A+ ListServ - January 16, 2007
Attached is a summary of the information presented to the A+ coordinator's this past fall.
Self-Monitoring Checklist:
For A+ Designated High Schools, in the first year of the 4th cycle of MSIP, please do not fax or mail additional copies of your self-monitoring checklist to the A+ office. The A+ office will begin following the new schedule during the 2007-08 school year. If you have any questions, please contact the A+ office.
Proposed Changes to A+ Rule:
During the State Board's regularly scheduled November meeting, several proposed changes to the A+ rule were presented as part of the Consideration of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking. These proposed changes were published in the Missouri Register in January. The comment period began upon publication (January 2nd) and will end on February 2nd.
As proposed, the changes to the rule would:
Eliminate all references to the grant language included in the prior rule; Allow a counselor certificate of license to teach to be acceptable for
A+ coordinators; and
Require students who drop coursework to September 9, 2008
You can find a copy of the proposed amendment to the rule at:
http://dese.mo.gov/schoollaw/rulesregs/pending/50-350040.html
Academic Competitiveness Grant (ACG)
The Academic Competitiveness Grant is considered part of the PELL program. Information should be provided to parents and students that these monies will be treated in the same fashion as the PELL grant.
This means that ACG monies will be taken off of tuition and fees before the A+ Financial Incentive will be paid.
4th Cycle MSIP and A+
The A+ program will be part of the process for 4th cycle MSIP. The inclusion of the A+ program is part of the Differentiated Instruction standard (7.8). This portion of the report will be completed for targeted high school reviews and full-reviews. This information will be taken from the district's self-monitoring checklist submitted to the Department.
Screen 13 (June Cycle of Core Data)
This data screen should reflect the total number of signed A+ agreements by grade level.
Early Graduates:
As you may recall, early graduates can be submitted to the Department and begin utilizing their A+ Financial Incentive during the spring semester. Please remind your students that they should visit with the
A+ Coordinator and financial aid office at the community college and/or
career-technical school to ensure that all of the necessary paperwork has been completed.
You can add students to our database of eligible students by completing the form available on the website:
http://dese.mo.gov/divimprove/aplus/reports/reports.html (Additions to Student Eligibility List)
Please make sure your students are aware that if you submit them for the spring semester that their four (4) years of eligibility begins at that point.
Student Eligibility
If your district has added requirements to those that are required by both the law and state board rule governing the A+ program, you should still submit those students who have met the state criteria for the department as eligible students for the financial incentive.
Jocelyn Strand, Director
A+ Schools/Charter Schools
Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education PO Box 480 Jefferson City, MO 65102-0480 jocelyn.strand@dese.mo.gov
573.751.1014