1. Robin L. Stimac Student Financial Aid Manager Metropolitan Community College-Maple Woods 816-604-3068 WELCOME TO SMITHVILLE HIGH SCHOOL’S A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM PRESENTATION

2. THE A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM The A+ Schools Program was established as part of the Missouri Outstanding Schools Act of 1993 in order to provide incentives for local high schools to raise academic expectations, reduce their dropout rate, establish relationships with the business community, and provide better pathways for students to post-secondary education. Students who commit to the rigorous program requirements for A+ eligibility and who graduate from an A+ designated high school (such as Smithville) may qualify for state-paid financial incentives to assist them with the costs of attending any public community college or vocational/technical school or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools in the State of Missouri.

3. THE A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM (CONT.) You should know that: financial need is not a factor in determining an A+ student’s eligibility for benefits. However, all A+ students are required to complete a Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) each year to determine eligibility for non-payback financial aid (i.e., Federal Pell Grant or Federal Supplemental Education Opportunity Grant) each year that the student plans to utilize their A+ benefits. receipt of institutional and private scholarships will not affect an A+ student’s eligibility for benefits. some four year colleges and universities may also offer financial incentives for students who meet A+ eligibility criteria. However, those incentives are funded by the institutions themselves and not by the A+ Schools Program. Please refer to your Handout!

4. THE A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM (CONT.) As an A+ student, you are under no obligation to use your A+ Schools Program financial incentives (but if you’ve earned them, you really should take advantage of the benefits that have been afforded to you)! Financial incentives for the A+ Schools Program will be provided as long as state funds are appropriated by the Missouri legislature.

5. WHAT ARE THE BASIC STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS FOR A+?

6. WHAT ARE THE BASIC STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS? (CONT.) graduate with an overall 2.5 cumulative Grade Point Average (GPA) on a 4.0 or higher scale. (A cumulative GPA of 2.49 will not be rounded.) have at least a 95% attendance record overall for grades 9 – 12. (An attendance rate of 94.9% will not be rounded.) perform at least 50 hours of unpaid tutoring or mentoring to younger students, of which up to 25% may include job shadowing. maintain a record of good citizenship and avoid the unlawful use of drugs and/or alcohol. make a documented good faith effort to apply for non-payback financial aid by completing and submitting the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) preferably prior to the end of the second semester of the senior year.

7. WHAT ARE THE BASIC STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS? (CONT.) Students graduating in the Class of 2016 must score proficient or advanced on the state level Algebra 1 End of Course Exam or by achieving a qualifying score on the mathematics component of the ACT test. The following table displays the qualifying scores for 2016 high school seniors: ExamMinimum Score ACT Math Sub Score17 COMPASS Pre-Algebra43 COMPASS Algebra1

8. WHAT ARE THE BASIC STUDENT ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS? (CONT.) NOTE: A student who graduates at the end of the first semester of their senior year is eligible to receive their A+ financial incentives for the semester immediately following their graduation, as long as the student has met all program eligibility requirements, including filing a FAFSA for the appropriate semester, and making sure that their official A+ high school transcript indicates their mid-year graduation date. These students will be required to complete and submit a separate FAFSA for the current academic year prior to completion of the end of the first semester of their senior year in order to be able to utilize their A+ financial incentives during the next semester.

9. A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM FINANCIAL INCENTIVES A+ Schools Program financial incentives PAY FOR in-district or out-of-district tuition (capped at $159.75 per credit hour for the 2015-2016 academic year) plus general fees that are assessed to all students each semester Your eligibility for A+ benefits expires when the earliest of the following events occurs − * 48 months after the graduation date documented on your high school transcript * Receipt of a post-secondary certificate or associate’s degree * Completion of 105% of the required hours for the program of study in which you are enrolled. Federal Pell Grant funds will be applied to your student account balance first; if any eligible costs remain, they will be billed to A+. In other words, you cannot receive A+ financial incentives in addition to a Pell Grant if the Pell Grant pays for all A+ eligible tuition and fees.

10. A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) How A+ is applied: If you are receiving full tuition through Federal/State grants, which includes: Full tuition Standard Fees Individual Course Fees No A+ benefits will be utilized to pay for your tuition and general fees If you are receiving partial tuition through Federal/State grants, this includes: Partial Tuition and Standard Fees with the remaining balance covered by A+ benefits If you are not eligible for Federal/State grants, A+ pays for your tuition (capped at $159.75 per credit hour) Standard Fees You will be responsible for paying for your books and supplies (unless you qualify for enough money in Federal/State grants to cover theses costs as well) You will be responsible for paying for your individual course fees plus books and supplies

11. A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) A+ Schools Program financial incentives DO NOT PAY FOR: Courses taken as a visiting student except for the summer semester immediately following the student’s high school graduation. NOTE: These students must be enrolled full-time (minimum 6 credit hours), have their official A+ transcript and all college transcripts for dual credit coursework completed while in high school sent to the A+ eligible school they plan to attend immediately following graduation, and complete and submit a separate FAFSA for the 2015-2016 academic year using information from 2014 taxes as well as a FAFSA for the 2016-2017 academic year using information from 2015 taxes Books, supplies, miscellaneous fees, lab fees or online course fees

12. A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) Repeated coursework Coursework taken beyond 105% of your certificate or degree requirements * Includes all hours completed at any institution, including developmental/remedial coursework Dropped coursework or for coursework for which you are no longer enrolled

13. A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) If you drop a course, you immediately become responsible for paying the school for the cost of the dropped course. NOTE: You should always check with the financial aid office first before attempting to drop any class!

14. USING YOUR A+ FINANCIAL INCENTIVES 1.Apply for Admission to any public community college or vocational/technical school or certain private two-year vocational/technical schools in the State of Missouri. 2.Prepare to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid by first applying for a Federal Student Aid ID Number (FSA ID). In order to be able to electronically sign the FAFSA, the first thing that a student (and a parent, if applicable) should do is apply for a Federal Student Aid ID Number (FSA ID). You may apply for a FSA ID Number at: www.fafsa.gov

15. USING YOUR A+ FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) By entering your FSA ID Number to electronically sign the FAFSA, the student (and parent, if applicable) will be able to certify that all information provided is true and accurate as of the date the FAFSA is completed and that you agree that proof of the information reported will be submitted to the Financial Aid Office at your school, if it is required (i.e., IRS Data Retrieval, Tax Return Transcripts, Verification Worksheets, W-2 Forms, etc.) 3.Complete & submit the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) at: www.fafsa.gov Be sure to include the school where you plan to use your A+ benefits (or where you may want to use your A+ benefits) If you are planning to use your A+ financial incentives during the Summer immediately following graduation, you must complete two FAFSAs – one for 2015-2016 and one for 2016-2017

16. USING YOUR A+ FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) Review the Student Aid Report Acknowledgment that you will receive either by e-mail or by regular mail as a result of filing the FAFSA Check to see if your application was selected for verification or if there are any other unresolved issues that need to be addressed Contact the Financial Aid Office at the school you plan to attend to identify yourself as an A+ student and to see what documentation (if any) is needed in order for you to complete the verification process prior to high school graduation. NOTE: A+ will not pay any financial incentives to the school on your behalf until the verification process has been completed. For timely processing and payment of A+ financial incentives, you are required to submit all requested documentation as soon as possible but no later than 2 weeks after the start of classes. Remember to complete the FAFSA each year that you plan to use your A+ benefits!

17. USING YOUR A+ FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) 4. Have all of your academic transcripts sent to the school you plan to attend Request that your official A+ high school transcript which contains the A+ Certification Seal be sent to your school as soon as you graduate Request that all official dual credit transcripts from any colleges or universities be sent to your school once you have completed their coursework 5. Complete your initial Placement Testing (if applicable) 6.Schedule an appointment to participate in a Student Advising and Registration Time (StART) group session where you will review your degree plan and enroll as a regular full-time student 12 or more credit hours during the fall/spring semesters 6 or more credit hours if you plan to take classes during the summer term

18. USING YOUR A+ FINANCIAL INCENTIVES (CONT.) 7.Make arrangements to pay for the difference due for your tuition charges, your books, supplies, miscellaneous fees, lab fees and online course fees that A+ will not cover 8. Plan to participate in New Student Welcome Activities

19. MAINTAINING YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR A+ FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

20. EXAMPLE: A student that completed 9 credit hours in the Fall 2015 term would have to complete a minimum of 3 credit hours “at their own expense” in the Spring 2016 term to regain eligibility for their next period of enrollment. All that being said it is very important for A+ students to check with an Academic Advisor as well as the Financial Aid Office before dropping any classes. * A course is considered complete if the student earns a standard grade for the course, including a failing grade but excluding a grade at withdrawal prior to completion.

21. MAINTAINING YOUR ELIGIBILITY FOR A+ FINANCIAL INCENTIVES

22. If you should lose your A+ eligibility, you can get it back within your 48-month eligibility period by re-establishing your 2.5 cumulative grade point average and/or improving your completion rate at your own expense. (A+ will not pay for coursework taken while you are working to re-establish your eligibility.) Remember that you will be required to complete a “Renewal” FAFSA and submit any additional forms requested by the Financial Aid Office each year that you plan to use your A+ benefits. Finally, when enrolling in your final semester (either when your certificate or degree will be completed or your A+ eligibility expires), you must visit with an Academic Advisor to assist you with your Completion of A+ Eligibility Form.

23. ANY QUESTIONS??? Please feel free to contact me: Robin L. Stimac Student Financial Aid Manager MCC-Maple Woods robin.stimac@mcckc.edu Phone: 816.604.3068 Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to visit with you this evening!