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Grain Valley High School

Every Student. Every Day.

A+ Program

A+ Program

The A+ program provides scholarship funds to students who attended an A+ designated high school and wish to attend a two year university or technical school. The program covers nearly all of the tuition and fees for two years at a community college or technical school. In general students need a 2.5 GPA and 95% attendance to qualify. All of the requirements are listed below.

Participation in the A+ program is completely voluntary and is available to all students in grades 9-12 (unless they have been previously eliminated from participating because of violating a+ policy). There is no limit to the number of students in each class who may participate. Students who wish to participate must sign an A+ Participation Agreement and return it to the A+ office for filing. Participation can begin at any time prior to the second week in November of the senior year. However, for monitoring purposes, it is recommended that students sign an agreement as soon as they enter high school. If enrolling at a later date, prior discipline records, GPA, and such will be considered for eligibility. The requirements for eligibility are as follows:

  1. Enrolled in an A+ designated school for 2 years.
  2. Graduate with a minimum cumulative unwaited GPA of 2.5.
  3. Graduate with a minimum cumulative attendance rate of 95%.
  4. Maintain a record of good citizenship at school and in the community.
  5. Avoid the use of illegal drugs, alcohol, and tobacco.
  6. Perform a minimum total of 50 hours unpaid tutoring through the school district.
  7. Complete, submit and provide proof of submission of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid during the spring of their senior year.
  8. Register with selective service in accordance with federal law.
  9. Meet all local A+ deadlines by submitting all required documentation.
  10. Achieve a score of proficient or advanced on the Algebra I EOC exam, or a higher level DESE approved EOC exam in the field of math. If you meet all of the eligibility requirements except the end of course exam requirement, you may establish eligibility by achieving a qualifying score on the mathematics component of the ACT test.
  11. The A+ Office is located in the glass office in the science wing

State payments for tuition and general fees are subject to state budgeting processes and are dependent upon the availability of funds by the Missouri General Assembly.

Many tutoring opportunities are available in our middle school and elementary school classrooms.

Andy Herbert 

A+ Coordinator 
Andy Herbert 

Email Andy Herbert 

  • To be eligible for the A+ financial incentive, a student must have a 95% cumulative attendance record beginning with their freshman year. Students are expected to attend school regularly and to be on time for classes. Therefore, the student will acquire the habits of punctuality, self-discipline, and responsibility. A student who does not meet the 95% attendance requirement will not be eligible for the A+ financial incentive. The following attendance guidelines are required of all students participating in the A+ Program:

    • Students who graduate at semester are not eligible for the A+ grant until the summer college term.
    • A cumulative attendance record will be kept from the beginning of the student’s freshman year until graduation.
    • The official record of attendance is kept by the high school attendance office. Students attending Fort Osage Career and Technology Center/CTChave their attendance reported daily and their records maintained in the high school attendance office.
    • Cumulative attendance information is available in the A+ office.

    Attendance Appeals Process:

    Anyone making an appeal should use the “A+ Attendance Appeal Form” available from the A+ office. Documentation relating specifically to the appealed absences should be included with the waiver. (i.e. doctor’s note must include statement indicating specific condition or treatment).

    Appeals must be made within 15 days of the absence. One copy of the documentation along with the appeal form must be turned into the A+ office. A second copy of the documentation is to be turned into the high school office for their attendance purposes.

    Waivers requested for previous school years will not be considered.

    All granted attendance waivers will be on record until the end of the senior year and manually recalculated.

    Attendance Appeal Guidelines:

    Anyone submitting a request for an A+ attendance waiver of days missed shall provide the A+ Coordinator with the following official documentation. Only the following types of absences may be appealed.

    A+ Attendance Appeal Guidelines
    Reason  Documentation
    Chronic health problems Letter from physician with explanation of illness (Copy of bills/school excuses NOT sufficient)
    Hospitalization Letter from physician
    Catastrophic illness (long term hospitalization) Letter from physician
    Court dates Court letter 
    Funeral  Principal’s approval 
    Religious holiday  Letter from clergyman 
    Personal/Family Calamity (Fire, flood, etc.)  Principal’s approval 

     

    No student will receive a waiver if absences are due to any of the following:

    • Personal/family vacation
    • Suspension from school for any reason
    • Transportation problems (unless on a late school bus)
    • Dental or other routine doctor appointment
    • Truancy
    • Skipping Classes
    • Exchange student

  • Students who successfully complete the requirements of the A+ Program can be eligible to receive reimbursement for the cost of tuition while attending a Missouri public community college or technical school.

    * Funding for the A+ program's tuition reimbursement benefit is dependent upon appropriations from the Missouri General Assembly through the state budgeting process. Grain Valley Schools is not responsible for the payment of A+ tuition or general fees.

    • A+ students are under no obligation to use the A+ tuition benefit. The tuition benefit is earned by each individual student and is not transferable to any other student.
    • Receipt of private scholarships will not affect an A+ participant's eligibility for tuition benefits.
    • Financial need is not a factor in determining A+ eligibility. All students are required to complete the FAFSA, however. FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) forms are available in the Guidance Office in January of each school year or online at www.fafsa.ed.gov. This form should be submitted by April 15. The A+ Office must be able to confirm completion of this procedure for a student to receive A+ eligibility.
    • Participants will have up to four years from the date of their high school graduation to access their A+ tuition benefits.
    • Students may choose to access the A+ beneift for the summer term immediately following graduation. Students making this choice will be required to complete the previous year's FAFSA.
    • Students who graduate early are not eligible for A+ until after their class graduation ceremony.

    • 1. Is there any cost for participating in the A+ Program? 
      • No
    • 2. Does my child have to use the A+ if he or she signs the A+ Agreement?
      • No. A+ is an option. If other forms of financial aid are available and the student doesn't wish to use A+ to attend college, he or she is under no obligation to do so.
    • 3. Where do the A+ requirements come from?
      • With the exception of "local deadlines" all A+ requirements are established by the state and found in the Missouri statutes.
    • 4. Is there any limit to the number of children in each family who may participate? 
      • No
    • 5. Where does the money come from to pay for this program?
      • The general revenues of the state of Missouri.
    • 6. Is there any danger that the program will be eliminated?
      • As a state program, funding the program is contingent on the economic condition of the state and on the will of those in authority over the program's funding. There are no guarantees. We expect the program to stay fully in tact, but there is no way to guarantee this.
    • 7. What about the tutoring requirements?
      • Tutoring must be supervised by certificated personnel. Tutoring opportunities include Valley Kids at one of our elementary schools from 4-6:00, our school district's summer school program, and the A+ Tutoring elective course option for upperclassmen. Tutors must provide their own transportation. All tutoring arrangements must be made through the A+ coordinator prior to completing any tutoring.
    • 8. What are the GPA requirements?
      • Students must graduate with a minimum cumulative 2.500 GPA. All grades starting in 9th grade contribute toward the final GPA. GPA cannot be rounded; so a 2.499 GPA is not 2.500 for A+ purposes. Students cannot be removed from the program because the GPA falls below the 2.500 requirement; but, for every "bad" grade semester, it takes 3 semesters to recover.
    • 9. How many students may be certified A+ graduates for each class?
      • There is not a limit.
    • 10. Will the state allow me to use A+ money for a 4 year university?
      • No, but several of the 4 year colleges in Missouri offer institutional scholarships to students who are certified as A+ graduates.
    • 11. Where is the A+ office located?
      • The A+ office is located in the glass office in the science wing.