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PURPOSE OF THIS MANUAL

 

The purpose of this manual is to provide students, parents, faculty and staff with a clear understanding of the guidelines and policies of the A+ Schools Program as established by the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993. There are many aspects of that law that established the A+ Schools Program that require Kirkwood High School to establish guidelines and policies. It is the responsibility of the A+ Coordinator to administer the A+ Schools Program in a fair and consistent manner. All A+ Students must be and will be treated fairly and equitably.

The first step of participation in the A+ Schools Program is the signing of the A+ Schools Agreement by the student and parent/guardian. After the signatures are obtained the student is considered to be an A+ Student at Kirkwood High School. It is then the responsibility of the student to continue to meet the requirements to be certified as an A+ Student upon graduation.

Kirkwood School District has a responsibility to achieve and maintain the status of Kirkwood High School as an A+ School. Upon graduation, the A+ Coordinator must certify to the State of Missouri the students who have achieved this status and are eligible for the financial incentives of the program. It is realized that some students will not be able to meet the requirements set forth in the A+ Schools Program. The A+ Schools Coordinator will notify the student(s) and parents if the student is not eligible for the A+ Schools status.

This manual is designed to present in a clear and consistent manner the guidelines and policies of the A+ School Program. Any questions about this manual of the A+ School Program should be directed to the A+ School Coordinator, at Kirkwood High School, 213-6100, ext. 1307.

Table of contents

Goals of the A+ Schools Program

Benefits of an A+ School for Students

Student Eligibility

Enrollment Requirements

Grade Point Requirement

Good Faith Effort to Secure Funding

Attendance Requirement

Attendance Waiver Guidelines

Attendance Review Process

Tutoring/Mentoring Requirement

Citizenship/Avoidance of Substance Abuse

Citizenship Appeals Process

GOALS OF THE A+ SCHOOLS PROGRAM

The A+ Schools Program is designed to achieve the three basic goals set forth in the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993.

1. All students will graduate from high school.

2. All students will complete a selection of high school studies that is challenging and has identified measurable learner outcomes.

3. All students will proceed from high school graduation to a four-year college or community or post-secondary vocational or technical school, or high wage job with work place skill development opportunities.

 

BENEFITS OF AN A+ SCHOOL FOR STUDENTS

Qualifying graduating students will be eligible for the following:

• Tuition to attend any Missouri public community college or public vocational or technical school.
• Tuition incentives which will be made available after the student has made a good faith effort to first secure all available federal post-secondary student financial assistance funds that do not require repayment.

Students will receive this incentive for FOUR years after graduation from high school. A student must be considered a FULL-TIME student by the post-secondary institution maintaining a grade point average of 2.5 or higher on a 4.0 scale. Students must complete the SIX semesters of FULL-TIME enrollment at the institution within FOUR years after graduation from Kirkwood High School. Tuition reimbursement is contingent upon availability of state funds.

 

STUDENT ELIGIBILITY

To be eligible for the financial incentives of the A+ Schools Program, Kirkwood High School must certify a student as having met all A+ requirements. As the official representative of the Department of education of the State of Missouri, the A+ Schools Coordinator has the responsibility to certify that a graduate of Kirkwood High School has met the criteria of certification. To be certified as an A+ Schools student, a student must:

• Sign an A+ Student Contract.
• Attend an A+ High School for three consecutive years immediately prior to graduation. Student must be enrolled in an A+ high school by December 31 of their sophomore year.
• Graduate from Kirkwood High School with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 or above on a 4.0 grading scale.
• Graduate from Kirkwood High School with a cumulative attendance record of 95% or better.
• Perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring of younger students, of which 12.5 hours can be obtained by job shadowing.
• Maintain a record of good citizenship and avoidance of unlawful use of alcohol and drugs.
• Make a good faith effort to first secure all available federal post-secondary student financial assistance funds that do not require repayment. Evidence of completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid must be turned in to A+ Coordinator prior to May 1 of graduating year.
• Must pass the Algebra EOC exam with a Proficient or Advanced score (beginning with the class of 2015)
  

 A summary sheet advising the student and parent(s) or guardian of the student’s progress toward A+ status will be mailed after each semester.

 

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS

Enrollment guidelines for the A+ program are:

• Must graduate from an A+ high school.
• The student must have attended an A+ designated high school for three consecutive years immediately prior to graduation.
  
• If a student transfers into Kirkwood High School from another district the student will not be considered eligible for the A+ Schools benefits unless the previous school was an A+ designated school.

 

GRADE POINT REQUIREMENT

To meet the eligibility requirement for grade point average, the student must:

• Graduate with a cumulative grade point average of 2.5 on a 4.0 scale.
• Averaging or rounding up to the next highest grade point is not allowed.
• The cumulative grade point average is based on all four years of high school attendance.

The student’s official transcript will serve as evidence of grade point average for admission into a public community college or public vocational or technical school.

 

GOOD FAITH EFFORT TO SECURE FUNDING

To meet the eligibility requirement for good faith effort to secure funding the parent must:

• Complete and send in the Free Application for Federal Student Aid. The FAFSA information must be sent to the community college or public vocational or technical school that the student is planning to attend.
• The Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) is available in the office of the guidance counselor at Kirkwood High School or you can apply electronically over the internet. The internet address is www.fafsa.ed.gov
• Parents are encouraged to apply as early as possible, but not before January 1st of the year of the student’s graduation. Evidence of application must be submitted to the A+ Coordinator before May 1 of the graduation year.

 

Parents will be required to apply for federal financial assistance after the first year is completed at the community college or public vocational or technical school.

 

ATTENDANCE REQUIREMENT

A+ students are required to have a 95% attendance rate at the time of graduation. Any student who does not meet the 95% attendance requirement will not be eligible for the A+ financial incentive. The following guidelines for attendance are in effect for all students participating in the A+ Schools Program:

• Accumulative attendance record will be kept from the beginning of the freshman year until graduation.
• Accumulative attendance information will be gathered from the official computerized information system used by the district.
• For students who attend Tech School for part of the school day, attendance information will be obtained from the Tech School and sent to the A+ Coordinator who will add this information to the Kirkwood records.
• Every semester A+ students and their parents or guardians will be provided information of the student’s status with regard the the A+ requirements. This information includes attendance information on the form of number of hours absent and the cumulative attendance percentage.
• Rounding up of percentages is not allowed.
• After receiving this information, the student will have 20 days to file an absence appeal with the A+ Coordinator. If an appeal is not filed within 30 days of notification, a waiver for days missed will not be considered.

When filing an appeal, the student must do so using the A+ Attendance Appeal Form.

 

ATTENDANCE WAIVER GUIDELINES

Extenuating circumstances such as serious health problems or accident-related injuries may cause a student to miss long periods of school. In such cases, student/parents may provide the A+ Coordinator with medical documentation which will be considered in reviewing a waiver of absence due to extenuation circumstances. Doctor’s appointments and normal illnesses are not considered extenuating circumstances.

 

ATTENDANCE REVIEW PROCESS

When all of the information is received, an A+ Attendance Review Committee will meet within 30 school days after the conclusion of the appeal deadline to determine if a waiver of absences will be granted.

The A+ Attendance Review Committee will be composed of the following:

• Grade Level Principal
• Teacher
• Counselor
• School Nurse
• A+ Coordinator

After the A+ Attendance Review Committee reaches a decision, the A+ Schools Coordinator will notify the student and parents by letter.

 

TUTORING REQUIREMENT

A+ students are required to perform 50 hours of unpaid tutoring, of which 12.5 hours can be job shadowing. The following guidelines are in effect for tutoring. In order to begin a tutoring program, the A+ student must have met the following guidelines:

• Official time sheet must be kept by the student and turned in to the A+ Coordinator.
• Official time sheet must be signed by a school official sponsoring the tutoring. (Sample included in appendix of this booklet.)
• Tutoring may be done during the school year or during summer school.
• The A+ Coordinator or the sponsoring school may terminate the tutoring experience.
• All tutoring must begin by March 1st in the year the A+ student graduates from Kirkwood High School.
• The A+ student is responsible for being present at the agreed upon day and time for the tutoring or mentoring. If absent, it is the responsibility of the A+ student to notify the adult in charge of the A+ tutoring experience.
• No tutoring or mentoring hours will be accepted after May 1st of a student’s graduating year.

 

CITIZENSHIP & AVOIDANCE OF SUBSTANCE ABUSE REQUIREMENTS

A+ students are required to be good citizens and must avoid the unlawful use of alcohol and drugs. Any student who does not meet the citizenship requirement will not be eligible for the A+ Financial Incentive. The following guidelines for citizenship are in effect for all students participating in the A+ Schools Program:

• Participation in the A+ Schools Program is an honor and unique privilege for Kirkwood High School students.
• An A+ student will not sell, possess or use any controlled substances as defined by law unless prescribed by a licensed physician.
• Citizenship certification will be based upon the following:

• Discipline record of the student as determined by the high school grade level principal.
• Discipline record of the student as determined by the safe schools designee.
• Compliance with Kirkwood High School’s Behavior Guide/Discipline Guidebook.

A student who violates the citizenship policy will be placed on A+ Citizenship Probation until graduation. A letter of Probation will be sent to the student’s home as notification that the student has been placed on A+ Citizenship Probation. Any violation of the A+ Citizenship Guidelines while the student is on probation will automatically terminate the student from the A+ Schools Program. An appeal of the probation may be made within 30 days of notification. Refer to the Citizenship Appeals Process on page 9 of this handbook.

 

CITIZENSHIP APPEALS PROCESS

If the student is placed on A+ probation or removed from the A+ Program, the student has the right to appeal. This appeal must be filed with the A+ Coordinator within 30 days of notification. If the appeal is not filed within 30 days, the appeal will not be considered. When all of the information is received, an A+ Citizenship Review Committee will meet within 30 days after the appeals deadline to determine if an appeal will be granted.

The A+ Citizenship Appeal Committee will be composed of the following:

• Student’s supervising assistant principal.
• Student’s high school counselor.
• Two teachers who do not currently have the student in class.
• One member of the A+ Steering Committee.
• A+ Coordinator to serve as a facilitator and non-voting member.

After the A+ Citizenship committee reaches a decision, the A+ Coordinator will notify the student and parents by letter.

 If the student would like to appeal the decision of the Citizenship Review Committee, the citizenship appeals form must be submitted to the building principal within 20 days of the Citizenship Review Committee’s decision.

When filing an appeal, the student must use the A+ Citizenship Appeal Form available from the A+ Coordinator.

Any action that would result in an unacceptable citizenship evaluation for a student who is on A+ probation will automatically terminate the student from the A+ Schools program.

The school district reserves the right to remove a student from the A+ Program who has been charged, convicted, or pled guilty in a court of general jurisdiction (Missouri Circuit Court or Federal Court) for the commission of a felony violation of state or federal law.

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