The cumulative attendance information obtained by the A+ School Coordinator will come from the official attendance records of the Fox C-6 School District. At the end of each semester, a status letter will be sent to the parents/guardians of A+ students indicating the attendance percentage of their student. REQUIREMENT 5: Perform and document at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring/mentoring. The A+ Coordinator in determining this requirement will use the following policies: Student must read the tutoring/mentoring guidelines and return the signed tutoring/mentoring agreement before they can start. The A+ Coordinator must approve academic tutoring or mentoring. Tutoring/mentoring cannot be started until end of 1 st semester of student s freshman year, and then open positions are assigned by seniority. See the tutoring/mentoring handbook for description of approved activities. Tutoring/mentoring must be done on school property under the supervision of school personnel. Tutoring/mentoring activities may occur before, during, or after the school day. Tutoring/mentoring may be done during the school year or during summer school. A tutoring/mentoring log must be kept by the student and signed by the school staff member supervising the activity. It is the responsibility of the A+ Student to make sure that all completed logs are turned in to the A+ Coordinator or A+ Secretary each semester. Only activities that have been documented on the A+ tutoring / mentoring log, signed by the supervising Fox C-6 staff member, and filed in the A+ office, will be counted toward the 50-hour requirement. All hours must be completed by May 1 st of student s senior year. Tutoring/mentoring opportunities should not be confused with community service. 4

6 REQUIREMENT 6: Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs. The Seckman A+ Advisory Committee believes that creditable school citizens are those citizens whose conduct, both in and out of school, will reflect positively upon themselves and the school. Students who are designated A+ students should demonstrate distinctive qualities and be role models for other students. 2. Student is disqualified from the A+ program if they are involved in fights, assault or receive OSS or ACE suspension. 3. Excessive ISS will be reviewed by the A+ Coordinator to determine if the student should be removed from the program, or put on probation with the possibility of appealing their senior year. Certification of good citizenship will be based on the official discipline record maintained in the Administrative Office of the high school. The Assistant Principal in charge of discipline assigns consequences for infractions of the discipline code, and that administrator is responsible for certifying the accuracy of the student s discipline record. Avoidance of drug Use: Student use or possession of illegal drugs, as evidenced by civil conviction or suspension from school, will disqualify a student from the A+ program. Record of Good Citizenship: Students may be disqualified from A+ Tuition Reimbursement program based on the following guidelines: 1. Conviction of a felony that is verifiable and either a matter of public record or communicated to school officials in compliance with the Safe Schools Act. REQUIREMENT 7: Make a good faith effort to secure federal postsecondary student financial assistance funds. Parents must complete and send in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA information must be sent to the community college or approved vocational/technical school that the student is planning to attend. The FAFSA application is available online at Parents are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but not before January 1 or after April 1 st of the year of the student s high school graduation. REQUIREMENT 8: Register with Selective Services. All male A+ students must register within 30 days of their 18 th birthday. This may be done online when you complete the FAFSA or by going to 5

7 REQUIREMENT 9: Effective with the Class of 2015, students must achieve a 3 or 4 on the Algebra EOC or Alternate score on ACT or COMPASS: State legislation has mandated effective with the Class of 2015, students must achieve a 3 or 4 (proficient or advanced) on the Algebra I end of course exam (EOC). ALTERNATE to Algebra I EOC Score: The Coordinating Board for High Education (CBHE) at its February 2014 meeting approved the following qualifying scores for the ACT and COMPASS exam alternatives to the A+ Algebra I EOC exam requirement. The CBHE is charged with establishing these minimum scores annually. Beginning with the graduating class of 2015, students must achieve one of these scores if they do not score proficient or advance on the Algebra I or higher level math EOC exam. ACT Math Sub-Score minimum 17; COMPASS Pre-Algebra: score minimum: 43. PARENT NOTIFICATION The A+ School Coordinator will provide every parent/guardian with an update of the continued progress of his/her student toward A+ School status. A status letter will be sent after the completion of each semester of the school year. A copy of each student s respective A+ status letter will also be on file in the A+ office. Parents are encouraged to call the A+ Coordinator or A+ Secretary for status updates during the school year. PROCESS OF APPEAL A student (and/or parent) has the right to appeal when he/she becomes ineligible for the A+ financial incentive. The student/parent will be notified if they are eligible for the appeal process. Students may appeal their disqualification from the A+ Program to a special appeals committee composed of five members of the A+ Advisory Committee as appointed by the A+ Coordinator. The student/parent must file an appeal within 10 working days from receipt of ineligible notice. Upon receiving a written appeal, the A+ Coordinator will convene the A+ Appeals Committee. The student/parents will be notified in advance of a hearing date and can choose to meet in person with the committee or submit their appeal in writing. The A+ Coordinator will act as facilitator and a nonvoting member of the Appeals Committee. After the Appeals committee reaches a decision, the A+ Coordinator will notify the student/parents. Any and all appeals will be conducted following policies set by the Board of Education. 6

8 REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTAINING ELIGIBILITY AND ACCESSING TUITION REIMBURSEMENT The student financial incentive may be available for up to two (2) years of attendance, during the four-year period after the recipient graduates from high school. To maintain eligibility, the student must: Requirement 1: Enroll in and attend on a full-time basis an A+ approved Missouri public community college or vocationaltechnical school and be enrolled in a certification or degree program. Students must meet the full-time requirement of 12 hours during the fall and spring or six hours in the summer. Students may attend any semester they choose but will not be reimbursed if he/she attends less than full-time. legislation may impact future requirements. Participation in the A+ Schools Program and these guidelines has been approved by the Fox C-6 Board of Education. APPENDIX Commonly Asked Questions A+ Schools Agreement A+ Citizenship Guidelines A+ information can also be found on the Missouri Department of Higher Education at: scholarship.php Requirement 2: Maintain a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. OUTSTANDING SCHOOLS ACT OF 1993 The specific guidelines of this student handbook for Seckman High School have been developed in accordance with Missouri Senate bill 380. Other state 7

9 A+ Commonly Asked Questions Enrolling in the A+ Program: Q. When does a student sign up for the A+ program? A. There is no specific date requirement for signing the agreement, though it must be signed before the start of 2 nd semester senior year. The student will need sufficient time to complete the eligibility requirements prior to graduation. Qualifying for the Program: Q. How does the student qualify for participation in the A+ program? A. The student must meet the following requirements: Sign an A+ Student Participation Agreement. Attend a designated A+ high school for three years immediately prior to graduation. Graduate with at least a cumulative 2.5 grade point average on a 4.0 scale or grade point average on an 11 point scale. Graduate with a 95% attendance average over a four-year period. Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring. Maintain a record of good citizenship, including avoidance of the unlawful use of alcohol and drugs, as defined by the local school district s policy. Make a good faith effort to secure all available federal post-secondary student financial assistance funds that do not require payment (FAFSA). Male students must register under the United States Military Selective Service Act and show proof of such registration. Eligibility: Q. If a student who is eligible for A+ incentive funds graduates at the end of first semester of senior year, may the student access the A+ financial incentive in the semester immediately following? A. Yes, as long as the student has met all other program eligibility requirements. Q. Do seniors have to meet all A+ requirements before graduation? A. Yes. Q. Is data for three or four years used when determining a student s eligibility for A+ financial incentives? A. If a student graduates in 3½ years, the school should use 3½ years of data for purposes of determining a student s eligibility. In all other instances, four years of data must be used. 8

10 Q. If a student is not a U.S. citizen, but meets all other program requirements, will the student s name be placed on the eligibility list? A. Yes. Q. Can a student enrolled in classes for dual credit be reimbursed through the A+ program for the post-secondary credit? A. No. A student s eligibility to receive A+ financial incentives becomes effective following high school graduation. Three Year Attendance at a Designated High School: Q. If a student enrolls in an A+ designated high school after the beginning of the 10 th grade year, is he/she eligible to participate in the A+ program? A. The A+ program requires that a student must attend a designated A+ high school for three years immediately prior to graduation. Q. Are students eligible for A+ incentive funds when they transfer from one high school to another? A. Yes, if both schools are designated at the time of the transfer. Q. Can an A+ student who participates in a foreign exchange program during high school be allowed to waive the requirement that calls for A+ students to complete three years in an A+ high school prior to graduation? A. No. Q. Are students who attend alternative schools eligible to participate in A+? A. Yes, under the following conditions: the alternative school utilizes the same building number as the regular high school for Core Data reporting purposes; the alternative school utilizes the same curriculum as the regular high school; students attending the alternative school receive letter grades rather than a pass/fail notification; these students receive the same diploma as regular high school students; and they meet all other requirements of the program. A+ Participation Agreements: Q. What is an A+ participation agreement? A. An A+ participation agreement is a document signed by the students and his/her parents indicating an interest in the program. Once the agreement is signed by all parties, it is kept on file by the A+ Coordinator. The file documents all of the pertinent information relative to the student s eligibility to receive A+ financial incentives. 9

11 Q. Does signing an A+ participation agreement restrict a student s post-secondary choices? A. Signing this agreement does not restrict post-secondary options available to a student while in high school or upon graduation from high school. Q. Does signing the participation agreement guarantee that a student will receive the financial incentive? A. No. There are at least three factors that determine whether a particular student is eligible to receive the A+ financial incentive: 1. The high school from which the student graduates must meet and maintain all the requirements for A+ Schools designation. 2. The student must meet all the requirements of the A+ program. 3. State funding must be available. Grade Point Average (GPA): Q. Does a student qualify for A+ incentive funding if his/her high school GPA upon graduation is a 2.49 on a 4.0 scale? A. No, the A+ program does not permit the rounding up of GPA. Q. What is the policy with regard to the grade point averages figured for weighted classes and/or point scales other than 4.0? A. For the purpose of the A+ program, a student s GPA must be 2.5 or better figured on a 4.0 scale. Therefore, it is the designated high school s responsibility to convert any recorded grades that include weighted classes and/or are GPA calculated on a different scale to 4.0. Attendance: Q. In order to maintain the 95% attendance requirement, can students use after school hours and Saturdays to make up time for absences from school? A. No. Q. How is the 95% attendance rate calculated for eligibility purposes? A. The attendance rate is calculated over a four-year period. Q. Does a 504 Plan override the 95% attendance requirement for the A+ Program? A. Not automatically. Absences related to the disability or disabilities specified in a student s 504 plan should be carefully reviewed by district officials. 10

12 Q. What is the policy for students who may become injured in an accident or sustain a long-term illness, either of which preclude the student from meeting the required 95% attendance rate? A. When students are absent for an extended period due to accident or illness beyond his/her control, it will be the responsibility of the school to provide an Application for Homebound Instruction for the student. If a student can be counted for ADA, the homebound instruction can be counted toward the 95% attendance rate. Citizenship: Q. For the purpose of the A+ Program, what is meant by good citizenship and the avoidance of unlawful drugs? A. Qualities of good citizenship are defined by the high school s A+ policy. Tutoring/Mentoring: Q. What are the guidelines for tutoring/mentoring? A. Tutoring/mentoring should be academic in nature and be supervised by district staff; the tutoring/mentoring may be for students who are older, younger, or the same age as the A+ student ; tutoring/mentoring may be performed before, during, or after the school day, and during summer school; and tutoring/mentoring must equal 50 unpaid hours. Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA): Q. What is the FAFSA? A. According to the A+ law, eligible students must make a good faith effort to first secure all available federal sources of funding that do not require repayment before accessing A+ funds. This is accomplished by completing the FAFSA. Once the student completes the FAFSA form, it is submitted to the Department of Higher Education. Q. What is the Department of Higher Education s deadline for submitting the FAFSA? A. The deadline for submission is April 1 of each year. Q. Is the A+ high school required to monitor the submission of the FAFSA? A. A+ school personnel are encouraged to closely monitor the submission of the FAFSA to ensure students receive post-secondary tuition reimbursement considerations. A+ coordinators may check progress of the FAFSA requirement by being provided a copy of the Student Aid Report (SAR) once the FAFSA has been submitted and processed, by receiving a copy of the front page of the FAFSA and the post office receipt showing it was mailed, or by checking online at 11

13 Q. What are the consequences if a student fails to complete the FAFSA? A. A student failing to file the FAFSA prior to graduation from high school jeopardizes his/her access to A+ funding. The failure to timely submit the FAFSA should not automatically result in the student being declared A+ ineligible by the high school. If all other A+ requirements have been met, the student is an eligible A+ graduate and his/her transcript should indicate such. The student s name should be submitted on the eligibility list sent to the Department. However, if the FAFSA filing is not filed, the student should be made aware that A+ financial incentives may not be paid on their behalf. Selective Service: Q. How is registration for the Selective Services verified? A. A student s Selective Service registration may be verified online at Q. Is there a specific cut-off date for verifying Selective Service registration, or does the high school simply go by whether or not the male is 18 on or before graduation? A. If the student s birthday falls after graduation, it will be the responsibility of the postsecondary institution to verify this through the FAFSA process. 12

14 Seckman High School A+ Schools Agreement Name Last First Middle Mailing Address Street or P.O. City State Zip Code Parent s Phone Number - - Year of Graduation A student who qualifies according to the following criteria and continues an education at an A+ approved Missouri public community college or vocational-technical school may be eligible for state reimbursed tuition and general fees for up to two years within 4 years after graduation, contingent upon state appropriation and allocation of funding, and Seckman High School maintaining designation. Each student should enter into a written agreement with the school prior to the end of 1 st semester their senior year. To be eligible, the student must: Attended a designated A+ School for three consecutive years prior to high school graduation. Graduated from high school with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 (a GPA is not eligible). Maintained at least a 95% cumulative attendance record for all four years of high school. (Note: this is more stringent than the attendance rate for the rest of the student body). Perform a total of 50 hours of unpaid tutoring/mentoring of other students under the supervision of a Fox C-6 District employee. Made a documented, good faith effort to secure available federal post-secondary student financial assistance funds that do not require payment (FAFSA application must be completed and mailed to the school that the student is planning to attend). Maintained a record of good citizenship as outlined on page 5 of the student handbook. Note the disqualifications and appeal process if one qualifies. Male students must register with the Selective Services within 30 days of 18 th birthday. Effective with the class of 2015, students must achieve advance or proficient on the Algebra I to be A+ eligible at graduation. If they don t score proficient or advance, they may also qualify for the Algebra requirement by scoring a minimum of 17 on the ACT Math sub-score or minimum 43 on the COMPASS Pre-Algebra. The student s financial incentive is contingent upon state appropriation and allocation of funding. Dependent on said, funding may be available for up to four years after high school graduation. To maintain eligibility during that time, each participating student must enroll and attend a Missouri public community college or vocational school on a full-time basis and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.5 or higher. Student Signature Parent/Guardian Signature Date A+ Coordinator Date 13